How to Clean Your Mattress 2025

Cleaning mattress is among the most daunting tasks you have to carry out at least once a month. As you spend hundreds of dollars on buying the perfect mattress, it is equally vital to maintain it well, so you get the most from your purchase.

A clean mattress does wonders to your sleep quality. On the other hand, a dirty sleep surface would not only stink but may also cause discomfort and toss and turns during the night. Thus, you’ll wake up groggy and agitated in the morning, making it difficult to perform your routine work properly! You might be wondering how an unclean bed can cause sleepiness and what’s the worst thing that could happen if you sleep on a stinky bed, right? Assuming you said yes, in this article, we are exploring just some reasons why you should take mattress cleaning seriously. We also discuss tips from professionals on how to take care of your new sleep surface and increase its longevity by a thorough cleaning. Do check out our easy DIY cleaning techniques – especially if you have kids around!

Why is Cleaning Your Mattress Necessary?

Periodic cleaning of mattresses is an integral part of maintenance as it increases the life of your bed and keeps it in shape for decades.

Here are a few reasons why you should take out time from your busy schedule for bed cleaning

• To get rid of bugs and allergenic materials.

  You spend almost one-third of your life on your bed. Everyday use makes it a breeding ground for dust mites and causes accumulation of allergens such as dirt, dead skin cells, and grime.In fact, bed bugs can emerge in any place with a human population. They hide in the dark corners of your bed to avoid exposure to light. And feed on the humans before dawn.

  Constant exposure to these harmful elements makes you prone to skin rash, breathing problems or in the worst scenario, affects your lungs. Thus, it is evidently quite important to keep your mattress clean for long-lasting use

  .

• To extend the life of your mattress.

  A regular, thorough cleaning to remove dirt particles and filth of your bed is necessary for increased longevity of your sleep product. Dead skin cells are food for bacteria and dust mites, reproducing at a high pace, causing you discomfort. If things go downhill, then you might even find bed bugs that would call for a mattress change or professional cleaning service – both are a costly expense. Your regular cleaning regime not only ensure healthy sleep surface but also extend the life of your mattress

  .

• To enjoy a healthy sleep and life.

  According to a survey conducted by Better Sleep Council, it was found out that a good mattress is a key to good night’s sleep. Couldn’t agree more! Older mattresses are usually unable to offer excellent lumbar support and pressure-relief due to over-usage. Due to this issue, consumers are incapable of enjoying a restful sleep which in turn affects their performance during the day.

  Another study conducted by Fluent Research showed that sleep is the foundation of wellness; 85% of the majority rated it as a defining factor for their own well-being.

  This proves you should be paying more attention to cleaning your mattress. Your bed is a place where you spend a great deal of time, and most importantly, you sleep on it. Linens and bed covers do get frequently washed, but the mattress is hardly given proper cleaning from inside – which is undeniably very important.

  Besides, it is also important to know how frequently should your beds undergo a cleaning process. Let’s discuss it further.

How Often Should You Clean Your Mattress?

Making your bed and dusting the linens, should be done every day before you hit the bed. This will remove dirt and dead skin cells from the top layer. But periodic thorough cleaning is also highly significant. So here we have set your calendar for mattress cleaning for specific periods:

• Daily cleaning:
  Strip off linens, bed covers, and pillow covers as soon as you wake up and then air out your mattress for few hours. This will refresh the surface of your mattress, wicks off moisture and dries up the sweat. In turn, it will reduce the growth of mites and bacteria on the bed.
• Monthly cleaning:
  A daily cleaning endeavor will only remove the top layer of dry dirt. What about the stain and grime sitting in the tufts and crevices? A thorough scrubbing with baking soda and other household items need to be done at least once in a month to remove the potluck of filth from the layers underneath.
• Bi-annual cleaning:
  Carry out rigorous cleaning ritual every six months to get rid of bugs, termites, stains, mold, and mildew (it’s quite easy to get your bed infested especially when you have kids or pets around). Spray commercial disinfectants and sunbath it for 24 hours to remove all kinds of pests from your mattress.
• Professional cleaning:
  If your mattress is severely damaged, then you might need to hire professional cleaners who have strong solutions and specialized equipment to treat your sleep surface.Although professional cleaning services are slightly heavy on your pocket, they ensure complete riddance of dust, germs, and stains. Hiring professionals also offer convenience as the mattress is a heavy, large object to clean.

  An authentic mattress cleaner generally provides the following services:

  • Ultraviolet-C light treatment:
    It kills off mites and germs, and also de-clumps the stains. This technology is used to decompose the nuclei of eggs and small insects by destroying their DNA. Due to this technique, bacteria either die or do not reproduce; hence, rendering them harmless.
  • High power vacuum:
    This process is used to extract dirt, dust, dead skin cells, and residue. Just like a conventional vacuum cleaner, it sucks up the particles off the surface. A high-power vacuuming is more effective in thorough cleaning as it hauls them out from deep down.
  • Dry steam:
    Useful in removing stains from your mattress surface. It breaks down the stain marks and brings the residue atop. The steamer also refreshes the sleep surface as it sprays liquified hydrogen for cleaning the blots.
  • Infrared heat:
    Helpful technique to wick off moisture caused due to dry steam. Liquid hydrogen moistens the mattress and thus, it requires instant drying. Otherwise, it can turn your bed into a breeding ground for germs and ticks. Infrared heat quickly dries up the mattress from inside, and any of the remaining pests.
  • Deodorization:
    This process removes all kinds of smell from the mattress. Due to vomit and liquid spills, your mattress may start smelling at some point. Also, any cleaning agents used to decontaminate your bed can leave a strong chemical smell. To remove the bad odors, professional cleaners use deodorizers for a fragranced bed.

  For people on a budget, high-tech cleansing of beds may be a difficult chore. So, if you’re in need of pocket-friendly tips for easy cleaning of a mattress, we got you!

Budget-Friendly Mattress Cleaning Tips

DIY cleaning techniques are quite simple and straightforward, requiring a few essential household ingredients. They serve as a quick fix for mattress hygiene and are comparatively cheaper than professional services.

If you’re among the folks who’ve found the best value mattress at an affordable price, lucky you. You definitely don’t want to pay a hefty amount on its maintenance; it is ideal to try out these DIY tricks for bed cleaning. So, check out the following low-price yet results-producing cleaning techniques for mattresses:

• What’s the all-time best cleaning trick?
• The easiest way for a sparkly clean mattress is to scrub it with baking soda. It is an inexpensive ingredient that works effectively in removing stains, dirt, and grime off your bed. The results are really quick and highly suitable for emergency cleaning call. Baking soda not only deep cleanses the mattress but also wicks away moisture and deodorizes the surface. A simple vacuuming with upholstery settings will clean the residue leaving you with a sterile bed.
• How to remove dirt from your mattress?

Bye-bye dirty mattress

• Just now, your lil one was having a fun time in the garden, and there he came rushing inside your bedroom and thump … he throws himself off on the bed! The whole mattress is sprayed with sand and dirt, and it’s definitely hard to get it off from your white bed cover.

  Well, not to worry anymore. Here’s an easy technique to clean it up:

  Items Required:

  • 16-ounce baking soda
  • Few drops of essential oils
  • A vacuum cleaner with upholstery settings

  Method:

  Flip and rotate your mattress, before you go on your mission clean up. Flipping and turning bed also prevents it from sagging and extend its life. Strip all the linens and bed covers and put them in the wash. Use an upholstery attachment with your vacuum cleaner and clean the entire surface especially seams and crevices where dirt, dead skin and dust mites sit. Now you mix the essential oil and baking soda; use lavender, chamomile or sandalwood oil as they have a very calming effect on your mind.

  Shake this dry mixture well to distribute the oil evenly. Once done, massage it gently into your mattress for a deep, thorough clean. Use rubber gloves when rubbing in baking soda because if you have sensitive skin, it can burn. Essential oil is a natural antibacterial that works like magic in disinfecting your mattress. Leave this mixture for at least an hour to lift off all the icky stuff.

  After an hour, connect the upholstery attachment to your vacuum cleaner and very slowly start cleaning your mattress. Go up and down, left and right to ensure that you remove all the soot and dust mites that are lurking deeper in the seams and corners. Baking soda is excellent at absorbing moisture so it will efficiently wick off sweat and moisture from your mattress. Air out your mattress, before you snooze off, to kill the smell of baking soda and essential oil. It will also rejuvenate the surface of your bed with clean, fresh air and natural light. Photon treatment dries up the mattress efficiently and kills the remaining germs and bacteria thus providing you with a healthy sleep area.

• How to clean urine and sweat marks?

Get rid of urine stains on the mattress the right way!

Having kids mean a house full of chaos and clutter. It is nearly impossible to keep your home organized and sparkly clean. Thus, of course, bed wetting accidents are inevitable as it is a part of growing up – but it is highly challenging to get rid of urine marks from the mattress.

Here, we have an easy DIY method to remove those yellowish stains of sweat and urine from your bed without any vigorous scrubbing.

Items Required:

• Paper towels
• 1 cup and few drops of Hydrogen Peroxide
• 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda
• Few drops of liquid detergent

Method:

Blot the affected area with paper towels to soak up all the wetness. Once you have absorbed all the excess urine, treat it with few drops of hydrogen peroxide and leave it for some time. Meanwhile, dissolve 2-3 tablespoon baking soda in 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and add few drops of liquid detergent. Use a mild, skin sensitive detergent so that it does not react harshly with your skin.

Transfer the mixture is a spray bottle and squirt it on the stained area. Let the concoction absorb the stain and lift the muck to the surface. After an hour or so, brush up the area vigorously to clean the affected area. Wipe it with a dry towel to remove the residue and then air dry the mattress. You can switch on the fan or use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process, but sunlight and natural air is the most effective way of drying up your mattress. It will take up to at least 18 hours to air dry your bed, so it is better you leave it overnight.

To clean up sweat marks, use borax that can easily be found at a grocery store in the laundry detergent department. If the sweat marks are damp, blot the surface with a paper towel to dry it up. Then sprinkle an ample amount of borax and scrub it gently. Now put your mattress out in the sun to dry it up. Vacuum your mattress after few hours to remove excess powder from the surface.

• How to get rid of vomit stains and odors?

Mattress with vomit stains

• After a night out with friends, you come home and suffer a painful hangover. A series of uncontrollable puke-attacks render your mattress smelly! This is an emergency call to a highly thorough cleaning round.

  Now, all you need are common household items to get rid of this icky stuff. Vomit stains are quite gross and stinky; they need to be instantly cleaned as they not only soil the surface but also penetrate deeper into the mattress.

  Besides, these marks leave a strong pungent smell that is hard to get rid off if not treated immediately. You might even need commercial deodorizers to remove the smell. Here’s what you need to do:

  Items Required:

  • Few paper towels
  • 2-3 tablespoon organic powder (flour or cornstarch)
  • 1 spoon or spatula
  • 1 can of club soda
  • 4-6 tablespoons of the enzyme digester
  • 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda
  • Few drops of vinegar

  Method:

  First, clean the mess using a spoon or spatula to lift off all the solid particles. Then splotch the area with paper towels to wick off all the moisture. Now sprinkle ample amount of organic powder(cornstarch is preferable) to soak up the remaining liquid. Leave it for an hour at least and then scoop out all the residue.

  Soak a sponge with carbonated water and rub the surface to lift off the stain and stink. Use a spray to splurt enzyme digester on the spot to clean and sanitize the area. The enzyme digester will eat up the organic compost deep in the mattress. Air out your mattress overnight and give it a few hours of the sunbath.

  Once done, spray some white vinegar to deodorize your mattress. By now your bed is cleaned, disinfected and fragranced but if you still feel a lingering smell on it then sprinkle the combination of baking soda and essential oil. Leave it overnight and vacuum it next morning to revive your mattress to its new state.

• How to remove blood stains from your mattress?

Easy trick to get rid of crimson stains

• Blood stains are the most difficult ones to remove of all – especially if the crimson has dried up! Hence, ideally, it’s best to clean blood stains as quickly as possible.

  In case of emergencies when your Aunt Flo pays a heavy-duty visit at the middle of the night, our effective home remedy will help you fight against the toughest dried up blood marks.

  1. Items Required (Fresh Stains):

  • Hand towel
  • ¼ cup Hydrogen Peroxide
  • 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
  • 1 tablespoon salt

  Method:

  Sponge your mattress with a hand towel to soak all the blood. Then make a paste of hydrogen peroxide, salt and liquid dish soap to rub it gently on the stain. Let it dry and then scrape it off to remove the residue.

  Dab the surface with a rag dipped in hydrogen peroxide to completely remove the stain. Once you have cleaned it, sprinkle baking soda mixed with essential oil to deodorize the bed. Vacuum it to to get rid of excess powder.

  If the stain has dried up, then it would be difficult to remove with hydrogen oxide. It will also leave a yellowish mark even after repeated cleaning. So, here is an effective solution for dried blood stains.

  2. Items Required (Dry Stains):

  • 1 tablespoon meat tenderizer
  • 2 teaspoon cold water

  Method:

  Mix the two ingredients to form a paste and spread it generously on the surface. Leave it for an hour and then brush it off with a damp towel. Dry it up with a blow dryer or place it under the sun.

  *Never use hot or warm water to clean the blood stain

  3. Items Required:

  • 2 oz of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
  • 4 oz of Cornstarch
  • And 1 tablespoon salt

  Method:

  Another effective method to clean blood stains is to prepare a thick paste with hydrogen peroxide, but it can change the color of the fabric as it is a bleaching agent.

  Apply the paste generously on the stain and leave it for few hours. Once dried, scrape it off for a clean, spotless mattress.

• How to clean oil marks?

Oil spilled on bed? Not a problem!

• You were having this late-night pizza party propped on your bed while enjoying your favorite movie. And suddenly, oops – you drop the sauce and toppings on your bed. Instant staining your beautiful bed linen and mattress!

  Yes, oily stains are perhaps the hardest to remove from any surface. However, if you are coupled with the right techniques, it’s not that difficult to remove fresh oil stains. Here’s a trick for you:

  Items Required:

  • Paper towel
  • Baking soda
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Dry cleaning solvent

  Method:

  Soak all the excess oil using paper towel and then sparingly sprinkle baking soda over the affected area. Leave it for at least 15 minutes so that it soaks up all the moisture from the surface. Use a vacuum cleaner with brush attachment so that it scrapes off all the residue and brings it to the top of the surface.

  Dab the stain mark with a dry cleaning solvent and leave it for an hour so that the solution can do its job. Wipe the surface with a damp hand towel, repeat the last two steps till the spot is removed.

• What’s an easy way to clean coffee stains?

Just one spill away from stain

On early winter mornings, nothing can you warm up as nicely as a cup of hot coffee that you sip through while snuggling cozily in your bed under the plush blanket. And the sudden phone bell startles causing you to drop some coffee on your spotless mattress. Drat.

You rush to your pantry and get all the cleaning agents that you can find at this hour of the morning. No doubt, coffee stains are stubborn but no need to panic! Just get your hands on the right articles. This is what you need to do:

Items Required:

• 1-ounce liquid detergent
• 1 ounce distilled white vinegar
• 10 ounces water
• 1 cup cold water
• Soft bristle brush

Method:

Take equal amounts of liquid detergent and distilled white vinegar and dilute it in water. Spray the solution directly on the coffee stain and gently scrub it with the brush. Let this concoction sit for 15 minutes on the stain. Then wipe it off with a clean sponge dipped in cold water. If the stain persists, then blot it again with cleaning mixture and wipe it with sponge till the stain is completely removed.

Now you certainly know highly effective DIY cleaning methods that are easy on the budget and can remove all kinds of stains.

However, some stains are not easy to clean and require vigorous scrubbing, UV light treatment and heat steaming which cannot be done at home. It will be much more appropriate if you seek professional cleaning services that carry out such activities on the industrial level. Their heavy-duty machinery is designed to get rid of such stains, but it can damage the components of your mattress in the long run.

Mattress Cleaning Tips from Industry Experts

Cleaning tips from experts

Experts pay emphasis on periodic mattress cleaning to improve the bed life and prevent negative impacts on health or sleep. Following are some of the tips from the industry professionals on how to maintain your mattress:

• Spray, don’t pour: Use spray to splurt cleaning solutions or deodorizers. Never pour directly or drench the mattress as it can cause more damage.
• Read instruction manuals: Most of the mattresses come with cleaning instruction manuals. It is wise to follow those instructions when cleaning the bed else it can destruct the surface or not work at all.
• Removable or nonremovable: Some mattress covers are removable and they can be washed in a machine. But it is advised to check the instructions first to see if the cloth is machine washable or not. Otherwise, manual laundry or spot cleaning works well too.
• Sunlight exposure: You should make it a habit of airing out your mattress frequently so you can eliminate bad odor. Studies suggest improving bedroom ventilation reduces mites population in mattresses. It is also a healthier way to sanitize your bed without the use of harsh chemicals expensive concoctions that harms the mattress and environment equally.
• Instant Spot Cleaning: If you have kids or pets who can climb your bed at any time, then you should always be armed with instant cleaning agents. Milk spills, juice or drink or any fluid, should immediately be cleaned else it will penetrate deeper in mattress ruining the foam and coils. Spot cleaning will also help you to get stubborn marks on your mattress that are hard to get rid of.

Experts advise on removing pests

Yuck! Time for mattress cleaning!

Your bed is home to dead skin cells, dust mites and bed bugs as you spend a major chunk of your life on it. In fact, an average mattress contains over 10,000 dust mites! No jokes.

Late-night munching and juice spills allow these infestations to grow. Regular air drying, heat steaming and sunbathing can effectively kill these pesticides. But removing them off your mattress is a hassle. So, here we have some quick and easy tips for you.

• Vacuum your mattress
• Put it out in cold weather (cold bath kills dust mites)
• Use commercial powders and pesticides
• Use preventive methods to avoid their growth such as
• Installing air filters
• Dusting and drying the linens before making the bed
• Keeping the room uncluttered and clean
• Keeping your room smoke-free zone
• Using artificial ultraviolet-C rays to treat the mattress

But as you know, there are multiple categories of sleep surfaces, each made using unique materials and structures. Therefore, let’s study some tips on how to clean different types of mattresses.

Cleaning Tips for Different Mattress Types

The variations in materials of categories make it essential to carry out a cleaning procedure tailored to complement the construction of every bed. Hence, you need to use customized cleaning techniques for in-depth, thorough cleansing.

We are sharing some tips that will help you effectively clean and maintain the health of your mattress.

• Spring
  Because of the coils within the layers, spring mattresses are most difficult to clean as mites and particles take shelter in between the springs, making it tricky to reach and clean. However, a high-power spray or vacuuming can blow out dirt and dust out of those coils. To spot clean your coil mattress, use enzyme-based or upholstery cleaners as they don’t cause any kind of dampness which can damage the mattress.
• Foam
  Memory and other kinds of foam mattress are not susceptible to mites and bedbugs, fortunately. But on the other hand, spot cleaning foam surface is a little hard as the structure of foam absorbs liquid inside, and more than often, it doesn’t dry quickly. Dampened foam surfaces are home to mold and mildew which eats up the mattress. White vinegar and baking soda concoction work like magic in cleaning foam mattresses.
• Latex
  The mattress made out of natural latex is easy to clean. They are resistant to dirt and germs and are even resilient to moisture. Airing out latex mattress is also easy, but they cannot be exposed to sunlight.If bedbugs or small insects proliferate on your latex bed, then it becomes quite difficult to extract them as you cannot carry out photon therapy or ultraviolet C-rays treatment to get rid of them. If you have got bed bugs or mites in your latex bed encasement, then wash it with hot water (above 130F), a couple of times a year.

  * Experts agree the safest option is to follow the manufacturer’s’ instructions to clean your mattress, as you can never go wrong there.
  Is there a way to avoid all this hassle of going through a periodic cleaning?
  Good news: Yep.
  Bad news: It may require you to spend a bit more and invest in something better.

Preventing Your Mattress from Damages

So, why not protect your mattress from getting damaged that badly? Even after cleaning it once, you would need to repeat the procedure all over again maximum after six months. To save yourself from this tiresome task, opt for easier solutions.

Most commonly used bedding accessories

Recent studies showed that consumers believe a good bed doesn’t only mean a clean mattress but also includes other bedding accessories.

For example, consumers have experimented with plastic pillow and mattress covers which have shown incredible control over bed bugs infestation.

In addition to this, high-quality waterproof bed covers, mattress protectors and toppers play a central part in ensuring a healthy sleep and prevent stain accidents. Here’s how:

• Mattress protectors
  A premium quality mattress is an expensive yet safe purchase. It offers waterproof protection to guard it off from stains and spills but will also reduce the accumulation of dirt, grime, and residue. Since protectors are waterproof, they will not even let body oil, fluids and sweat penetrate deeper in the mattresses.Additionally, spot cleaning and washing protectors are hassle-free, compared to cleaning a mattress. You can easily dump it in the laundry for a quick wash. Thus, buying the best mattress topper will offer complete protection from all kinds of damages.
• Mattress toppers
  Toppers play a critical role in extending the life of your mattress. It alleviates any chances of direct contact with the mattress preventing it from sagging and inundated stains. Not only they keep your bed spick and span but also add a layer of comfort while providing ample support to your back. Conclusively, taking care of your mattress is yet another investment in improving your sleep quality. Hopefully, these easy tips for mattress cleaning will help increase the life of your sleep surface and make you enjoy your snooze!

References:

---