How to Get Your Futon Mattress Clean

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By Melissa Lewis
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Get Your Futon Mattress Clean

Traditional Japanese futon mattresses are beaten with a stick called a futon tataki to remove dust and allergens. This is done a couple of times a week (on a dry day), and the futon mattress is then hung outside, exposing each side to the sun for an hour or two. Of course, Japanese futons are much lighter than the ones westerners are accustomed to, so it is quite practical to haul them outside for regular cleaning.

When maintained properly, a heavier futon mattress is actually fairly simple to keep clean, as well. Fitting your new futon with a moisture resistant mattress cover is the best strategy to avoid it getting dusty and stained in the first place. But, if your futon mattress is beyond dusty, has become soiled, or simply needs freshening up, follow these steps for proper futon mattress cleaning.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Vacuum
Rug beater
Spot cleaner or mild detergent
Soft scrub brush
Hand held steam cleaner (optional)

Step 1

Vacuum it. This is the simplest way to remove dust and allergens from your futon mattress. Try vacuuming your futon once a week, or every time you change the sheets. Remember to flip the futon and vacuum the other side, and while you’re at it, rotate the mattress, too. Flipping and rotating will keep your futon stuffing from getting packed down in localized areas.
Step 2

Beat it. This will require taking your futon outside. Do not attempt beating your futon indoors – you’ll have dust and allergens floating all over the room. After using a rug beater on your futon, it’s always a good policy to vacuum it again.
Step 3

Air it out. Always do this on a low-humidity day, and never lay your futon mattress on the ground. Either hang it over a sturdy railing, or set it up on something to let air circulate to both sides as much as possible – and flip it periodically while it’s drying.
Step 4

Spot clean it. Using a soft brush, you can work out soiled areas with a laundry stain remover or mild detergent diluted in water. Avoid getting your futon mattress too wet, or it will take ages to dry. If you are doing your spot cleaning indoors, set up fans in the room and flip the futon often so both sides get plenty of air circulation and have a chance to dry completely.
Step 5

Steam it clean. If you have access to a hand held steam cleaner, you can use it to deodorize and sanitize your futon. Follow the directions for the steam cleaner you are using - and again, be sure to allow your futon to dry thoroughly afterward.
Step 6

Hire a professional. When all else fails, consider looking for a company that offers mattress cleaning services. Ask if their services are suitable for futon mattresses – if not, try to find a company that specializes in natural mattress cleaning.

Comments

joanhaines said

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on 10/2/2009 Vacuuming it is pretty easy. Those futon mattresses are quite heavy to be hauling out and in. Vacuuming would my first choice.

midcenturymaven said

on 8/23/2009 I once made the mistake of using a futon mattress without a frame. When I finally moved it, the wood floor underneath was actually wet- gross!