How to Spring Clean a Mattress

Something that is used on a daily basis within your home that may not get the attention it deserves in your cleaning schedule is your mattress. After all, the average person spends a third of their life on this household item. Sure, you frequently change your sheets, replacing them with a fresh, clean set. However, how often do you actually clean your mattress? Many people fail to clean theirs on a regular basis, leading to undesirable outcomes. Here's why it’s so important to clean your mattress regularly and how you can spring clean yours in a few easy steps.

Why You Should Clean Your Mattress

Cleaning your mattress may not seem like the most glamorous of tasks, but it’s an important one. This is for several reasons. First, a clean mattress is proven to promote a better night’s sleep. Second, a mattress that is regularly cleaned can last longer and these cleanings will help to prevent unwanted pest infestations. Finally, cleaning your mattress can rid it of unsightly stains, dust mites, and other allergens that can irritate your senses and take away from a restful night of sleep.

Even though it’s a bit gross to think about, your mattress has absorbed substances like sweat, blood, and even urine. Mold and mildew can even exist on your bed, especially if your mattress is in a more humid environment and is exposed to sweat and moisture. These substances make it that much more important to give this item some TLC in the cleaning department.

How to Clean Your Mattress

Follow the steps below to deep clean this important household item in your spring cleaning sweep!

Strip the Bed

First, take all pillows, comforters, blankets, and sheets off your bed. While you’re cleaning your mattress, it's also a great time to launder your linens on the highest setting possible to kill any dust mites that exist within them

Vacuum Your Mattress

Now it’s time to do something you probably frequently do to your couches, carpets, and floors but rarely your mattress: vacuum it. Use the upholstery attachment included with your appliance to vacuum the top and sides of the mattress thoroughly.

Sprinkle Baking Soda

Baking soda works as a deodorizer, making it a good item to use on your mattress. Sprinkle the baking soda evenly around its surface and use a scrub brush to rub it in a bit, allowing it to penetrate the fabric. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes or so.

Vacuum Your Mattress Again

The baking soda sitting on your mattress did its part to bring oils and moisture to the surface of the mattress. After it’s sat for a bit, vacuum the mattress again to rid it of the baking soda and to pull moisture and any odors that exist out of it.

Spot Clean Stains

If needed, use this time to spot clean stains on your mattress. Use three tablespoons of baking soda mixed with eight ounces of hydrogen peroxide. Mix in a drop or two of a mild dish soap into the solution. Use a damp cloth to dab the solution onto the stain. Be careful not to get the mattress too wet as you don’t want unnecessary moisture soaking in.

If this doesn’t work to remove the stain, use three tablespoons of dry laundry detergent and a tablespoon of water, allowing the solution to turn into a foam. Spread it on the stain and let it sit for thirty minutes or more. Afterward, scrape it away and use a cloth dampened in hydrogen peroxide to work magic on the stain.

After using either of these solutions on the stain, vacuum over the spot to remove excess moisture.

Flip It

If you don’t have a pillow top mattress, flip it now and repeat the above steps to clean the other side. If you do have a pillow top mattress that can’t be flipped, rotate it top to bottom instead.

Let it Air Out

After completing these steps, let your mattress have a couple hours or so to completely dry and air out before replacing linens. Once that’s done, put sheets and blankets back on.

Don’t forget to deep clean your mattress this spring as you scrub away at the rest of your home and enjoy that refreshing feeling of cleanliness.