How to Clean Mold From Mattresses

Remove mold from your mattress to prolong its life and to protect your health.

Mold on your mattress can put your health at risk. Mold spores travel in the air, and can cause you to become ill. Mold irritates the lungs of people with allergies and asthma. The substance thrives in dark, damp and humid locations. The mold will continue to spread if you do not treat it immediately. Once you notice mold on your mattress, you need to eliminate the health risk promptly to restore your mattress to its original condition.

Things You'll Need

• Protective mask
• Gloves
• Sawhorses
• Shop vacuum
• Rubbing alcohol
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Move your mattress outdoors on a sunny and dry day. Wear a protective mask and gloves before you remove the mold. Place the mattress on sawhorses or another object to keep it from sitting on the ground.

2. Vacuum the mold off the mattress with a shop vacuum.

3. Spray the mattress with an equal mixture of rubbing alcohol and warm water. This will remove the musty odor from the mattress. Test this mixture on a small inconspicuous area to ensure that it will not discolor the fabric.

4. Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress to absorb the moisture.

5. Place the mattress in direct sunlight. Bring the mattress indoors at night to prevent dew from ruining the mattress, and set it back outdoors to allow the sun to bleach the mold from the mattress.

6. Vacuum the mattress again before you place it indoors on your bed frame. This will remove any dirt and debris that you may not want to bring into your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Throw your mattress out if more than 50 percent of it appears to be covered in mold to protect your health.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Mattress Cleaning
• Good Housekeeping: Clean Mold Mildew
• Allergy Consumer Review: Cleaning Mold on Mattresses
• Reader's Digest: Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda