The Beginners Guide to Mattress Cleaning

Mattresses are one of those things that have an important impact on other areas of our lives. How well we sleep determines how well we function at work, how well we can concentrate, and how good we feel throughout the day. Therefore, it's imperative not only to have a mattress that's comfortable and supportive, but also one that is clean. If we want to maintain good sleep habits the last thing we need is a mattress with dust mites, stains, and foul odors.

This guide to mattress cleaning will provide you with some tips and tools to help you remove stains and odors from your mattresses. But before getting into that, it's important to note that the best way to keep your mattress odor and stain free is to use a mattress pad. A mattress pad is a thin protective layer usually made of foam and/or vinyl that lies directly on top of the mattress surface. By having a protective layer between you and your mattress, you will greatly reduce the risk of your mattress being stained or soiled.

Dust Mites and General Cleaning

Regardless of where you live in the country, dust mites are common in North America. Bedding provides an extremely inviting environment due to the fact that dust mites feed on organic material such as dead skin cells. They are one of the most common causes of adult asthma in the United States and can be present in your bedroom or kitchen without you even knowing it. For this reason it's a good idea to regularly clean your bedding using simple household cleaning agents and methods.

For the mattress, some sodium bicarbonate and a vacuum is really all you need to take care of dust mites. Using a mesh strainer spread the sodium bicarbonate over the mattress evenly and liberally. Allow it to set for 30 minutes or so and then vacuum thoroughly. Not only will this process remove any mites present on your mattress, it will also eliminate any lingering odors caused by human perspiration or the fecal matter left by dust mites. While you are treating your mattress be sure to throw your linens and the mattress topper in the washing machine.

Urine and Blood

Urine and blood are two problems a bit more serious than dust mites. Unfortunately, far too many people simply let urine or blood dry into the mattress and forget about it. This is not a good idea for several reasons. First of all, odors will linger long after such substances have dried. Dog urine, for example, can present a lingering oder you'll smell in your mattress for years after the initial wetting. Human urine is not as strong or long-lasting, but it still lingers long enough to be annoying.

Secondly, any pathogens that might have been present in the blood or urine may have the opportunity to grow within the materials of the mattress and make you ill. For this reason alone soiled mattresses need to be cleaned as soon as possible. A third and final reason is that stains will set very quickly in your bedding. If you leave blood or urine to dry the stain will most likely be set and you'll have difficulty getting it out.

You can certainly have your mattress cleaned commercially by a professional company specializing in such things. And for really tough stains, this may be necessary. But if you'd like to try and clean it yourself here are some ideas you might find helpful.

1. Vinegar and Baking Soda

One of the oldest and most successful methods for cleaning mattresses is to use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. All you do is liberally spray the affected area with vinegar and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then cover the area with baking soda and watch it fizz - the chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda is what cleans the mattress. Once the fizzing has stopped, the reaction is complete and no more cleaning is possible. Simply vacuum up the residue and you're done. Note: for stubborn stains you may have to repeat the process.

2. Boric Acid

Boric acid is another wonderful substance often used to clean our laundry. You might find it in your local grocery store under the name of Borax or something similar. You can use boric acid on your mattress in the same way you would use vinegar and baking soda. Simply wet down the affected area of the mattress with water and let it soak in for a couple of minutes. Then cover the area with boric acid and agitate it a bit by rubbing it in with a rag. Let it sit until it dries and then simply vacuum it up.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a pretty strong bleaching agent that will get rid of a lot of stains and kill bacteria. However, if you're not careful it will also leave a bleach spot on your mattress cover. To use hydrogen peroxide you should simply dab it on, a little at a time, using a rag. Don't try to rub it in, and don't pour it on liberally. The nice thing about this stuff is that it evaporates very quickly and doesn't leave an odor afterward.

4. Enzymatic Cleaners

Enzyme-based cleaners also work well on most stained mattresses. They can be rather expensive, but they work quite well and they're not harmful to the environment. How you use different enzyme cleaners depends on the product you buy, but as a general rule you will dab it on or rub it in similar to hydrogen peroxide.

Black Light and Chemicals

Sometimes you'll have especially stubborn odor that you can't seem to get rid of no matter how often you clean your mattress. If so, it might be because you're looking in the wrong place. Sometimes you'll have a situation involving animal urine where the mattresses dries and there's no visible stain. In order to find out where that urine is, you can use a black light kit.

With this kit you simply spray the mattress lightly with a chemical provided in the kit. That chemical will react in a specific way if it comes in contact with dried urine or blood. Under a black light you'll see the spot where the reaction has occurred. Then you can use other chemicals provided in the kit to clean the mattress. Just be sure to follow directions closely.

Stubborn Stains and Odors

Like it or not, there are just some times when we have a stubborn stain or odor we simply cannot deal with. These are times when hiring a professional is unavoidable. A professional will use steam cleaning, and enzyme solution, or a specialized shampoo in order to clean your mattress. Even though it may cost you some money, when he's done you will be left with a mattress as clean as the day you purchased it.