If the thought of cleaning your mattress hasn’t crossed your mind in a while, you’re not the only one. In fact, most of us never clean our mattresses in any way. We just end up buying a new one when the previous starts to smell and is no longer as white as it used to be.

    But what if you’re able to get a few more years of usage out of the mattress, and improve your good night’s sleep in the meantime? You can easily do that by following our 9 tips on mattress care at home!

    1. Why you should vacuum your mattress?

    As a person who’s sensitive to dust, I found that giving my mattress a proper hoover on a weekly basis really minimised my coughing issues. The best way to go about it is to use your hoover’s upholstery attachment and really focus on the seams and crevices. Press down firmly on the surface, and use short slow strokes. You can also tap on the mattress fabric to draw out any debris.

    If you’re a pet owner, and especially one who tends to sleep with their pet, you’d know how beneficial this may be to you. Apart from just dust, vacuuming your mattress also removed hairs, dirt and dead skin cells (your own and your pets).

    How to care for your mattress at home

    2. Why you should invest in a dehumidifier?

    To receive the best possible sleep, you need your bedroom to be well-ventilated, mostly dry and somewhat cold. In places like the UK, however, keeping the room dry isn’t as easy as leaving a window open (due to high humidity outside as well).

    The best humidity to ensure a quality sleep is 30% to 50%. In the same percentage frame mould is also very difficult, almost impossible to develop. And as you may know, mould and mildew could be of great risk to your well-being, as well as the general health of the mattress.

    To minimise said problem, we recommend investing in a dehumidifier. For a standard 3 x 4 m double bedroom, you can pick up the Xaxazon 1L Dehumidifier, which is only £50. Although its water tank can only collect approximately 0.7L, you’ll be notified via a red light as soon as it’s full, allowing you to quickly empty it out and put it back to work.

    How to take car of your mattress
    Urine stain removal from a mattress

    3. Should you get a mattress topper or a mattress protector?

    A mattress topper’s main purpose is to remedy the firmness or lack of support of your mattress. If, however, you’re perfectly happy with how soft or firm your current mattress is, and you simply want to protect it from spills, consider buying a mattress protector.

    Many mattress protectors are water-proof – a very convenient feature for parents whose kids sleep with them, or simply for those of you who prefer to snack or drink their morning coffee in bed. As a professional cleaning company, we recommend all landlords and landladies to get one for the mattresses in their rental properties. Why? Because tenants are far less likely to be as careful as you during their stay, and you can always buy new protectors once a tenancy ends. Plus, whenever you have new potential tenants over for a viewing, you’ll likely make a better impression on them if the mattresses are spotless!

    Vomit stains on a mattress, how to clean them

    4. How to spot clean a mattress?

    Regardless if it’s a bodily fluid mark or a drink spillage, to ensure the stain doesn’t settle and become permanent, you have to act quickly. The best course of action is to leave the job to the professionals, as they would have the highest chances to deal with any stain, due to their equipment, training and experience.

    If, however, you are unable to find an available expert in a timely manner, we suggest giving it a go with Bissell’s Pet Stain and Odor Remover. Due to the enzymes it contains, it tackles protein based odours and stains quite well (urine, vomit, any food and most drink stains).

    How to use it? Simply spray the solution onto a clean cloth and start pressing onto the stain with dabbing motions. Repeat as many times as necessary, until the stain disappears. After, make sure to rinse with another clean cloth and cold water, and blow-dry the area to avoid watermarks.

    5. How to remove yellow stains on a mattress?

    The most common stains on mattresses are yellow – they are formed over time through sweating, and are hard-to-remove, even by experienced cleaners. Essentially, by the time you start to notice them, they would’ve already permanently settled.

    And how exactly it is that you deal with them? By using hydrogen peroxide, which has a natural bleaching effect. Into a spray bottle, pour one cup hydrogen peroxide, one cup warm water and a few drops of mild washing up liquid. Spritz the mixture onto the mattress’ surface and use a soft brush to agitate it.

    Once that’s done, let the mixture sit onto the mattress for about 15 minutes, then rinse with a damp towel and let it dry. While this does not technically remove the yellow staining on your mattress, it does help whiten the surface, while also disinfecting it!

    Carpet cleaning powder

    6. How to get smell out of a mattress?

    Through usage, our mattresses are bound to start getting smelly at some point or another. Even if no accidents ever occur, our sweat and natural body oils will slowly but surely start to take a toll on the mattress’ freshness.

    To help mitigate the problem, grab a box of baking soda and sprinkle it over the mattress. Now wait, and let it do its magic, and simply hoover it up after 24 hours. Apart from being effective in removing stale and unpleasant smells, baking soda is also a natural product, meaning it’s completely harmless. Plus, it has a sanitizing effect as well.

    7. How to disinfect a mattress under the sun?

    An eco-friendly and easy way of dealing with bacteria, germs and moisture on your mattress, is to place it in a clean and dry spot out in the sun. Naturally, this doesn’t apply to really cold climates, but if the sky is clear and the temperature is at least 25 °C, it’ll do the trick. Just leave it outside for 5-6 hours, and bring it back in once the sun starts to set. Why is this effective? Well, it’s mostly due to the UV rays, which are known to kill bacteria. Plus, as mentioned, any unwanted moisture is also guaranteed to evaporate.

    8. How often should you steam clean your mattress?

    Removing stains and smells on your own is fine, but it’s also a time-consuming activity, which doesn’t work out. For the highest chances of stain and smell removal on mattresses, contact your local steam cleaning company. They will come with all the necessary tools and treat all existing issues accordingly.

    Even if some stains do remain, at least you will be certain that the best is done. Moreover, deep cleaning your mattress ensures that it’s free from allergens stuck deeply inside the filling of the mattress. This will increase your mattress lifespan, and will help maintain its whiteness for longer. The suggested frequency for mattress steam cleaning is once every 6 months.

    9. When you should replace your mattress?

    In most cases, we replace our mattresses when they no longer look white or when they start to tear. On average, it takes 7 to 9 years for a mattress to become unusable, but if you experience any sleep-related issues in the meantime, consider searching for a new one.

    Most people prefer a mattress, which is in the very middle of the soft and firm scale. What you actually end up choosing depends on your personal preference. Just make sure you consider these few factors:

    • If you have any existing back problems
    • If you tend to sweat a lot during sleep
    • If you sleep on your side or on your back/ stomach

    There are plenty of quick tests online, which you can take and receive specific recommendations for a new mattress, but we also suggest going to stores and testing them in person.

    In conclusion, we hope our tips have helped you learn something new about mattresses and how to care for them. Should you ever require mattress deep cleaning services, call ProLux - your cleaning company next door.