According to a study in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, we spend about one-third of our life sleeping.

Except for the times you might be on vacation or couch-surfing with friends, a majority of that time is going to be on your mattress. Sheets, covers, and blankets do a great job of protecting a mattress, but cleaning a mattress is eventually inevitable.

Your mattress is ground zero for bacteria and mold, so you need to learn how and when to take care of it. Here, we’ve got a step-by-step guide on how to get your mattress looking and feeling brand new!

1. Unpack Your Bed

The first step in how to clean a mattress is to take everything apart.

Remember to remove the following:

  • Comforters
  • Blankets
  • Sheets
  • Fitted Sheets
  • Pillows
  • Decorations

Strip everything down until you’re left with the mattress, and don’t forget a mattress protector if you have one. You may have forgotten about it, and mattress protectors can often look like they’re just part of the mattress itself.

This is also a good time to set aside other things you can clean easily in a washing machine: pillow covers, sheets, etc. If this is part of your spring cleaning regiment, then it’s a good time to address more than the mattress itself.

2. Vacuum the Mattress

This may not be necessary if you use a mattress protector, but use a brush attachment for your vacuum on the mattress. This will clean up any dirt or debris that can easily be sucked up, but be sure to address the top, sides, and bottom.

You never know where dirt and sand are going to land.

3. Attack the Spills and Stains

If you’ve got spills and stains from coffee or wine, you need to address these immediately (don’t wait)!

Use a slightly damp cloth to blot the stain, but be sure not to rub or scrub. You may risk pushing the stain deeper into the material. Instead, lightly dab it until you’ve removed as much of the excess liquid off as possible.

From there, you can use a homemade mattress cleaner with the following ingredients:

  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Dish soap

Mix these together and using an old toothbrush to scrub the stains. Then, wipe off the excess suds with your damp cloth.

4. Deodorize the Mattress

All those night sweats and oils from your body will accumulate over time and might create some funky odors. When you’re cleaning a mattress, you can freshen it up a bit with baking soda and essential oils.

The essential oils are optional but might add a bit more masking scent. Simply drop some essential oil into the baking soda, sprinkle it all over the mattress and let it sit for about half an hour.

Vacuum up the baking soda after it has had time to absorb.

5. The Final Touches

Before putting your bed back together, be sure to let it dry and air out in direct sunlight for a while (up to a full day if possible). Then, consider flipping your mattress over for improved comfort and longevity.

Flipping your mattress may not be possible depending on its construction. If it has foam material on both the bottom and top, then you can flip it for a fresher and more comforting sleep!

Cleaning A Mattress Like a Pro

Cleaning a mattress is a little more involved than washing your pillow covers and sheets, but it’s really not too difficult. Following this guide, you could be freshening up your bed in no time at all just like a pro would.

That being said, we don’t always have the time to give our bed a deep clean, no matter how important it might be. Feel free to request a quote today and see how our professional cleaners can help you get the job done!