How to Clean a Mattress: Steps and Tips

Deep cleaning your mattress isn’t just about removing unsightly stains. More importantly, it helps remove allergens, germs, and odors from your bedroom. Our beds come in contact with sweat, dead skin, hair, dust, dust mites, and other creepy crawlies that most of us prefer not to think about!

Scheduling time to deep clean your mattress correctly ensures you go to sleep in a clean and allergen-free environment. That peace of mind alone is worth the effort.

Mattresses are made from a range of materials, and each has its own cleaning requirements. For example, you shouldn’t introduce excess moisture to the surface of a memory foam mattress, as it can soak in deep and never fully dry.

Before you start, check to see if there are any instructions for how to clean the mattress provided by the manufacturer.

Remove the sheets, pillowcases, and bedding and machine wash them. Make sure to wash any mattress pads, mattress toppers, and mattress protectors as well.

It’s a good idea to wash your pillows too. If you’re not sure how to wash pillows, read our helpful guide, Can You Wash Pillows? How to Wash, Dry, & Care for Pillows.  

For ideas on how to wash sheets and bedding, see How to Wash, Dry, and Care for Organic Cotton Sheets, Towels, and Clothes.

3: Vacuum Your Mattress

Your home vacuum is an important tool for deep cleaning mattresses. Using the upholstery attachment, slowly vacuum the top and sides of your mattress. Consider vacuuming in a grid pattern so you can keep track of where you’ve already vacuumed.

After vacuuming the flat surfaces, pay special attention to the seams. Dirt, dust, and insects can build up there.

4: How to Remove Mattress Stains

Mattress stains are a common problem, especially if you sweat when you sleep. Spot cleaning is the best way to beat mattress stains. Create a diluted detergent solution with gentle laundry detergent or dish soap and water. 

Using a cleaning cloth or towel, dab the solution on the stain and lightly scrub until it fades. Soak up any excess moisture with a dry towel.

If your mattress has blood stains, an enzyme cleaner and cold water can remove them. Cold water can help break down proteins in blood.

Remember that stains are always easiest to remove if you address them right when they happen. In between deep cleanings, laundry detergent wipes are a quick and easy way to prevent staining.

5: Sprinkle Your Mattress with Baking Soda and Vacuum

Baking soda is an excellent tool to deodorize your mattress. Sprinkle an even layer across the top surface of your mattress and let it sit.

Once the baking soda has had a chance to absorb any lingering odors, thoroughly vacuum the mattress to ensure a clean, dry surface.

6: Flip Your Mattress

If you have a two-sided mattress, flip it every time you do a deep cleaning. Flipping a mattress helps prolong its life by evenly distributing wear and tear. 

Once you’ve flipped it, repeat the vacuuming, stain removal, and baking soda steps on this side of the mattress if needed.

If you have a mattress with a built-in pillow top or memory foam layer, you won’t be able to flip it, but you can rotate it.

7: Clean Your Bed Frame

When doing routine mattress and bed cleaning, address your bed frame as well, to remove dust, dead skin, or hair. 

You can clean upholstered bed frames using the same techniques as your mattress, but be careful with detergent as it may cause discoloration. Check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for guidance.

For wood and metal bed frames, use a disinfectant solution and a rag. Let the bed frame dry completely before replacing the mattress and bedding.

8: Cover Your Clean Mattress with a Mattress Protector

Using a mattress protector will help keep your mattress stain and odor free in the future. Waterproof mattress protectors are helpful for people who sweat heavily and for young children, but in most other cases, a cotton mattress protector is all you need.

Do you need to store your mattress? See our guide: How To Store A Mattress for a complete how-to.

Your bed and mattress are important to your home. They directly impact your quality of sleep and the energy you feel during the day. 

Maintaining a clean mattress goes a long way to help you avoid allergens, odors, and germs that disrupt your sleep. Investing in a high-quality, eco-friendly mattress is another step you can take for comfortable, supported sleep.

Parachute is a great resource for long-lasting, environmentally friendly, comfortable, and attractive pillows, linens, decor, and furniture for your home. Invest in the sense of harmony a wonderfully appointed home provides.