Everyone knows that washing sheets and linens is an important chore to stay on top of. And really, is there anything that feels as good as crawling into bed with freshly laundered sheets?

But what about what’s under your sheets? How often do you clean your mattress?

If the answer is “not often,” or, let’s be completely honest, “never,” don’t worry. You’re not alone. Not everyone thinks to do it but mattress cleaning has many benefits. It can help alleviate symptoms for those who suffer from allergies and can prolong the life of the mattress.

Mattresses tend to be receptacles for all sorts of things… things of a bodily nature. You know the stuff — sweat, skin cell flakes, and so on. If you have pets and allow them on the bed, or you like to snack before you sleep, cleaning your mattress is even more important.

So here’s a step by step guide for how to clean your mattress.

Table of Contents

Step 1 — Vacuum

This is a step you can take every time you strip the bed to wash your sheets. While the mattress is bare, grab your vacuum and give it a good once over. All that stray cat hair? Gone. All those chip crumbs? A thing of the past. By vacuuming even once a month means that you are removing the food source for dust mites to move in. That’s a pretty good reason to vacuum.

Step 2 — Spot clean

Ok, so it’s a little uncomfortable to talk about but we all know that bodily fluids can make their way onto a mattress. It’s simply a fact of life. In order to help keep your mattress in tip top condition and to prevent it from smelling or starting to mould, spot cleaning stains is a good idea.
You can decide what kind of cleaner to use depending on your cleaning habits. If you don’t use chemicals, you can make a paste of lemon juice and salt and rub it on the affected area. There are also a variety of store bought cleaners that will do the trick.

Step 3 — Dry it out

You know how you can keep a box of baking soda in the fridge to help eliminate odours and moisture? The same principle applies to mattresses. After you’ve spot cleaned, sprinkle baking soda over your mattress and leave it for a couple of hours if you can. The baking soda will absorb any excess moisture and smells that might remain.

Step 4 — Vacuum again

This should be obvious but please don’t just leave the baking soda on your mattress — vacuum it up before putting your sheets back on.

Step 5 — Cover and protect

If you don’t yet have a mattress protector, now is a great time to purchase one. They do wonders in creating a barrier for your mattress and will help protect and prolong its life. Plus you can throw them in the wash regularly to keep them clean and smelling fresh.

And there you have it. While your mattress doesn’t have to be cleaned as often as your sheets, it’s still a good idea to give it a freshening up every now and again.

If you have any questions about mattress care and are in the Nanaimo or Parksville area, stop by our showroom. We’d love to have a chat.