How to Clean a Mattress

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Mattresses can absorb odors and stains easily, and if you have children or pets it’s difficult to prevent them from getting stained. A clean, fresh-smelling mattress is one of those things that you don’t miss until it’s gone, and if your mattress is in good condition you’ll sleep more easily.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Water
Baking Soda
Hand-held vacuum
Mild detergent

Step1

Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the mattress and leave for 30 minutes. This will help absorb odors.

Step2

Use a hand-held vacuum to clean up the baking soda, as well as dust and other small particles.

Step3

Flip the mattress over then turn it 180 degrees.

Step4

Remove small stains with a solution of mild detergent and water. Allow the area to air dry before making the bed up.

Step5

Use towels to soak up large liquid stains then air dry the mattress outside or with an electric fan. Make sure the entire mattress is completely dry then carry out steps one and two before making the bed up.

Step6

Use a dedicated mattress cleaner and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for stubborn stains.

Tips & Warnings

Vacuum and turn your mattress every three months.
Use a mattress protector to eliminate the need for cleaning the mattress. Cleaning the protector is much easier than cleaning the mattress.
Dry cleaning solutions should not be used for cleaning mattresses.
Never use baking soda on a wet mattress—it tends to form a paste, which can be very difficult to clean up.