Stop and think about how often do you vacuum your carpet? Probably a few times a week (maybe even more if you have pets or a robot vacuum). Now, how many times do you wear clothing before washing it again? Maybe you risk it and wear it a second time before washing it. The point is, you probably don’t go months, if not years, in between washing something you use regularly. And yet, with your mattress, you probably haven’t washed it ever.
Of course, it’s not like you can just toss it into the washing machine. However, you likely spend more time on your mattress than you do on your sofa, walking on your floor, or even wearing the clothing, and yet it doesn’t receive a regular cleaning. Yes, you have sheets over the mattress, but even the best of us have sweat through the sheets from time to time or spilled that pinot onto the bed while we were watching television at night. With so much time spent in bed, it is important to do what you can and clean the mattress.
Here is a complete guide on how to clean your mattress
Start With A Good Vacuuming
Yes, you’re going to want to vacuum up your mattress. There’s going to be just bits of dust, hair, and skin dander that have collected on the surface of your mattress and you need to remove these before you perform a deeper clean (kind of like exfoliating for your skin before you apply moisturizer). First, you’ll want to make sure you’ve cleaned out your vacuum filter. If your home smells dusty whenever you vacuum it is because the filter is clogged. Clean out the filter before vacuuming the mattress, otherwise, you might end up adding this dusty smell to the mattress.
Now, sprinkle some carpet cleaning powder onto the mattress. You can even use baking soda on the mattress if you don’t have any. Let it sit for a few hours (if possible). This will help pull out some of the funk and other smells that might be lingering in the mattress. Then, vacuum the mattress up. Use the carpet brush attachment for your vacuum to get into the crevices of the mattress.
Spot Clean The Mattress
From here, you’ll want to spot clean the mattress. Pick up a carpet cleaner that is designed for pets. Pet carpet cleaners have special enzymes in it that is designed to break up stains and odors left from pet accidents. This makes it perfect for spot cleaning the mattress. Spray the stained area and let it sit for 30 minutes before working it with a soft carpet brush. If the stain remains you can try something that can help with removing tough stains, such as an Oxyclean product. For the super tough stains, you’ll want to apply this directly to the stain and let it sit overnight. You might not ever get that wine stain out, but as long as you pulled out all the funk that is underneath, that’s really what matters.
Back to Deodorizing
You’ll probably want to pull some of the cleaning odor out of your mattress. Here is where you bring the baking soda back in. Backing soda is good for this step in that it doesn’t have any aroma. It simply will absorb what is in the mattress without leaving its aroma.
Add Your Own Scent
Maybe you’d like to add some fresh scene to your mattress but you don’t want to just hose it down with some kind of fabric spray. There are other options for you. One of the best is to take advantage of a soothing essential oil and mix it with some water and then spray it onto the mattress. Some essential oils are great for inducing sleep. You can use a lavender and mint combination and spray it on the mattress (then let it dry out). If you have a favorite and you find it is especially soothing you can give it a try. Best of all, you can change it up whenever you want your mattress to take on a different aroma.
Clean Your Bedding
It won’t do you much good if you don’t clean your bedding prior to placing it back onto the mattress. Make sure your bedding is deep cleaned. If your washing machine isn’t large enough to handle the job you can head over to your local laundry matt for this. This is especially helpful if you have a large blanket or comforter. When everything is dry and you’re ready to go, you can begin to place everything back on the mattress. Just make sure you use a mattress pad under everything. The mattress pad will help protect your mattress while extending its life as well. You can even buy some with additional padding if your mattress is a bit too firm.
If you haven’t done so in a while, it may be a good time to invest in new sheets. Your comforter will last a long time, but sheets will start to wear out. Investing in a second pair makes it possible to swap out your sheets when you do laundry. This way, you’ll cut down on the amount of dander and dust you’re sleeping in.
It Might Be Time To Invest In A New Mattress
When was the last time you actually purchased a new mattress? If you can’t even remember it might be a sign you need to invest in a new one. Or perhaps your current mattress is feeling lumpy, or it is so stained up you feel icky just sitting down on it. Whatever the reason may be, a brand new mattress will improve your quality of sleep while cutting down on all the skin cells, pet dander, and who knows what else is living inside your current mattress. You’ll even sleep better as you won’t suffer as many allergic reactions as you may be suffering from your dirty mattress right now. If you want to learn more about how a new mattress can improve your life, now is the time to contact the team at Sleep Number Beds.
