Your mattress may seem clean to the naked eye, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're in the clear. Usually, a used mattress is loaded with dead skin cells, dust mites, sweat stains, and many other residues. Since you spend about ⅓ of your life on your bed, you should disinfect and clean your entire mattress more often if you want a good night's sleep and quality sleep health overall.
Though gearing up for such a task may sound daunting, it's surprisingly a walk in the park, and it's cost-effective. For instance, you'll need supplies you can get from your local store, such as baking soda and laundry detergent. Also, the good news is we've constructed a comprehensive mattress cleaning guide that'll help you sanitize a used mattress excellently. So, without further ado, let's dive right into it.
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How to Sanitize a Used Mattress
As mentioned above, sanitizing a used mattress doesn't have to be a hassle. Below are the supplies you need to gather to disinfect your mattress properly;
- Spray bottle
- Cold water
- Baking soda
- Essential oils
- A clean cloth
- Paper towels
- Vacuum Cleaner with an upholstery attachment
After gathering the above supplies, below are the steps you'll go through to disinfect your mattress. You can pick whichever method is convenient for you, depending on the ease of the task and the readily available cleaning equipment.
Using an Antibacterial Spray
An antibacterial spray is quite good at eliminating germs and harmful bacteria from a dirty mattress. However, you must lightly spray it across the mattress surface for maximum effectiveness. Aside from killing microscopic critters, the spray also helps clean sweat stains by breaking down the stain particles.
This spray is the best alternative for bleach since bleach products can damage mattress fibers. Wring a damp cloth dipped in warm water and wipe the parts you've sprayed. Let the mattress dry completely before dressing it up with clean bed sheets.
Steam Cleaning
Using a steam cleaner is an excellent way of naturally disinfecting a used mattress. In addition, it is excellent routine maintenance for eliminating sweat stains and some stubborn stains. As you steam clean, you won't need any secondary chemicals.
1. Vacuum Cleaning the Mattress
Using the vacuum cleaner's upholstery attachment, vacuum the entire mattress surface. Vacuuming helps suction dust mites, bed bugs, pet dander, dust, and dead skin. Remember, pests such as dust mites, carpet beetles, and bed bugs are some of the main causes of holes in mattress. So, it’s always wise to vacuum clean your mattress regularly to keep it in good shape. Spot treat any visible stains, like sweat and blood stains, before the steam cleaning process. You can use a commercial laundry stain remover to remove the stains.
2. Work the Stubborn Mattress Stains
Using a wet cloth dipped in the stain remover, blot the affected area for about 15 minutes. Remember not to put the excess liquid on the mattress, especially if it's a memory foam model. Unlike most mattresses, a memory foam mattress will soak up the liquid in its soft foam layers faster, which may encourage mold and mildew to thrive. If you’re dealing with stubborn stains, such as vomit and you can still feel the foul smell lingering in the air after the cleaning process, our definitive guide on how to get vomit smell out of a mattress can help you get rid of the vomit stains and the reeking smell.
3. Vacuum Clean the Mattress AGAIN
In the next step, turn on and hold the steam cleaner above the mattress about 3 inches away. Slowly move the cleaner across the mattress's entire surface. Remember to void steam blasts. During the steam cleaning exercise, ensure the mattress doesn't get wet but remains damp.
Leave the mattress to air dry for at least 4 hours in a well-ventilated room. Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
Using Vinegar and Baking Soda
Another cleaning solution for disinfecting a used mattress is baking soda and vinegar. Pour the vinegar into the spray bottle, then mist the mattress surface lightly. After approximately 10 minutes, use paper towels or a dry cloth to blot the surface.
Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress and let it sit for a few hours. The baking soda lifts the vinegar and bad smells to allow you to breathe better when sleeping on the mattress. Let the mattress dry completely in a well-ventilated room with fresh air. Finally, vacuum the mattress to remove baking powder before dressing it with fresh sheets.
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Disinfect Using Enzyme Cleaner
Notably, this is an ideal disinfecting method for handling stubborn stains. So, if your mattress is a victim of such stains, a homemade enzyme cleaner made of 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 8oz hydrogen peroxide should do the trick.
You can also purchase an enzyme cleaner for the job if you don't want to go the DIY route.
Apply this solution to affected areas of the stained mattress and let it sit for about 4-6 hours. Damp a clean cloth in cold water and blot the mattress stains gently. Only vacuum the mattress after its surface is entirely air dry.
Deodorizing Your Mattress
As you sleep, your body can expel as much as a liter of sweat. If you don't clean your mattress regularly, then the gunk building up on it may make it stink. All you'll need to deodorize your mattress is an essential oil with a fresh scent and baking soda.
Before sprinkling baking powder on the mattress, add a few drops of essential oil to the container holding the baking powder, then sprinkle it on the mattress. Let the baking soda sit overnight or for 24 hours (the longer the time, the better), then vacuum the mattress to suction the baking powder.
Afterward, you'll have a clean mattress with a fresh scent making it look as good as new. Remember that this process doesn't lift off stains from a dirty mattress. In such a scenario, the mattress should undergo deep cleaning first. Lucky for you, our comprehensive guide on how to clean a mattress got you covered. Feel free to check it out for more information on how you can improve your sleep quality by keeping your mattress clean.
Click here to learn about extending the lifespan of your mattress.
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Closing Thoughts
The solutions outlined above are sure ways of keeping your mattress clean and fresh for a healthier sleep environment. The frequency of disinfecting your mattress depends on how you use the mattress—for instance, curdling with your pet leaving pet dander and potential allergens on the mattress.
According to bedding experts, you should clean and disinfect your mattress at least twice per year. And to keep your sleep environment generally hygienic, you need to clean it at least twice per year to extend its longevity. It's advisable to consider using a mattress protector to fend off allergens and germs, and other microscopic bacteria.
Not only do mattress protectors help shield the mattress against microscopic critters, but they also make it easy to clean urine stains, spills, and other stubborn stains. A good mattress protector is anti-microbial, waterproof, durable, hypoallergenic, and breathable. If you think your mattress might be causing back pain, take a look at our guide on https://sleepchillout.com/signs-bed-is-cause-of-back-pain/ for more information on how you can handle the situation.