Cleaning your mattress every month will help extend its life and keep it fresh, especially if you have pets and don’t use a mattress topper. Dirt, grime, skin flakes and sweat are easily dealt with, providing you keep on top of them.
We can split the steps into weekly and monthly cleaning tasks, which apply to all types of mattresses, whether hybrid, memory foam or spring, and there are also special steps to take if you have any spills.
Let’s jump in!
Weekly cleaning
Weekly cleaning is optional, but the steps are simple and take no more than five minutes. Cleaning your mattress every week will extend its life and keep it fresh, although you might find your mattress doesn’t need it.
Here are the steps:
- Remove all bedding and let the mattress air for an hour
- Hoover the mattress if there’s any lint
- Spray the mattress with a scentless odour neutraliser; let it dry
- Put on fresh bedding
- Job done!
Photo by Filmreal Studio on Unsplash
Monthly cleaning
Monthly cleaning is important to remove built-up grime and the top layer of dirt embedded from sweating. The steps are similar to a weekly clean, except you do something new – wipe down the mattress instead of spraying it.
Here are the steps:
- Remove all bedding
- Hoover the mattress
- Wipe down the mattress with a sponge using mattress cleaner, carpet cleaner, or any other neutral fabric cleaner; let it dry
- Install fresh bedding
- Sit back and admire your work!
Cleaning up spills
Anything you spill on the mattress will soak into it if you don’t use a mattress protector. A common misconception is that memory foam doesn’t absorb moisture, but this is not true, and foam can be the hardest thing to clean!
Here are some general rules for all spills:
- Water is not a problem and can be left to dry
- Any coloured liquids need to be wet cleaned
- Liquids with fruit, sugar, or milk need special attention
And here are some general steps to take with all spills:
- Remove your bedding
- Soak up as much of the liquid as possible with paper towels or a sponge – but do not press the liquid into the mattress
- Dilute the spilled liquid and use something absorbent like a sponge to pull it out
- Do not let the stain dry before you tackle it.
Now that we’ve established a few ground rules, the right course of action depends on what you have spilt on your mattress. You need to pull as much liquid out of your mattress as possible, and there are a few ways to do it:
Milk, tea and coffee
The best way to deal with milk spills is with baking soda and time; soak up the milk with a sponge or paper towel and sprinkle baking soda liberally over the wet area. Let the baking soda sit for five or six hours until dry, and then vacuum it away. You can then use detergent with an odour neutraliser to remove any odours.
This tip also works for:
- Fruit juices
- Tea and coffee
Red wine
Soak up as much red wine as possible, and then sprinkle salt liberally over the wet patch. Wait three minutes, and then dab the salt with cold water to lift the red wine from the mattress. Don’t scrub and repeat the steps until the red vanishes. This process takes a little time, but it could save your mattress.
This tip also works for:
- Alcohol of any kind
Fabric detergents
Using fabric detergents to clean spills from a mattress works great, but you need to remove as much spilt liquid as possible (hence the salt and baking soda tips). You can then use any washing machine detergent diluted with water.
Avoid chemicals like bleach and hydrogen peroxide because these could react with the mattress’s dyes, adhesives, and additives.
This is a collaborative post.