The Complete Guide to Mattress Care [Updated for 2022]

You don't have to hire a professional cleaner to remove stains and eliminate odors from your mattress, as there are plenty of over-the-counter options. One of these DIY or all-natural methods for sanitizing and revitalizing your mattress is worth a try if you'd rather avoid commercial products.

Step One: Use Steam to Clean

Useful for Regular Upkeep and Perspiration Stains

Since it doesn't involve the use of any chemicals, steam cleaning is the best all-natural option for disinfecting mattresses.

You can get rid of the dust mites and get rid of the yellow sweat stains that form on your mattress over time by using a handheld steamer (like a garment steamer). Take care not to get any water on the mattress. Our advice is to release steam in short, sharp bursts.

Antibacterial Spray (Method 2)

Useful for Regular Upkeep and Perspiration Stains

A spray disinfectant can eliminate germs and destroy bacteria while also removing perspiration stains.  

Avoid using any bleach-based cleaners on your mattress because they can deteriorate the fabric. Moisten a cloth and lightly mist the mattress surface rather than soaking it. Allow the mattress to dry completely before making the bed by opening a window.

Vodka, Method No. 3

Ideal for Preventative Care

You and the bed both need vodka martinis. Vodka is a natural disinfectant and can be used to clean a variety of household items, including your mattress, which may sound strange but is actually quite useful.

Put some vodka in a spray bottle and spray the whole bed with it. Avoid getting the mattress too wet, and dry it off with a clean rag when you're done. Before making the bed, crack a window and let the mattress air out.

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar (Method 4)

Ideal for General Upkeep, Odor Removal, and Spot Cleaning

A simple do-it-yourself mattress cleaner can be made with baking soda and vinegar.  

Simply fill a spray bottle with vinegar and lightly spritz the mattress to revitalize it. The baking soda will neutralize the odor in no time. Blot the area with a dry cloth or paper towels after waiting 10 minutes.

Then, sprinkle baking soda over the bed and let it sit for a few hours in a well-ventilated area. Baking soda will soak up the vinegar and any stains it may have left behind.

Remove the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner and make the bed before turning in for the night.

Cornstarch and baking soda is the fifth technique.

Excellent Odor Eliminator

Another useful everyday item that is great for cleaning a mattress is cornstarch. Cornstarch can be used to neutralize the odor of an old mattress by absorbing the bacteria that cause it. If you want an extra cleaning boost, combine baking soda and cornstarch.

Using a 50/50 mixture of cornstarch and baking soda, sprinkle the mixture over the mattress and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, before replacing the sheets, vacuum the entire mattress, the base of the bed, and the area underneath it.

Foaming Shaving Cream (Method No. 6)

The Ultimate Stain Remover

The alcohol in most shaving foams makes them effective against even the most set-in stains on a mattress.  

It's easy to remove the stain; just spray on the foam and wait 20 minutes. After that, take a damp cloth and wipe the mattress down to get rid of the leftover foam. Let the mattress air dry completely after rinsing it with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.

Cleansing with Enzymes

The Ultimate Stain Remover

Using 8 ounces of hydrogen peroxide and 3 tablespoons of baking soda, you can create a homemade enzyme cleaner that will remove even the most set-in of stains.

Put the remedy on the sore spot, and let it sit for a while. The next step is to blot the stain with a damp cloth. After the surface has dried, go over the entire bed with a vacuum.

Common Mattress Stains and How to Remove Them

Worried that you don't know which option will best address your problem Urine, blood, and sweat are common causes of mattress discoloration, and they can be treated with the following spot treatments.  

Urine Removal from Mattresses

Items Required:

• Vinegar
  
• Water
  
• Salicylic acid
  
• A discarded spray bottle
  
• Wet wipes
  
• Vacuum

Instructions:

1. Put the sheets in a washing machine according to the instructions on the label.
   
2. Fill the spray bottle with a mixture of half vinegar and water.
   
3. Do not scrub the urine stain, but instead blot it with one of your dry, clean towels to prevent it from being pushed deeper into the mattress.
   
4. Use a mixture of vinegar and water to spray on the stain and blot up the liquid.
   
5. After about 8 hours, sprinkle baking soda on the stain and let it sit.
   
6. Remove the baking soda from the mattress by vacuuming the stain. Vaccuum the entire bed and frame while you have the chance.
   
7. If necessary, start over.

Tips for Cleaning Mattress Blood Stains

In Order To,

• Salicylic acid
  
• Cold water
  
• Fresh washcloths
  
• Bowl
  
• Vacuum

Instructions:

1. Take everything out of the bed and clean it according to the instructions on the label.
   
2. In a bowl, combine two parts water with one part baking soda.
   
3. Dab the stain with a dry cloth instead of rubbing it in.
   
4. Give the ingredients half an hour to marinate.
   
5. Use another wet cloth to dab at the stain.
   
6. Clean the mess with a vacuum.
   
7. Don't re-make the bed until the mattress has had a chance to dry out from the excess water.  

The following is a comprehensive guide to removing blood stains from various surfaces. here  

Avoiding Perspiring Mattress Stains

Items Required:

• Peroxide of hydrogen
  
• Baking powder
  
• Fresh washcloths
  
• Bowl
  
• Vacuum 
  

Instructions:

1. Take off your bedclothes and pillows.
   
2. Eight ounces of hydrogen peroxide and three tablespoons of baking soda should be mixed together in a bowl.
   
3. Apply the solution to the affected area with a clean cloth. Let it sit for a while.
   
4. Carefully blot the stain with a damp cloth.
   
5. After the stain has dried, a full vacuuming of the mattress is in order.
   
6. Put clean sheets on the bed.

Cleaning and Deodorizing a Mattress

If you smell something stale on your mattress, you can deodorize it with just baking soda by following these steps.

1. Strip the bed bare
   
2. Clean under the bed as well as the mattress and the base.
   
3. Spread the baking soda over the top of the mattress using a sieve or a spoon and let it sit in the sun for as long as you can.
   
4. Remove the baking powder with another round of vacuuming.
   
5. Just by changing the sheets, the musty odor of your mattress should disappear.
   

A Guide to Cleaning a Second-Hand Mattress

You can save a lot of money by purchasing a used mattress, but you should be aware of the potential dangers involved. It's important to take extra care when cleaning and disinfecting a used mattress, whether you bought it secondhand, got it from a friend, or brought it home straight from the showroom floor.

To begin with, You should inspect the bed for bedbugs. before you complete the transaction and load the item into your car Despite their notoriety for being difficult to eradicate, bed bugs can be spotted by the vigilant eye.  

Inspect the mattress's edges and seams by flipping it over on its bottom. Bed bugs, their blood, and their excrement (which looks like tiny black spots) are all visible to the naked eye. We advise against making a purchase if pests are visible.  

It's important to give a previously owned bed a thorough cleaning and sanitization before bringing it into your home. Step-by-step instructions are provided below.  

1. If possible, let the mattress air out in the open air before bringing it inside. Because sunlight is a natural disinfectant, it can be used.
   
2. Make sure you vacuum your entire mattress, including the floor and foundation.
   
3. Use one of the aforementioned methods to treat any stains on the mattress.
   
4. To thoroughly disinfect your mattress, use a steam cleaner, baking soda, or antibacterial spray on the entire thing.
   
5. Don't make the bed until the mattress has dried completely.

Bed Bug Mattress Treatment Methods

It's not easy to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress, but it can be done. Exterminating bed bugs and their eggs from a bed and its components requires a methodical approach. We've laid out every single step of the process so you won't have to worry about it. How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs  

Instructions for Laundering Sheets

Mattress cleaning is pointless if you continue to sleep on dirty sheets. In order to keep your sheets clean and free of dust, bacteria, pet dander, and allergens, you should wash them at least once a week. How? Read on!

1. Disassemble the bed and wash the sheets in the hottest water possible, following the instructions on the label.
   
2. Fabric softener and laundry detergent from a reputable brand only.
   
3. Linens dried in the sun or on a high dryer setting disinfect themselves naturally.
   
4. Place clean, dry sheets on the bed.

A mattress protector will help you maintain a clean and healthy sleeping surface.

Keeping your mattress clean and your sleeping environment healthy is like playing defense, as the saying goes. It's not just the obvious stains on your mattress that pose a health risk; there could be mold and germs there, too.  

Covering your mattress is the best way to keep it smelling and looking like new for longer and to stop bacteria from eating away at the materials. Cover for the Mattress  

A good mattress cover will be resistant to dust mites and other allergens, will keep your mattress dry without making it too hot, and will last for years. Our insurance premium Mattress Protector from Nolah Bamboo is completely impermeable to water while being incredibly lightweight and silent; perfect for a good night's rest  

Frequently Asked Questions About Mattress Cleaning

We've compiled a few of the most frequently asked additional mattress cleaning questions to wrap up our guide. Feel free to use our live chat feature to ask our support staff any remaining questions you may have about mattress maintenance or mattress protectors.  

The #1 Question: How to Clean a Memory Foam Mattress

Keep your memory foam mattress dry at all costs. You should also stay away from bleach and ammonia.

To disinfect a memory foam mattress, fill a spray bottle with half white vinegar and half water and lightly mist the mattress with the solution. Don't get any water on the surface.

Wait 30 minutes before using the vinegar mixture. Then, using a clean, dry rag or paper towels, gently dab the mattress and allow it to dry naturally.

After misting the mattress, sprinkle the affected area with baking soda and allow it to sit for up to 10 hours before vacuuming. This will work to remove the stain without damaging your mattress' memory foam.

Can I use Lysol to disinfect my bed?

A mattress can be deodorized with a can of Lysol Fabric Mist, the same product that can be used to re-energize sheets, blankets, and pillows. If you follow the label's instructions, you can use Lysol spray to kill bacteria without damaging your mattress.

Before making the bed, check that the mattress, sheets, and pillows are completely dry after use.

Is It Possible to Bleach a Mattress?

Avoid using bleach on mattresses because its harsh chemicals can deteriorate the fabric. A gentler method, such as one of the above do-it-yourself cleaning solutions, is what we advise.