The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Mattress: How to Conduct a Deep Clean at Home

A fine mattress is a prerequisite for comfortable and restorative sleep that will allow you to feel refreshed, energized, and ready to tackle all the challenges the day brings.

Now, while you might have done your research and bought the best mattress for your needs, you shouldn’t forget one thing – mattress hygiene. The cleanliness of your mattress is crucial to getting quality sleep and maintaining good health.

Your mattress needs the same attention you give to the kitchen and bathroom surfaces and the living room area. And if you have neglected it, it’s time to give it a nice deep clean that will restore the looks and extend the life of this pricy household item.

Why Is It Important to Clean Your Mattress?

Every night your body sheds dead skin cells and hair, and you lose fluid that is absorbed into the mattress, pillow, and bedding. Add a pet to the equation, and you get one of the biggest hygiene hot spots in the house.

All this makes the mattress a perfect environment for breeding bed bugs, dust mites, bacteria, and fungi. In time, you will start to notice a funky smell of the polluted air in the bedroom that comes from all the microscopic creatures living on the mattress.

Poor mattress hygiene can further contribute to health issues such as allergies, nasal congestion, and skin conditions. Your health may suffer from all the sneezing, itching, and infections brought upon by the contaminated sleeping area.

So, regularly deep cleaning your mattress will make a huge difference in terms of quality of sleep and overall well-being. Maintaining the cleanliness of your mattress will:

• Improve the indoor air quality
• Make your bedroom smell fresh
• Prevent allergic reactions and symptoms
• Stop bacterial infections
• Prolong the lifespan of your mattress

You can follow our guide on how to deep clean a mattress, but if you are facing persistent stains, particularly musty odor, and bed bug infestations, it is best to get professional help from Certified Clean Care or another just as experienced team.
They will use a hot water extraction machine that penetrates deep into the mattress and deals with all the build-up of contaminants.

How to Deep Clean a Mattress?

If your mattress is in good condition with no visible stains or strong smells, you can follow our guide to a customary deep cleaning.

1. Remove the Bedding

The first step is to remove all the pieces of bedding, including the mattress topper or protector if you have any. It’s also recommended to open the windows open while you’re cleaning.

2. Vacuum the Mattress

Vacuum the mattress with a high-suction power vacuum cleaner. Use an upholstery attachment or other mattress cleaning tool you have. Move slowly along the surface and pay special attention to spots with a color change and all the crevices full of dust and dirt.

3. Check for Stains

It is important to detect all the places that have discoloration or stains because they need to be cleaned with a special detergent or other cleaning agents. Get to know how to clean mattress stains beforehand to be able to address any issues you find when you uncover the mattress.

4. Use Homemade Cleaning Agents

You can use non-toxic cleaning methods and household items to disinfect the mattress and get rid of the odor and new or light stains. Older and darker stains will probably need the care of a professional.

Baking soda

Baking soda can absorb foul odors and kill bacteria, so it is often used as a cleaning agent. Douse the stains with baking soda and rub them in with your hand. Sprinkle on the rest of the surface and let it sit for at least 10 minutes and up to an hour for more serious stains. Finally, vacuum the mattress to remove all the baking soda.

Isopropyl alcohol solution

If you notice mold on the mattress, it is best to treat it with a 50:50 solution of water and isopropyl alcohol. Use a cloth to rub in the solution in the affected area and let it sit until you notice that the mold is fading. Wipe it with a clean cloth and then vacuum the mattress. Additionally, you can spray the mattress with an upholstery disinfectant and let it dry in a well-ventilated room.

Hydrogen peroxide solution

Another homemade cleaning agent is hydrogen peroxide that you can also mix with baking soda and a few drops of dish soap. It is useful for removing sweat, urine, or blood stains. The simplest way is to make a 50:50 solution with water and rub it in the mattress stains with a soft brush so as not to damage the fabric. Let it sit for 10 minutes and rub again if needed. Rinse the area with a wet cloth, vacuum the mattress and wait for it to dry completely.

White vinegar

White vinegar is usually combined with baking soda for the best sanitizing results. Pour pure white vinegar into a spray bottle or make a 70:30 solution with water. Spray on the stains and let them sit for at least 10 minutes. Wipe it with a dry cloth to absorb the moisture. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain and let it absorb the rest of the moisture for about an hour. Vacuum the mattress afterward.

Use Enzyme Cleaners

Enzyme cleaners contain molecules that create a chemical reaction that breaks down the bacteria in dirty carpets, upholstery, and mattresses. They are best used for removing pet urine and wine or food stains.

Spray the enzyme cleaner on the stain and leave it for an hour and up to 48 hours for especially persistent pet stains. Wipe with a wet microfiber cloth and repeat until the stain is removed. Let the mattress dry for as long as needed, and then vacuum.

Can You Steam Clean a Mattress?

You can use a steam cleaner to remove the build-up of dust and dirt on your mattress, but you should be careful when doing it, as the heat can damage the fabric or mattress material.

Prepare your steam cleaner as usual and turn it on. Make sure you’re not touching the surface, and hold the steamer a few inches above the mattress. Hover slowly and pay attention to the moisture it absorbs. It shouldn’t get too wet but only a little damp from the steam.

If you want to steam the other side of the mattress as well, you should first let the treated side dry completely. Then you can turn it over and steam it.

Steam cleaning means using a lot of water on your mattress, so it is advisable to allow as much time as needed for the mattress to dry. You can take it outside, get a lot of airflow in the room or use heaters to dry it directly.

Can You Clean a Moldy Mattress & Should You?

A moldy mattress can affect your health as mold is composed of fungi that release spores in the air. Breathing in polluted air causes respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

You should clean the mattress as soon as you notice mold on it, but due to the seriousness of the complications it may cause, it is best to use professional help. Until you get an appointment with an expert cleaner, you could try some of the aforementioned home remedies to improve the situation in your sleeping area.

What Is the Best Way to Clean a Mattress?

The best way to clean a mattress is by using a professional hot water extraction machine managed by cleaning professionals.

It uses a solution of detergents and hot water that is infused into the mattress and then extracted along with all the dust, dirt, skin, and mites with it. It destroys all the bacteria and fungi that have developed anywhere on the mattress and fully disinfects it.

At Certified Clean Care, we offer top-grade mattress cleaning services by using natural cleaning products, ensuring a quick dry time for guaranteed satisfaction. You can schedule an appointment at any time during the week or on the weekend to get a thorough cleaning of your mattress in all our service areas.

Let us do the household chores for you so you can rest, get a good night’s sleep and enjoy the health benefits of a professional deep clean of your mattress.

FAQ

How often should you deep clean your mattress?

It is recommended to deep clean a mattress every 6 months. Additionally, you should clean it immediately after an accident to prevent stubborn stains.

What happens if you sleep on a dirty mattress?

Dirty mattresses can cause health problems with your respiratory system and disrupt your sleep and even lead to insomnia. All the bacteria, fungi, dirt, and moisture in the mattress make an unhealthy and unsanitary sleeping environment that affects your overall quality of life.

How long does a mattress take to dry after deep cleaning?

After professional cleaning with a hot water extraction machine, it will take 2-4 hours for the mattress to dry. Make sure the room is well-ventilated by opening the windows and letting air flow.