How to Clean a Mattress - 5 Effective Mattress Cleaning Methods
A mattress is an element one uses every day. Even with high-quality sheets and spreads - it gets dirty in time. If you want to take care of proper hygiene, cleaning the mattress regularly is a must. Of course, you can ask a professional to do it for you - but it might be complicated and cost a lot. Are you wondering how to clean the mattress yourself? Check a few proven methods that work in various situations - even emergencies.
Why is it so important to clean the mattress regularly?
A mattress is the most essential element of a bed, where one sleeps and spends at least a few hours daily. For this reason, it’s crucial to rest in hygienic conditions. Even the best mattresses get dirty in time - it’s because every home is full of various dust particles. It’s also natural for people to sweat. That’s why it’s recommended to refresh the mattress from time to time, thanks to which you can rest comfortably.
Cleaning the mattress regularly is also important when it comes to elements used by children. Toddlers often have “accidents” at night, for instance, bed-wetting. By refreshing the mattress, you prevent its damage and remove the unpleasant smell.
Unfortunate situation might also happen if you have pets - especially cats. Particularly mean animals might want to mark their territory and pee on the mattress. That’s why you should always check for any “surprises” before going to bed.
Can you clean a mattress at home?
Many people are anxious when it comes to cleaning a mattress at home. But there’s no reason for it, as it’s not a complicated task. There are many proven home remedies you can try. But keep in mind that in some cases, you might not be able to remove the stains. It concerns especially yellow stains which haven’t been removed right away, or a situation when a cat pees on a large part of the mattress. In such cases, there’s no point in straining yourself - better ask a service to do the cleaning for you.
How to dry-clean a mattress
Dry-cleaning a mattress is something everyone should do regularly. This improves hygiene and your well-being. It’s also highly important for allergy sufferers who might get an irritation even from a small amount of dust - which is prevalent in every house.
Vacuuming is the basic element of dry-cleaning a mattress. By doing it, you can easily remove any dust and dead skin cells that reside inside the foam. Thanks to this, you hinder the development of dust mites and various bacteria. They might be dangerous especially for small children.
Are you wondering how often to dry-clean the mattress? At least once a week. Also, make sure to replace the sheets and bed linen.
Cleaning a mattress with steam
Steam mattress cleaning is considered one of the most effective and hygienic methods. Use special stem cleaners for this purpose. They are universal devices, used for other household chores as well.
Why should you clean the mattress using steam? This solution comes with many benefits:
- you can remove bacteria and microbes,
- cleaning a mattress with steam is incredibly quick,
- you remove the dirt with the biggest precision,
- you refresh the mattress’s smell,
- the mattress isn’t exposed to excessive moisture.
Moving a steam cleaner once over the surface is enough to get fantastic results. The upper part remains slightly wet right after, but it dries in a few minutes.
Clean the mattress with steam at least once in a month. It’s recommended that you have a steam cleaner in your house. But you can also rent such a device.
How to get yellow sweat stains out of a mattress?
Yellow sweat stains might appear on a mattress especially in summer, when it’s hot both outside and inside. It might also happen if someone is sick for a long time and sweats a lot as a result.
Not that modern mattresses are typically made of special materials that regulate body temperature and are airy. A mattress cover is an additional protection - and it might be the only element that needs cleaning.
Surprisingly, cleaning fresh mattress sweat stains is not difficult - because of this, do it as soon as possible. Thanks to this, you can use quick and cheap home remedies.
How to get such a stain out of a mattress? Just use one of the following ingredients:
- baking powder,
- baking soda,
- dish soap,
- hydrogen peroxide.
When cleaning a mattress with baking soda or baking powder, prepare a paste by adding some water to the powder, and apply it on the yellow spots. Leave it for 30-40 minutes, after which you can wash the cover (if the manufacturer allows it). If the stains appeared directly on the mattress - remove the paste using a damp cloth and leave the surface to dry. Then, vacuum the mattress or clean it with a steam cleaner.
As for dish soap and hydrogen peroxide, just add mix them with water and remove the yellow stains by rubbing the mixture using a sponge.
How to clean vomit from a mattress?
Various accidents might happen when one is sick - especially small children who aren’t really aware of what’s happening to their organisms. In this situation, you might need to clean vomit from a mattress, which is neither pleasant nor easy.
Stains and foul smell are the usual problems, in this case. Because of this, cleaning such a mattress won’t be quick and easy. It doesn’t mean it’s not possible to do at home. If the accident does happen - follow these steps:
- remove all major scraps from the surface,
- if possible, wipe the wet stains using a cloth and soapy water,
- sprinkle baking soda onto the stains, wipe it using a soft sponge and leave it for a day.
After a day, remove the dried dirt using a vacuum cleaner - set to the highest power. Baking soda is very universal, and it should remove both stains and unpleasant smells. Most cases aren’t drastic, so this remedy should help.
If this method doesn’t remove the stains or the smell - clean the mattress using hot steam. Thanks to this, you get rid of bacteria and odors.
How to get urine out of a mattress?
Urine is one of the worst types of stains on a mattress. It’s a surprisingly common occurrence, as small children often wet their beds unconsciously while sleeping.
Just like for yellow sweat stains, you can use hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or baking powder. But you can do something slightly different, in this case. You can prepare a spray and spread it on the mattress. This way, you remove the unpleasant smell and slight discoloration. Afterwards, vacuum the surface or even better - clean it using a steam cleaner.
Alternatively, you can use corn starch. It’s an effective way for cleaning extensive urine stains from a mattress. Just sprinkle some flour on the surface and rub it in. Leave the mattress for at least 24 hours. Then, vacuum it - and it should be good to use again.
📍 How to wash a mattress at home?
You should wash your mattress regularly - at least once a month. In this case, you can use a vacuum or steam cleaner. The latter effectively removes bacteria and dust mites. If the stains are serious, remove them using home remedies.
📍 Is difficult to clean a mattress?
The difficulty of cleaning a mattress depends on the type of stains. Everyday dirt - dust and other particles are the easiest to remove. Yellow stains from sweat, urine or vomit are harder to clean. It's not impossible, though - just use some proven home remedies.
📍 How to clean a very dirty mattress?
If the mattress is very dirty, you might need to clean it a few times. First, clean it using baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. If any stains remain, consider using a steam cleaner and a vacuum cleaner. If no home remedies work - ask a professional cleaning service for help.
📍 What is the cost of cleaning a mattress?
Cleaning the mattress yourself is the cheapest solution. Its cost is equal to the price of baking soda, corn starch or hydrogen peroxide. The cost of a mattress cleaning service depends on how big the stains are and what method they require. It usually costs from $75 to $150.
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