Mattresses can oftentimes be a pretty big investment, so it makes sense that we want to keep it clean. A cleaner mattress can last longer and also lead to healthier sleep. Considering most people spend nearly 1/3 of their life lying in bed, this is certainly a worthwhile investment.
In This Guide
Supplies | The Cleaning Process | Types of Stains | Preventing Accidents | FAQs | Citations
Mattress Cleaning Supplies
The majority of stains can be cleaned by using one or a combination of a few of the ingredients listed below. To be ready for anything, keep this arsenal of cleaning supplies on hand.
- Baking soda
- Enzyme cleaner
- Dish soap
- Laundry detergent
- Hydrogen peroxide
- White vinegar
- Bleach
- Cleaning rags
Using these ingredients you can make basically any homemade cleaner or paste you may need to clean a mattress. If you’d rather get a store-bought cleaning agent or machine, you may want to consider one of the following below:
- Enzyme cleaner (budget): good for cleaning pet stains or urine, bulk size
- Enzyme cleaner (brand name): good for cleaning pet stains or urine, comes in a spray bottle
- Deodorizing spray: helps eliminate odor and leaves a refreshing orange scent
- Portable mattress cleaner: a machine designed to use warm water and stream to clean stubborn stains
The Mattress Cleaning Process
Regardless of the mess, there are a few steps to the cleaning process that are consistent across the board.
#1 Remove and wash bedding.
When you first notice a spill or stain, take all the bedding off and toss it in the wash. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when it comes to what temperature to wash the bedding in. If you’re not sure, start with cold, as it tends to be a gentler wash.
Check the bedding after the wash. If the stain did not come out, retreat the stain and wash again. Complete this process until the stain is gone.
Once bedding has been dried it can be a lot harder to get the stain fully out.
Now that the bedding is done, let’s tackle the mattress.
#2 Blot any liquid stain.
It’s a common phrase in the cleaning world—blot, don’t rub or scrub. Blotting accidents, like wine, blood, or pee help to soak up the liquid and remove it from the mattress.
Rubbing or scrubbing a spill has a tendency to spread it out, as well as breaking down the fibers, pushing the stain deeper into the mattress.
#3 Vacuum the mattress.
Once the mattress is dry, vacuum the mattress using a handheld vacuum. Vacuuming not only removes large debris, but also can suck up smaller debris like hair, dirt, or dust from the top layers of the mattress.
Some mattresses have a machine-washable zipper closure that allows you to remove the top cover of the mattress for each washing. Putting the cover in the washing machine provides a deeper clean and allows you to access the foam layers below if you spill penetrated the foam.
Double-check and make sure that the cover is indeed machine washable before putting it in the wash.
If it’s not machine washable, it can still be easier to spot-clean if you remove the cover.
A few mattresses with a removable cover include:
#4 Additional stain treatment.
For general cleaning, here are two good recipes for how to clean your mattress. You can use these together or separately as needed.
Dry Rub
You Need:
- Baking soda, 1 cup
- Lavender essential oil, 3-5 drops
- Small bowl
The Process:
Mix baking soda and essential oil together in a small bowl and sprinkle over your mattress. In about an hr, come back and vacuum the baking soda mixture off.
Spray Solution
You Need:
- White vinegar, 1 cup
- Cold water, 1 cup
- Spray bottle
The Process:
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray liberally over the mattress and let dry. For a little fragrance, try adding a few drops of essential oil—lemon, orange, or lavender are great.
Types of Mattress Stains
Knowing the best way to clean a mattress depends a lot on what type of stain you’re dealing with.
How to Clean Urine or Sweat
You Need:
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%), 1 cup
- Baking soda, 3 tablespoons
- Liquid dish soap, few drops
- Spray bottle
The Process:
Combine all ingredients and stir until the baking soda dissolves. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and spray liberally over the stain. Let it sit 30-90 minutes, depending on the severity. Once dry, vacuum up any baking soda residue (if there is any).
How to Clean Blood
You Need:
- Baking soda, 1/4 cup
- Cold water
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Spray bottle
The Process:
Blot up as much as you can using a clean paper towel. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain and allow it to soak up any additional liquid. In the spray bottle, combine equal parts cold water and hydrogen peroxide. Spray the stain and blot as needed.
How to Clean Wine
You Need:
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%), 1 cup
- Liquid dish soap, 1/2 cup
- Small bowl
- Damp cloth
The Process:
Combine the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap into a small bowl. Use a damp cloth to blot the stain with the solution. Repeat until the stain has been lifted and is fully removed.
How to Remove Odors
You Need:
- Water, 1 cup
- White vinegar, 1 cup
- Essential oil (any scent), 5-10 drops
- Spray bottle
The Process:
For smelly mattresses, the fastest way to deodorize is to combine all ingredients into a spray bottle. Mist the liquid over your mattress and let dry. For a deeper clean, sprinkle baking soda and essential oil and vacuum clean.
How to Clean Oil
You Need:
- Baking soda, 1/4 cup
- Salt, 1 tablespoon
- Water, 1 tablespoon
- Small bowl
The Process:
Combine all ingredients into a small bowl and rub the paste onto the stain. Let it work for 30-60 minutes. Vacuum up the paste and repeat as needed until the stain is gone.
How to Prevent Mattress Accidents
The best way to clean a mattress is to avoid the accident altogether. Hands down, one of the best ways to keep a mattress clean is to invest in a mattress protector or mattress encasement.
A mattress protector is a 5-sided protector that fits over your mattress like a fitted sheet, protecting the top and sides from spills, accidents, and bugs. The best mattress protectors are waterproof, although they also make cheaper ones specifically aimed at keeping dry debris and bugs out.
A mattress encasement is a 6-sided protector that fits over your mattress like a sock and even zips closed, providing 100% protection. They also make a waterproof mattress encasement, which is arguably the absolute best way to protect your mattress.
FAQs
If you’re looking to sanitize or kill germs, wash bedding at the warmest temperature listed on the care label.
For light cleaning or if you’re concerned with color bleeding or fading, stick to cold water. Many times cold water still gets out a stain and prevents the stain from being set into the fibers. If it doesn’t come out the first time, try washing it again.
Always blot stains. Rubbing or scrubbing has a tendency to rub the stain further into the mattress and break down fibers, making it harder to clean.
Get odors out of a mattress by using baking soda + essential oil or white vinegar. Sprinkle or spray on the mattress and let dry or vacuum the remnants up.
Citations
- Ananda. “How to Clean Mattress Stains (Easy Green Cleaning Hack!).” A Piece Of Rainbow, 29 June 2022, https://www.apieceofrainbow.com/clean-mattress-stains-green-cleaning/.
- Bed Scrunchie. “How to Remove Those Unsightly Body-Oil Stains and Odors from Your Bed Sheets.” Bed Scrunchie, https://bedscrunchie.com/blogs/sleep-tight-all-night/how-to-remove-those-unsightly-body-oil-stains-and-odors-from-your-bed-sheets.
- Berry, Katie. “Get Rid of Those Mattress Stains and Odors.” Tos, 16 Dec. 2022, https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/how-to-clean-a-mattress/.
- “How to Clean Gross Stains off Any Mattress.” Bed Guru, https://www.bedguru.co.uk/how-to-clean-gross-stains-off-any-mattress.
- “How to Freshen and Deodorize a Mattress.” Amerisleep, 17 Dec. 2022, https://amerisleep.com/blog/deodorize-a-mattress/.
- “How to Remove Wine Stains.” Merry Maids, https://www.merrymaids.com/cleaning-tips/quick-tips/remove-wine-stains/.
- “How to Wash Bed Sheets.” Tide, https://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/washing-different-fabrics-and-colors/how-to-wash-bed-sheets.
- Kerr, Jolie. “How – and How Often – to Wash Sheets and Comforters, According to Experts | CNN Underscored.” CNN, Cable News Network, 14 Sept. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home/how-to-wash-comforter-sheets#.
- Levey, Diana Kelly, and Cynthia Lawrence. “How to Clean a Mattress and Remove Stubborn Stains.” Tom’s Guide, Tom’s Guide, 21 Jan. 2022, https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-clean-a-mattress.
- Noonan, Jennifer. “How to: Clean Mattress Stains.” Bob Vila, 30 Nov. 2020, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-mattress-stains/.
- Sole, Caitlin. “What Not to Do When Treating Stains (and What to Do Instead).” Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2015, https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/stain-tips.
- Team, The Maids. “Why You Should Add Mattress Vacuuming to Your Cleaning Schedule – the Maids.” The Maids Blog, 10 Aug. 2020, https://www.maids.com/blog/why-you-should-add-mattress-vacuuming-to-your-cleaning-schedule/.
- “An Ultimate Guide on How to Get Blood out of Comforter.” My Organic Sleep, https://www.myorganicsleep.com/blogs/news/an-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-get-blood-out-of-comforter.
- Young, Erica. “How to Get Stains out of a Mattress.” Family Handyman, Family Handyman, 15 Aug. 2022, https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-to-get-stains-out-of-a-mattress/.
