Many customers ask us at HideAway Storage: How do you deep clean a mattress? If you’re wondering the same, good news! We’ve got the best methods for deep cleaning a mattress so you can make your messy mattress marvelous again! We even have your answers to how to store a mattress too! If deep cleaning a mattress is your goal, read on to discover the best methods to do it well!
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for anyone who wants to live a healthy, happy life. Sleep experts recommend between 8 and 9 hours of sleep every night. Research shows that good sleep helps you achieve your optimal health and wellness. All together, that means spending a 3rd of your life in one place; your bed.
Knowing how important sleep is for good health, most people buy good-quality mattresses. These days, hundreds of manufacturers produce quality mattresses of all types. Whether a traditional spring mattress, memory foam, or hybrid, mattresses can cost a pretty penny.
Because they’re so costly, many Americans keep their mattress for as long as possible. That’s all good and well, but it can be a problem if your only mattress gets dirty. If your child has accidents at night, that can also be a problem. Urine can leave behind a very distinct and foul odor. All these messy mattress situations make deep cleaning a must so your mattress lasts a long time. It is especially important to deep clean your mattress if you plan to store your mattress for an extended time.
The Basics To Deep Clean a Mattress
The steps below will lead you through the mattress cleaning process from start to finish. In most cases, you should be able to do it at home, although you may want to ask a family member for help. (Especially for queen-size and king-size mattresses.) Before you start, you should also gather the following tools and supplies, including:
- A powerful wet/dry vacuum cleaner with an attachment for cleaning upholstery
- Your favorite mild laundry detergent
- A small amount of baking soda
- A durable sponge or cloth
- A bucket with room-temperature water
Step 1: Read the Mattress Label Recommendations
Before you start cleaning, be sure to read the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you don’t have the original paperwork, check the label on the back of the mattress. (By law, mattress manufacturers have to give you cleaning instructions on the label.) Remember, some mattresses today are much different than traditional mattresses. So if you have a newer mattress, pay attention to specific cleaning instructions. Also, the label should explain how the specific cleaning instructions for that fabric.
Step 2: Strip the Bedding Before Your Mattress Deep Clean
Second, you need to take your mattress off the bed and remove all bedding. Remove all sheets, mattress covers, blankets, etc., before cleaning the mattress. If you have your own washing machine at home, wash all the bedding while you’re cleaning your mattress. If not, take it to your local laundromat.
Step 3: Let The Air Do Some Work for You
Before cleaning your mattress, let it air out, at least for the rest of the day. If it’s nice weather, open the windows and let some fresh air inside to help. (As long as it’s not pouring rain or frigid outside, open those windows even if the sun isn’t shining!) Also, if you have the room, stand the mattress on its edge while airing it out. The longer you can air it out, the better. (Two or three days would be perfect!) This will help with airing out any musty or funny smells too.
Step 4: Vacuum your Mattress
All puns aside, you definitely need a powerful vacuum with excellent suction when deep cleaning your mattress. To make it easier on your back, you can keep the mattress standing upright against a wall. If not, place the mattress back on its frame before vacuuming. Vertical or horizontal, use short passes and clean one section of the mattress at a time. When you finish the first side, turn the bed over and vacuum the opposite side. (Some mattresses only have one useable side.)
Step 5: Remove Any Stains on Your Mattress
There are two essential rules to follow when you’re deep cleaning a mattress. The first is to use a mild detergent that doesn’t harm the mattress’s material. The second is only to use a small amount of water, which can also damage the fabric. Below are the steps you should follow when removing stains from a traditional mattress:
- Mix a small amount of water and laundry detergent.
- Dip a sponge or cloth in the water and detergent solution.
- Wring the sponge or cloth well, with no dripping water.
- Dab the sponge or cloth on the stain lightly. (Don’t rub on the stain!)
- If the stain is from urine and is recent, dab until it all comes out. You will likely need to rinse out the cloth or sponge once or twice.
- If the stain is blood, you may have to dab it for several minutes, but it should come out.
Keep in mind that, whenever possible, you should clean mattress stains right away. The longer they’re left on the mattress, the harder they are to remove.
Step 6: Use Baking Soda to Deodorize Your Mattress
You know it works like a charm if you’ve ever used baking soda to absorb odors in your refrigerator. It does the same for your mattress, soaking up odors like a sponge. It’s easy, too! Just sprinkle baking soda liberally on the mattress and wait for 20 minutes. Next, vacuum the baking soda and repeat on the opposite side. It’s that easy!
How To Store Your Mattress after a Deep Clean
If you’re cleaning your mattress to put it in storage, great idea. That’s one of the first steps to proper mattress storage. Another is to place your mattress in a plastic bag, which you can get at most HideAway Storage locations. Even better, buy a box for your mattress to can make handling easier.
If you’re storing your mattress with HideAway, storing it flat is best, at least for long-term storage. That way, the springs, and coils won’t get damaged. For short-term storage, though, standing your mattress upright works fine.
We hope today’s tips are beneficial and make deep cleaning your mattress easier and less stressful. At HideAway Storage, we store mattresses and much more every day. Our storage units are clean, safe, and secure, with managers on-site for extra safety.
If you have questions, you can drop by and say hi, or chat with us online. Either way, we wish you the best of luck deep cleaning your mattress. May it bring you many more nights of soothing, reenergizing slumber.