Many homeowners often need to remember that their mattresses must be cleaned regularly, or they could become unhealthy to sleep on. Like any other surface at home, the mattress traps dust, dirt or stains you should often address to ensure a healthy bedroom. DIY mattress cleaning is a challenging job. Just stick to the guide below and enjoy the freshness of your mattress:
- Collect the cleaning arsenal – as the mattress should stay as healthy as possible, you need an eco-friendly cleaning routine. All you need to green clean the mattress is your vacuum cleaner, crevice and upholstery attachments, a box of baking soda, a little dish soap and soft clean clothes. Once you have collected your cleaning arsenal, you can start the mattress cleaning process.
- Remove everything from the bed – remove the sheets, the pillowcases, the blankets and everything else that stays on top of the mattress. Throw everything machine-washable in the washer and run the machine to banish dirt and stains. Once you are done cleaning the mattress, you will place clean sheets and pillows to make the bed fresh again.
- Vacuum clean – with your mattress fully stripped off bedding; it’s time to vacuum clean it thoroughly. Start by using the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner and go over the mattress a couple of times to eliminate dust, dust mites and buildup dirt. Take your time, and don’t rush through the task so you can banish as much grime as possible. Then switch to the crevice attachment of the vacuum cleaner and address the seams of the mattress and the corners of the bed where most dust hides. Once you have eliminated surface dirt, don’t store the vacuum cleaner just yet. You will take advantage of it one more time later.
- Inspect the mattress for stains – when it comes to banishing stains from the mattress, you need to be extra careful not to cause extreme moisture to the surface. Otherwise, you risk promoting mould and mildew to appear. If you notice nasty stains on the mattress, mix a little water with a few drops of liquid dish soap in a small bowl and use a soft clean cloth to transfer only the foam of the mixture to the stained part of the mattress. Blot gently without applying any pressure to the mattress. If you are dealing with tougher or older mattress stains, try another DIY cleaning remedy of cold water and some hydrogen peroxide.
- Use baking soda – baking soda is your best bet when cleaning the mattress, as the ingredient is harmless, eco-friendly and safe to use on the surface. Plus, baking soda is highly absorbent, thus removing both tough odours and moisture from the mattress. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all over the mattress and allow it to sit for 24 hours. If possible, let lots of sunshine in the room by leaving the windows open, as UV rays work wonders to eliminate mould and germs trapped in the mattress.
- Vacuum clean again – as soon as the required time has passed, take the vacuum cleaner and go over the mattes once more to collect baking soda residue. Act on the task slowly to remove all the baking soda from the mattress. If your headboard is made of fabric, you might also want to vacuum-clean it to remove dust. With your mattress already perfectly vacuumed, you can take out your clean, fresh sheets and pillows and make your bed.
Nothing beats the feeling of sleeping on a squeaky clean mattress. Use this simple step-by-step guide to deep clean and refresh your mattress every one-two months.