- Even a new mattress can have an odor. Odors on mattresses can range from chemical smells, urine, body odor or mildew. If you want to salvage your mattress even though it has an odor, you may want to do a cost-benefit analysis. You may spend more money trying to get the mattress deodorized than it would cost to purchase a new or used mattress. There are several solutions for removing mattress odors, including taking it to a professional to get it cleaned. But before you take it to a mattress cleaner, however, you may want to try a few tips on your own.
- If your mattress was recently near water or was stored in a dank, wet area, your mattress may smell musty. In order to get the musty smell out of the mattress, you will need to sit it outside in the sun for at least 10 hours on a sunny day. Place a piece of plastic under the mattress so it does not get wet or dirty. You may want to air out your mattress even if it does not have a musty odor. If your mattress smells due to someone urinating on it, use a fabric neutralizer like Febreeze, allow it to dry and then place dryer sheets on top of the mattress. Keep dryer sheets between the mattress and the sheets until odor dissipates. If there is a chemical smell on your mattress due to cleaning or sanitizing, the dryer sheet tip will work in a pinch, as well.
- Do not apply materials like bleach to your mattress because it will seep into the folds of fabric and irritate your skin while you are sleeping. If you are experiencing discomfort or an allergic reaction from your mattress, discard it and do not continue sleeping on it. Although you can have your mattress cleaned professionally, make sure the cleaners do not use harsh chemicals to get your mattress clean. Harsh chemicals may make your mattress smell even worse, and can irritate your skin.
