Mattress feeling a little squishy and gross? Don’t be too surprised - your mattress is the most used piece of furniture you will ever have. Most people can’t remember the last time they gave their mattress a clean, or even how to clean a mattress in the first place!
While it’s easy to overlook the health of a mattress, you might not realize that dirt and grime can accumulate in the bed and have a huge impact on sleep quality and air quality in the bedroom.
But how do you know if a mattress needs cleaning and how do you clean a mattress at home? If you want to know how to clean mattress stains, we’re covering everything from natural remedies to help you keep your mattress clean to using household cleaners and the best options for professional mattress cleaning.
We’ll also help you identify whether it’s time to clean it or replace it altogether and upgrade to the best hybrid mattress.
How To Clean A Mattress At Home
It's likely that the mattress you sleep on was a significant investment. No one wants to spend extra money on cleaning your mattress - especially if there are easy ways to do it at home. If taken care of, even the best luxury mattresses should last at least 7 years, if not more. However, if it’s not a high-quality mattress, then chances are it won’t last the test of time.
Have you ever wondered why your mattress starts to feel heavier the longer you have it? Certain mattresses, such as traditional spring mattresses, tend to trap dust mites and grime between the layers, making it challenging to maintain a clean mattress. Some really low-quality mattresses can even triple in weight because of the collection of dirt.
This can be a really bad thing for your sleep experience, as well as your airways. Sleeping on dust and dirt can have a negative impact on the health of your lungs.
So it’s not only important to clean spills from your mattress to keep it looking fresh from the outside, but also consider how clean your mattress is between the layers. If it’s heavy and full of dust, it might be the perfect time to consider a mattress upgrade, especially if you can’t seem to keep a clean mattress for too long.
When you’re learning how to clean a mattress at home, these quick tips will take away the guesswork.
Check out Puffy mattress reviews from real customers and see how we compare with other brands.
Getting the Right Tools for the Job
Learning how to clean a mattress properly starts with the right equipment. You’ll require a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment, laundry detergent, baking soda, cleaning cloths, and some cool water to help to wipe down with.
The best memory foam is designed with longevity and ease of maintenance in mind. We’re not ones for tooting our own horn, but Puffy mattresses have been specifically engineered for comfort and cleanliness: all our products are hypoallergenic and stain-resistant too. When you’re shopping around, be sure to look out for:
- Locally Manufactured: Buying locally means that you’re supporting local communities and good practice. Sleep soundly knowing exactly where your bed comes from.
- Stain-Resistant Covers: Whether you’re the parent of a child, pet, or both, stain-resistant capabilities will keep your bed cleaner in the long run.
- Hypoallergenic: Prone to the sniffles? You’re going to want to invest in something that minimizes the risk of you having a reaction. All Puffy mattresses come with removable covers that you can wash with ease, keeping you on top of the cleanliness game.
Natural Ways to Clean a Mattress
When it comes to cleaning a mattress, most people look for natural mattress cleaning solutions. Certain mattress cover stains don’t need expensive and toxic cleaning products.
Here are two of the most common household supplies that can help you keep your mattress clean:
Distilled white vinegar: One of the most powerful cleaning agents just might be in your kitchen cupboard. Because of its high acidity levels, vinegar can easily remove stains, such as vomit and dried blood.
To get started, use a spray bottle and spray some distilled white vinegar all over your mattress cover to remove stains. If there’s a large stain, be liberal with the vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, sprinkle some baking soda on top. For stains that are stubborn, let the baking soda and vinegar mixture sit overnight.
The next day, you can vacuum your mattress to remove the baking soda. By then, the stains should’ve disappeared. For spot cleaning your mattress, create a mixture of baking soda, salt, and cold water and put it in a spray bottle. This is a great stain remover and can easily get rid of stains from the mattress cover.
Baking soda: In addition to getting out stubborn stains, baking soda is also a natural deodorizer, which means it can effectively eliminate foul odors. After you sprinkle baking soda on your mattress cover, it’s essential to let it sit for 12 to 24 hours. The longer it sits, the more effective it will be at cleaning a mattress.
While the baking soda works its magic, open your windows to let the sunshine and fresh air in. This can yield even better results because the combination of baking soda and sunlight can kill bacteria and mold.
To deep clean and get into every crevice and corner, it’s essential to vacuum your mattress. Using the upholstery attachment on a vacuum cleaner is a great way to remove dust that can get trapped between the layers. Once you’ve mastered the art of how to clean a mattress, you start to really see the difference a fresh mattress makes to your sleep.
Using Household Cleaners to Clean a Mattress
Household cleaning products can provide better results than natural cleaning products if stains are persistent and you need to deep clean your mattress. Dish soap and hydrogen peroxide are two of the best natural stain removers for mattress stains. Most people turn to a combination of hydrogen peroxide, salt, and dishwashing soap when searching how to clean pee out of a mattress.
This combination is a highly effective stain remover for cleaning urine from mattresses - a common challenge among young kids who can have an accident or two during the night.
Professional Ways to Clean a Mattress
Tried the at-home mattress cleaning remedies, but want someone else to do it for you? Even if you know how to clean a mattress, maybe you just don’t have the time. You have a few options when it comes to keeping your mattress clean with professional help. Buy or hire deep cleaning mattress vacuum cleaners and steamers online or in-store.
When you’re strapped for time and want the convenience of someone taking care of the hard work for you, there are many professional mattress cleaning specialists who can help you make your mattress look brand new again. If you choose to go down this route, ensure the mattress is completely dry before you reapply bedding.
How to Deodorize a Mattress
Hot sleepers who sweat throughout the night, in particular, are often looking for ways to deodorize the mattress so it doesn't retain smells of sweat and dust. Most how to clean a mattress tutorials forget about the scent of the mattress.
Nobody, and we mean nobody, wants their mattress to smell like a gym bag, mothball, or detergent. The trick to keeping your mattress smelling fresh all year round is to use natural, long-lasting freshers, that won’t disturb your sinuses at bedtime.
The biggest mistake people tend to make when trying to make the mattress smell nice is to spray it with heavy perfumes and deodorants that are meant for skin, not mattresses! These artificial smells don’t last as long and they can disrupt the sleep cycle.
Next time you are wondering how to clean a mattress and freshen the smell, 15 to 20 drops of essential oils can provide a nice natural scent that’s long-lasting! The best thing is, essential oils are also beneficial for sleep. They can help calm the mind and body for deep and restful sleep.
Learn more about how to create an allergy proof bedroom in your home.
How Often Should You Clean A Mattress?
So you’re up to speed with how to clean a mattress, but how often should you do it? Depending on the age and style of your bed, it’s good to check in with the state of your mattress every 3 months. Spills should be cleaned immediately to avoid long-term stains that can be difficult to remove down the line.
One way to protect your foam mattress from these stains is to use a mattress protector. The best part about mattress protectors is that if anything spills, you don’t have to deep clean your entire mattress. Instead, you can just take the protector and put it in the wash. A mattress protector can also help you retain that “brand new” mattress feeling and increase mattress life. If you don’t have one, you may need to replace your mattress before it even reaches the end of its lifespan.
While everyone wants to sleep on a fresh mattress, sometimes no matter how often you clean an old bed, it might still not help you sleep better and healthier. This is because the construction of old mattresses can deteriorate rapidly, doing more harm than good to your back. Not all mattress brands are designed to last the test of time.
If your mattress is heavy, sagging, and folding at the edges, it is a pretty clear sign that you’re due for a mattress upgrade. Sleeping on a mattress that doesn’t support your body can put unnecessary strain on muscles and joints and force you to wake up in pain every morning.
The importance of getting a high-quality foam mattress is huge because people who sleep better live healthier and happier lives!
Begin With Your Bedding
The best way to clean a mattress starts from what sits on top of it - your bed sheets. Even the most comfortable bed can be made cozier with some nice sheets, but you’re going to want to invest some time in ensuring these are cleaned on a regular basis to maintain a good level of sleep hygiene.
While sheets may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re thinking of how to clean a mattress since they act as an intermediary between your bed and any other external debris that can get caught in it, it’s important they are also of high quality. Look out for hypoallergenic and well-sourced sheets to make cleaning that much easier.
Learn how to wash sheets for a much more relaxing, and comfortable sleep.
Cleaning Your Bed, and Well
While bi-annual spring cleaning is a chore for anyone, there are simple ways to make the process a whole lot less painful. Using the upholstery attachment of a vacuum cleaner can is a quick and efficient way to eliminate extra residue on the surface of your bed.
Memory foam shouldn’t really get wet, so stay careful about how you approach stains on its surface. Our Puffy mattresses have a removable and washable cover that allows you to protect your actual mattress without having to compromise on cleanliness.
A combination of baking soda, a few drops of essential oil, and a vacuum should be able to eliminate odor and provide your mattress with a gentle aroma that can actually help you get a good night’s rest.
Making Sure Your Bed Stays Protected After a Cleanup
Another way to ensure your bed looks brand new well into your purchase is by investing in a mattress protector. A high-quality mattress protector can take all the hard work out of maintaining your mattress, mainly because it can work to prevent stains, damage, and debris from sinking into your bed.
Look out for protectors that are water-proof, hypoallergenic, and most importantly, washable, like Puffy’s very own mattress protector. This way, learning how to clean a mattress becomes a lot simpler, since you can simply make sure your maintaining this layer.
How to Go About Cleaning Your Mattress
To get your mattress cleaner than it’s ever been before, use the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner and go over the entire surface of your bed. The best way to clean a mattress completely is in ensuring you’re eliminating all additional dust and debris it has collected over the last few months.
While certain beds may be stain-resistant, that doesn’t mean you should refrain from quickly scanning your mattress to identify if there’s anything, in particular, you have to clean. The best way to clean a mattress varies depending on your mattress type.
Understanding the best way to clean your bed, like everything else, comes with practice. The importance of learning how to clean a mattress properly comes with an understanding that your mattress is an investment, ultimately one that impacts your well-being and rest.
That’s why all Puffy mattresses come with a 101-night sleep trial, so that you can feel the difference yourself before making the leap. Making sure to set aside time to get your bed cleaner can, therefore, have a significant impact on your well-being.
Dust-mite free sleep means fewer nightmares to go around, hygiene-wise, and otherwise.
Best Mattresses That Stay Clean & Comfy
By now you know that some mattresses are easier to keep clean than others. Most old mattresses were designed without features such as stain resistance and zip-n-wash covers like the Puffy mattress range. These essential features will ensure you’ll never wonder how to clean a mattress again.
When our product development teams set out to reimagine the sleep experience, keeping the foam mattress fresh and clean throughout the year was one of many key considerations in the design process. All Puffy Mattresses have zip-n-wash covers that can be easily unzipped and washed at home. This independent certification process ensures materials used do not contain harmful chemicals that may impact healthy sleep - which is important if you’re looking for luxurious sleep you can feel good about.
Everyone wants a bed that’s going to stand the test for time. Having a clean and dust-free foam mattress plays a huge part in how long your mattress will last. Avoid traditional spring mattresses and latex mattresses as they tend to trap dirt within the coils and can be close to impossible to clean. Hybrid mattresses and memory foam mattresses are much better at repelling dust and allergens away. Checking out online mattress reviews is the best way to compare the features and benefits of hybrids and foam mattresses to find one that’s perfect!
If you’ve tried every guide that breaks down how to clean a mattress, and your bed is still looking lackluster, it’s time for a new mattress. Don’t risk getting second-rate sleep. Upgrade to the best mattress of 2023 and start getting the dreamiest sleep ever. Read over 10,000 mattress reviews and see why Puffy is voted best.
Happy cleaning!
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