Cleaning and Deodorizing Your Mattress

While it's common practice to wash sheets on a weekly basis, it's important to remember that mattresses require care, too. You can keep yourself healthy and extend the life of your mattress by regularly cleaning and deodorizing it.

Sheets and mattresses absorb the sweat and dead skin cells of any average adult while they sleep. Dust mites and other allergens thrive in the moisture and dead skin cells found in a person's bed.

Breathing problems, a stuffy nose, a sore throat, itchy eyes, and rashes are all possible reactions to allergens. The accumulation of allergens not only has negative health effects, but also can make your mattress smell bad.

How to eliminate mattress odors is the topic of this article.

Deodorizing and Refreshing Your Mattress

Bedding accessories and mattresses become contaminated with dust mites, perspiration, and dead skin cells. Once every six months, freshening and deodorizing mattresses keeps allergens at bay

Be wary of using any liquid on your mattress, as this can leave a moisture residue that can promote the growth of allergens. This is why it's often recommended to first try dry methods, such as odor-absorbing baking soda, for freshening your mattress. Mattresses that have been treated with liquid deodorizers should be allowed to air out completely before use.

Vacuum

Put the upholstery attachment to good use and eliminate the allergens and dirt that have settled into your mattress.

Wash the upholstery attachment in warm water before using it to vacuum your mattress. Warm soapy water is all that's needed to remove the dust and germs that have settled into the upholstery attachment. Use the upholstery attachment to thoroughly vacuum your mattress, including the top, the sides, and even the space between the mattress and the box spring. Lean a few chairs against your bed and vacuum both sides.

Deodorize

Mattress deodorization gets rid of the musty smell that germs and allergens leave behind. Mattress odor can be eliminated with the help of a few commonplace kitchen items.

Vinegar Water

One of vinegar's many uses is as an odor absorber. When combined with water, it creates an organic deodorizer, saving you money on potentially allergen-inducing chemical sprays.

Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Spray the mattress lightly with the solution. Do not soak it too deeply, and let it dry naturally.

Your mattress should be propped up against the wall, and the solution should be sprayed over the opposite side. You should let the mattress dry completely before replacing it on the bed frame. To hasten the drying process, turn on fans and leave windows open.

The last step is to sprinkle baking soda on the bed. Any lingering odors will be neutralized by this.

What Is Baking Soda?

Baking soda can effectively mask unpleasant odors. You can put it on your memory foam pillows and mattresses as well as store it in the fridge. Sprinkle baking soda on your mattress with a flour sifter and give it at least 30 minutes to sit. The better the outcomes, the longer you store the baking soda. Up to 24 hours of continuous use is possible.

Keep your windows open and your bed exposed to natural light while the baking soda does its job. Sunlight dries out your bed, which helps eliminate odors even more. The last step is to vacuum the baking soda out of the bed using the upholstery attachment.

Urine stains and odors are sometimes best treated with baking soda, especially if the spot is still wet.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch has the ability to soak up body oil, another potential offender in a smelly bed. Combine cornstarch and baking soda, then sprinkle the mixture liberally over your bed. The mixture needs to sit for a day on your bed. Then, after the cornstarch and baking soda mixture has settled into the mattress, vacuum it up.

Aromatic Oils

Sprinkle some baking soda over your mattress and then add 15–20 drops of your preferred essential oils. This new scent could linger in your bed for several days. Essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, or lemon can have a calming effect.

Spray a solution of two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part baking soda and a few drops of essential oils on soiled areas to remove stains and odors. After misting the mattress with the cleaning solution, let it air dry before replacing the sheets and blankets.

In addition, check out our list of the top ten essential oils for snoozing.

Be sure to give your sheets a weekly wash.

Sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases should be washed weekly to remove dust mites, skin cells, and allergens that accumulate there. Unless otherwise instructed, wash your sheets in hot water. The high heat eliminates germs. There will be less of a chance that dust and germs will get into your mattress if there are fewer bacteria and allergens on your bedding.

If you suffer from allergies, it's recommended that you wash your pillows every three to four months. Sunlight dries out the moisture in your pillows and comforters, making them fluffy once more. The sun's ultraviolet rays are a potent germ killer.

You should wash your bed skirt once every few months if you use one. Dust on the bed skirt is a good indicator that it's time to clean the bedroom.

Several of our manuals detail the methodical cleaning of various types of bedding:

If the symbols on your bedding's care label are leaving you scratching your head, have a look at our laundry care symbol guide.

It's important to keep in mind that the water temperature at which you wash your bedding and the detergent that can be safely used will depend on the type of fabric used to make it. Alternatively, if the fabric can be washed at all. See also:

Other Ways to Keep a Mattress Clean and Fresh

After giving your mattress a good cleaning and deodorizing, you'll want to keep it that way for as long as possible. Keeping that freshness by following some other steps You can sleep peacefully without having to worry about dust, germs, and allergens

Put a Protective Cover on Your Bed

Protect your mattress from stains, dust mites, and allergens with a mattress protector. A simple and inexpensive way to lengthen the life of your mattress.

A waterproof mattress protector is not only great for those who want to keep their bed smelling fresh, but also for those who value the cleanliness of their hypoallergenic mattress.

Some people may not see the point in buying a mattress protector if they already have a mattress cover. A mattress cover, however, is rarely waterproof and almost never detachable. Neither its cleanliness nor its enclosing qualities are comparable to those of a mattress protector.

Purge the Mattress Foundation

A box spring, bed base, or platform bed is what your mattress is meant to sit on. To keep dirt and germs from spreading to your mattress, you should also clean the base it sits on. The bed skirt (if you have one) should be taken off and washed every time the mattress is propped up to be vacuum cleaned.

Lift the mattress and foundation/platform and vacuum the surface. Mattresses have a longer lifespan when placed on clean foundations. As part of your routine mattress cleaning, we advise using a vacuum on your bed base as well.

We'd also like to emphasize the value of a bed base, which keeps your mattress off the floor and away from allergens, dead skin, and other waste products. Mold can grow if you leave your mattress directly on the floor, which increases the risk of moisture and heat buildup.

Keep the windows open.

Dust mites, bacteria, fungi, mold, mildew, spores, and more are all attracted to a wet mattress.

Leaving your ceiling fan on for an hour or two after you wake up helps remove any moisture that may have accumulated while you slept. You can keep your mattress fresher for a longer period of time if you let natural light and air into your bedroom by opening the windows.

Also, check out our tips for falling asleep with a fan running.

FAQs

Pads for mattresses: machine washable or not?

Most mattress pads are machine-washable. However, we advise you to follow the care instructions on the label. Mattress pads are delicate, so it's best to wash them in cold water in the washing machine. Use a mild detergent and wash it on a delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low or let it air dry. A monthly wash of your mattress pad will keep dust mites and allergens at bay.

We'd also like to distinguish between mattress pads and mattress toppers for clarity's sake. In contrast to a mattress topper, which is typically at least two inches thick, a mattress pad is quite thin and functions like a fitted sheet with a touch of extra cushioning.

Can mildew and mold from a mattress be eliminated?

Mattress mold and mildew can't be eliminated, unfortunately. Mattresses can be cleaned and deodorized in a variety of ways, but these methods only work on the exterior to get rid of things like mold, mildew, dust, and germs.

Even after washing, if your mattress still has a musty odor, mold and mildew are likely growing inside. If you find mold growing on your mattress, it's best to get a new one as soon as possible. We recommend calling a junk removal service instead of trying to donate a mattress that has mold growing on it.

How do you eliminate the chemical odor from a brand new bed?

If after two days of airing out your mattress the odor persists, you can try covering it with baking soda. Don't worry about it until morning, then vacuum it up. Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil to the baking soda for a calming aroma.

Stain removal techniques for mattresses

Spot-cleaning a mattress is as simple as mixing equal parts salt, baking soda, and distilled white vinegar and rubbing the solution onto the stain. Then, give this solution about 30 minutes to soak into the stain. When the time is up, wipe away the paste and any remaining stains with a damp microfiber cloth.

Circular motions could set the stain, so be careful. Use pressing motions to get rid of the moisture and stain. After that, make sure it dries completely before making the bed.

The health risks associated with dust mites

Allergic reactions from dust mites include itchy eyes, a runny nose, a scratchy throat, a rash, and even trouble breathing. Even if they don't pose a threat to most people, no one enjoys the idea of spending the night on a bed laden with allergens.

Conclusion

Allergies and asthma attacks are less likely to occur in a bed that has been kept clean and free of dust mites. If you take good care of your mattress, you can extend its life and delay the expense of buying a new one.