Learning how to clean your mattress is an essential skill for anyone who's accidentally spilled something in bed (so everyone). To help you get the best sleep possible and keep your beloved mattress in tip-top shape, we spoke with Heather Corrow, former product development lead at Allswell.
While one option is to have your mattress professionally cleaned, Corrow says you can save money by carefully cleaning it yourself. (And you can clean a memory foam mattress the same way you would clean a traditional mattress as long as you avoid using any commercial cleaning products.)
If you take a few key preventative measures and follow the simple steps below, keeping your mattress clean isn't nearly as difficult as you might think.
Heather Corrow is the former product development lead at Allswell.
How Often to Clean a Mattress
As a general rule, you should clean your mattress twice a year. Over time, skin cells, allergens, and dust mites build up, so cleaning your mattress regularly is essential to ensure you're sleeping on a healthy surface. On the other hand, blood, urine, or spills need to be cleaned up immediately before a stain sets in.
Mattress Flipping
As long as you're cleaning your mattress, go ahead and give it a flip. Where you lay on a mattress creates an indentation; over time, that indentation can break down the mattress's materials (possibly cause you pain). Flipping your mattress prevents those indentations from becoming too cavernous.
You should aim to flip your mattress at least every time you clean your mattress, but every three months is ideal. If you can, change up your method sometimes—flip it one time, turn it the next, so the mattress materials are getting worn evenly. Both cleaning and flipping your mattress can extend its life (the life of a mattress is between 7 and 10 years).
What You'll Need:
To Clean a Mattress
- Vacuum
- Baking soda
- Sponge
- Dish soap
To Clean a Stained Mattress
- Spot cleaning pen or gel stick
- Powdered detergent
- Dry towel
- Vacuum or hair dryer
To Deodorize a Mattress
- Vacuum
- A disinfectant spray made with lemon, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol
- Lavender, eucalyptus, or tea tree essential oils
- Baking soda
To Clean Pee From a Mattress
- Paper towels
- Cleaning vinegar
- Baking soda
- Vacuum
To Clean Period Blood From a Mattress
- Rag
- Baking soda
- Salt, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice
How to Clean a Mattress
Step 1: Remove and Wash Bedding
To clean your mattress, you need to remove your sheets. In this step, also remove any pillow protectors and your mattress protector. Wash those according to their tag instructions, using the hottest water to kill bacteria and germs.
Step 2: Vacuum
Give your mattress a quick once-over with a handheld vacuum or the brush attachment on your larger vacuum to remove any dust or debris.
Step 3: Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Mattress
Scatter a thin layer of baking soda over your mattress and let it sit for a minimum of 30 minutes to deodorize.
Step 4: Vacuum (Again)
Once the baking soda has had time to sit, run your vacuum over it again.
Step 5: Wipe Down the Mattress
Mix warm water and a few drops of dish soap in a bowl, bucket, or sink. Dip your sponge in, wring it out thoroughly, and gently wipe down the entire surface of your mattress. Don't get it too wet, or it will take a long time to dry.
Step 6: Let Your Mattress Dry
Letting your mattress air dry is the best way to dry it, so cleaning your mattress is best performed early in the day (otherwise you'll be sleeping on a soggy bed!).
How to Clean a Stained Mattress
If stains happen, the best way to clean a mattress depends on how badly it is soiled. If the stain is small, Corrow says to use a traditional spot-cleaning pen or gel stick. "Be careful not to use too much and be sure to allow the area to dry completely before redressing your bed," she says. "You may need to repeat the entire process (including drying) more than once if the stain is stubborn." If the stain is larger, Corrow suggests following these steps.
Step 1: Make a Cleaning Paste
Mix powdered detergent with a very small amount of water—ideally, three parts powder to one part water. The consistency should be similar to toothpaste. "It is very important that you minimize the amount of water used to prevent mold," she says.
Step 2: Apply Paste to Stain
"Carefully apply to the stained area and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes before wiping clean with a slightly damp cloth," she says.
Step 3: Blot and Vacuum
Pat the spot without scrubbing it. "Blot with a dry towel and allow the area to dry thoroughly," she says. "Then vacuum it to remove any excess powder."
Step 4: Dry
Air dry the mattress. "You can also use a hair dryer or a fan (or in nice weather, open some windows!) to ensure that the mattress is completely dry before you redress the bed," she says. You must wait until the mattress is completely dry in order to prevent mold and mildew from growing. Corrow also suggests using a handheld steamer that does not leave a lot of moisture behind.
How to Deodorize a Mattress
To prevent smells, you should change your bedding at least once a week. Corrow also recommends vacuuming your mattress weekly. (Do it while your sheets are in the laundry). Then lightly mist the mattress with a natural lavender or disinfectant spray. "Use lemon, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol for disinfecting and add lavender, eucalyptus, or tea tree essential oils to keep things fresh," she says. Then allow a few minutes for it to air dry. For a deeper deodorizing treatment, Corrow recommends you follow the following steps:
Step 1: Vacuum the Mattress
Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
Step 2: Scatter Baking Soda
Scatter a bit of baking soda across the surface. "Gently rub it in evenly across the entire mattress with a dry sponge or brush to create a light surface coating," she says.
Step 3: Let Sit for 10 - 15 Minutes
Let the baking soda sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. Corrow says this allows "it to absorb and neutralize the odor."
Step 4: Vacuum Again
To remove the baking soda, vacuum your bed a second time using an upholstery nozzle.
How to Deep Clean a Bed
To deep clean a mattress, repeat the deodorizing steps above, but add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda. Extend the wait time to up to an hour or two before you do the second vacuuming. "Don't forget to also launder all of your bedding before remaking your bed," Corrow says.
How to Clean Pee Off a Mattress
Sometimes accidents happen, but this doesn't mean the odor must remain for the life of the mattress. You can try using a product designed to remove and deodorize pet messes from carpets and furniture. Or, follow these steps:
Step 1: Strip the Bed
Immediately remove the bedding and put it in the laundry.
Step 2: Blot
Blot the stain with paper towels. Don't scrub because you may end up forcing the urine deeper into the mattress.
Step 3: Make a Cleaning Solution
Create a mixture of half water and half white vinegar or cleaning vinegar. Spray the solution all over the area.
Step 4: Add Baking Soda and Let Sit
Cover the area with baking soda for at least eight to 10 hours.
Step 5: Vacuum
Vacuum up the excess baking soda. If it still smells, keep repeating these directions.
How to Get Blood and Period Stains Off a Mattress
It's not always possible to remove blood stains from a mattress, but you can try. Carbona Stain Devil ($20 for 4 bottles; amazon.com) is one option because it's formulated specifically for the removal of blood. Or, follow these steps:
Step 1: Blot
Blot the stain using a rag soaked with cold water.
Step 2: Make a Cleaning Solution
Mix one part baking soda to two parts cold water.
Step 3: Spread Solution on Stain
Let the mixture sit for half an hour.
Step 4: Sop Up With Wet Rag
Sop up the solution with a rag soaked in cold water.
Step 5: Dab and Dry
Dab with a dry towel to soak up the water and let it air dry.
Step 6: Repeat the Process With Another Cleaner
If this method doesn't work, you can try again using salt, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice, depending on what you have available.
How to Prevent Stains on a Mattress
The best way to keep a mattress clean is to prevent stains in the first place. "It's always best to use a mattress protector to prevent stains altogether," Corrow says. "Contrary to the noisy old vinyl ones that probably come to mind, the market now offers many inexpensive options made of soft fabric bonded to waterproof backing. Some even offer additional benefits like stain repellent, antimicrobial, and bed bug protection."
Zippered mattress protectors are best, as opposed to kinds designed to fit like a large fitted sheet. This is because the entire mattress will be protected, including the sides, which can be susceptible to dirt, spills, and even bedbugs. Be sure to put yourmattress topper, if you use one, underneath the zippered protector. Alternatively, a cooling mattress pad would also work layered under the mattress protector for hot sleepers.
The SureGuard Mattress Cover ($55; amazon.com) is a great choice because it's 100 percent waterproof, has a zipper, and is bedbug-proof and hypoallergenic.
Tips for Washing Your Mattress Protector
Mattress protectors can be a godsend, especially if they're durable and waterproof. They protect your investment, and some of them have features like a feathered layer that's super soft or a cooling pad if you're a hot sleeper. Here are a few tips for keeping your mattress protector in tip-top shape.
- Follow the care instructions. Some mattress protectors are made of cotton, others are made of bamboo; some are waterproof and have very specific washing and drying instructions, others don't. Read your manufacturer's care tags (and take a picture with your phone—the care tag may get worn down over several washes) before you throw it in the laundry.
- Wash your mattress protector by itself. Even if you have an extra large washer, wash your mattress protector separately. Separate washing will ensure that there's no crowding so it can agitate in the machine and get fully clean.
- Use the appropriate temperature. If the manufacturer's instructions designate cold water, follow the instructions. However, you want to wash mattress protectors in the hottest water possible to eradicate all germs and bacteria.
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