How to Clean Your Mattress

As a rule, you should clean your mattress twice a year. To start, use the vacuum hose or upholstery attachment to remove any noticeable debris.

If you notice stains, use a mixture of regular laundry detergent and 매트리스청소 water (or an enzyme cleaner or hydrogen peroxide) in a spray bottle to dampen the stain, then blot until dry. Sprinkle the mark with baking soda and leave for an hour before vacuuming.

1. Vacuum

Most people wash bedding and sleep accessories at least once a week, but the actual mattress is often neglected. That’s a shame, because a dirty mattress collects lots of things that interfere with good sleep: dust, dead skin, pet hair and dander, dirt, dust mite excrement and more.

Vacuum your bed using the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner. If you have a HEPA-rated model, use it to get every bit of that debris out of the crevices of your mattress and in between its layers.

You can also sprinkle your mattress with baking soda, which is a natural deodorizer. Give it a few hours to work its magic, and then thoroughly vacuum it up.

For more serious stains like blood, sweat or urine, a commercial enzyme cleaner can break down biological stains and odors. Alternatively, mix mild dish soap with water until suds form and apply it to the stain with a clean cloth that’s been wrung out, then blot it dry. Allow the area to air dry before remaking your bed.

2. Stain Remover

Keeping your mattress clean and free of spills and stains is the best way to extend its life. If you notice a stain, pretreat it as soon as possible with an absorbent cloth and cold water to keep it from setting. Then, treat the spot with a stain remover or other cleaner.

If you’re dealing with biological stains, such as blood or urine, you need to take special care to disinfect the mattress and your sheets. Use an enzyme cleaner to reduce odors and eliminate stains from these spills.

We love this stain remover from Method because it was able to tackle most fresh and set-in stains we tested (including grass, olive oil, and wine) after just one application. It also made short work of a makeup stain that seemed to stump all the other products we tested.

If you want to try using a homemade solution, combine equal parts white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and mist the mattress. Be sure not to soak the mattress, as this could lead to mold and mildew.

3. Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme cleaners harness the power of non-pathogenic bacteria that can’t survive high-level disinfectants to break down organic waste and stains. They can be sprayed as pre-soak or in the first stage of manual cleaning or automatic cleaning (as in ultrasonic or endoscope reprocessors). These biological cleaners are also good for preparing instruments and surgical equipment for sterilization by removing bodily fluids and tissues from the surfaces and inside of the instrument.

Because each type of enzyme has a specific substrate, there’s a wide variety of stain types and surfaces that these cleaners can tackle. Some examples include amylases, which remove starch stains, glycogen stains, and glucose stains; cellulases, which break down cellulose stains; lipases, which remove fat-based stains; and proteases, which work on protein stains.

Before using an enzyme cleaner, it’s important to test it on a small area of the surface in question. If no damage occurs, apply the cleaner according to instructions on the label and let sit for the recommended time. After blotting up excess liquid and waiting for the surface to dry, proceed with regular cleaning and drying as needed.

4. Vinegar

Vinegar is a versatile and inexpensive natural cleaning agent. It’s also nontoxic, biodegradable and easy on the environment.

It’s made by feeding oxygen to vodka-like grain alcohol, allowing bacteria to form and create acetic acid. The acidity level of vinegar is what makes it such a good cleaner, able to dissolve and loosen gunk like grease or soap scum. Vinegar is also a strong deodorizer, eliminating odors on its own or paired with baking soda in a paste. It can even whiten fabric items such as cotton socks and dishcloths, although it should not be used on natural stone or waxed wood, since it can eat away at them.

Distilled white vinegar is the multi-functional centerpiece of many DIY green cleaning solutions. It’s also a great choice for wiping down windows and mirrors, especially when mixed with water to prevent streaks. It can also get rid of mineral deposits on glass or smooth surfaces such as tile or no-wax floors. It can also be used to sanitize surfaces in the kitchen or bathroom.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a water-based chemical compound that can be found in diluted form in brown bottles around your house for use as an antiseptic, bleaching agent and stain remover. It also has the power to destroy odors and kill germs.

It is a strong oxidizer, which means it accepts electrons in a chemical reaction. It naturally occurs in small amounts as a gas in the atmosphere and is made by industrial processes to produce about 1 billion pounds of peroxide annually for bleaching paper and pulp, making chemicals, and other uses.

When used in a concentration of up to 3%, hydrogen peroxide acts as a disinfectant. Its oxidation properties destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms by attacking their cell membranes and other pivotal components.

It is especially effective against a hard-to-kill parasite called cryptosporidiosis, which causes diarrhea and can be spread through human feces. It’s also effective against a strain of norovirus that can cause stomach illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s even useful in killing a type of harmless skin growth known as warts, which can appear at middle age.