Mattresses are home to a whole host of things that we generally don’t like to think about. Dead skin cells, along with a wide variety of mites, dust, oils, and some unmentionable bodily fluids, end up on the mattress no matter how careful you are. Cleaning a mattress properly will help shed those nasty images that can haunt your dreams while sanitizing the various things we like to pretend we don’t sleep on.
It’s not so simple, though. You can’t just throw the mattress in the washer or even wash it off in the backyard with a hose. Well, I suppose that you could, but a hose and a bucket of soap are not the most effective cleaning methods, nor are they the best for your mattress.
Proper Mattress Cleaning Methods
By now, you’re probably regretting not buying one of those airtight mattress wraps that keep just about everything from living in your mattress. Don’t fret. The good news is that when you are through giving your mattress the cleaning of its life (even if it’s brand new from the store), you can then go back and wrap it to keep it sanitized and free from life’s little accidents and side effects.
There are numerous mattress cleaning products on the market. However, discerning the good from the bad—and the totally worthless—takes more than just a willingness to read the back of the package. Remember that products are also a form of advertising, so their recommendations might be a little slanted. You should be cleaning your mattress once every three to four months under normal circumstances; more often if there are frequent spills, pets, or accidents. Cleaning a spot on a mattress is not the same as cleaning the entire mattress.
Start by choosing a product that you feel comfortable with. Steam cleaning is a great and thorough method for cleaning a mattress; however, not everyone is comfortable with the idea. Dry powders generally do not penetrate the mattress fibers well enough to do anything more than leave a pleasant aroma behind. There are numerous detergents that mix well into a solution that will allow you to thoroughly clean the mattress. Many people are perfectly happy with diluting their regular laundry detergent with about 5 cups of water for their cleaning needs. This is the cheapest and often the most effective method.
Once you have chosen your cleaning weapon of choice, you will want to attack your mattress vigorously with a vacuum cleaner. Suck up as much dust and debris as possible with the appropriate attachment before moving on to the next step. It’s recommended that you attack all four sides of the mattress.
After that, you can either scrub the mattress with a mild solution of detergent or steam clean it (my number one pick). Either way, you will want to approach the cleaning process methodically to ensure you clean the entire mattress evenly. Do not saturate the mattress, as you are simply trying to use minimal moisture to attack the remaining “ook” that lingers in a well-used bed. Creating a sopping wet mattress will only invite mildew, mold, and a strange, wet mattress smell that isn’t too far from the scent of a wet dog.
Stains from inevitable accidents—whether from a dog, child, or other sources—are a much harder beast to tackle once they’ve been left to sit for a while. As soon as the incident has been discovered, the mattress should be cleaned thoroughly. Initially, a wet stain shouldn’t absorb any more fluid. Use a few cloths or paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible from the area. This might take a while, but a little patience here can really pay off in the long run. Once you’re sure you’ve soaked up the moisture, scrubbing with the same solution of detergent and water should be enough to lift the stain. A little lemon juice can help with aroma issues and color problems. If at all possible, the mattress should spend some time sunbathing, as the sun’s intense rays can have a bleaching effect on stains.
Never, ever put a bed back together while the mattress is still wet. Regardless of the detergent or solution that you used, a wet mattress is still a wet mattress. Why go through the hassle of cleaning it only to encourage mold growth? Putting even a slightly damp mattress into a mattress bag will only lock in that growth, creating a haven for it to fester. This would completely defeat your efforts. Even if it means camping out on the couch, the mattress should always be given sufficient time and space to dry thoroughly before returning it to its proper location and purpose.
