Springtime is here, and there is no better opportunity to give your home the deep clean it needs. When you are planning out your cleaning routine, don’t forget one of the most critical areas: your mattress. You will spend about a third of your life asleep on your mattress, so why do so many people neglect cleaning it? With sweat, stains, dead skin cells, and dust, your mattress gets very dirty over the course of the year. Keep reading to learn how to clean a mattress the right way this year.
Vacuum
Start by removing the pillows, sheets, mattress cover, and other linens. Once your mattress is totally bare, vacuum the top and sides on your bed. This will get rid of any crumbs from late night snacks, along with pet hair, dirt, and dust that can build up over the year. Use the special vacuum attachment designed to reach in crevices to remove debris from the seams of the mattress, too.
Spot Clean Stains
The best way to remove mattress stains depends on the cause of the stain. The majority of mattress stains are protein-based stains from bodily fluids like sweat, urine, and blood. It is also likely that these are old stains, which will make them more difficult to remove. Use these tips to make the cleaning process a little bit easier:
- Create a mixture using hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish soap and put it in a spray bottle. Then spray the mixture on the stain and blot it with a clean rag.
- Use a natural enzyme cleaner to break down stains and odors chemically.
- Make a cleaner paste of lemon juice and salt and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for half an hour to an hour, then wipe it off.
Deodorize
To deodorize your mattress, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the surface of the mattress. Let it sit for a few hours so it can absorb any extra liquid stain removers left behind on the bed. After two or three hours, vacuum the baking soda off, paying close attention to the crevices. Soon, your mattress will smell as clean as it did the first day you bought it.
Air It Out
If possible, one of the best things you can do for your mattress is to air it out. The combination of fresh air and sunlight helps to eliminate bacteria naturally. For those who live in an apartment building or do not have backyards, this step may not be possible. Even if you choose not to use this step, your mattress will still be clean if you follow the rest of the steps.
Put On a Mattress Cover
If you do not already have a mattress cover, this is the perfect time to pick one up. Mattress covers protect mattresses from dirt and stains. Plus, they can be washed in a washing machine regularly, which will help to keep your mattress clean all year round.
Hire a Professional
Does all of this seem like a lot of work just to keep your mattress clean? If you don’t want to be bothered cleaning your mattress this year, consider hiring a professional. Shorten your spring-cleaning checklist and ensure your mattress gets cleaned the right way. Contact us at Clean Sleep Austin to learn more about our mattress cleaning services.