Mattresses don’t clean themselves. People go years without even thinking about taking a moment to clean theirs up, but the truth of the matter is this: unclean mattresses are not good for your health. You fall asleep on the same bed every night, losing more skin cells, sweat, and oil each time you do. Not to mention that with time, dust will accumulate and absorb into your bed, making it bad for allergies, skin, and your overall wellbeing.
If you want to extend the life of your mattress, it is necessary to clean it regularly. You might think that just washing your bedding regularly is enough, but it’s not The mattress also needs a good cleaning at least every couple of months – that’s why we’ve provided an easy guide so you can get yours as clean as can be!
What products can you use?
That depends on the condition of your mattress! Do you want to remove a stain? Do you need to disinfect it (due to bed wetting, pest infestation, etc.)? Does it need to be dusted? The product you choose will vary, depending on the type of cleaning you need to do.
A few useful tips for cleaning a stain on your mattress:
- To remove a blood spot, rub with salt water.
- To remove a urine stain, use a little white vinegar and let it dry.
- To clean a coffee stain, wash with white vinegar and alcohol (in equal proportion), rinse gently, and let dry.
But even without these stains, it’s still a good idea to disinfect your mattress. So, every couple of months, sprinkle baking soda on your mattress and let it rest for about twenty minutes. Then clean it off with a vacuum cleaner. Don’t forget to do this on both sides of your mattress!
Then every two weeks, vacuum your mattress on both sides in order to remove the dust. Make sure to keep in mind that water (in large quantities) and mattresses do not mix well. So you should avoid spraying your mattress and use a wet cloth instead. Otherwise, you may add unnecessary moisture, which attracts insects, like mites and bed bugs.
How to get rid of bed bugs?
Bed bugs are a very irritating problem since they usually hide in the seams and the folds of a mattress. To find out if your mattress houses any bugs, remove your bedding and make an inspection looking for insects, eggs, or shell residues. People with this problem will suffer from bites and itching (mainly in the legs, the arms, and the back).
To get rid of them, you can use an over-the-counter insecticide. but what’s even more effective is using hot steam, which kills the eggs. All you need to do is purchase a steam cleaner, and the problem is solved!
In the case of an ongoing bed bug infestation, make sure to vacuum your mattress thoroughly first before treating it for bed bugs to get rid of the worst of them. Make sure to close the bag tightly and dispose of it immediately in the garbage. This will prevent the bed bugs from dispersing at your place (again) or at your neighbors.
If they persist despite all your efforts, consider calling a professional exterminator to prevent the problem from worsening. But if there’s no saving your mattress or the idea of sleeping on it is just too gross, give yourself an upgrade!
Be Mindful of Chemical Cleaners
There are several cleaning products on the market designed to wash and disinfect mattresses. However, a cleaner containing unsuitable chemicals (phosphate, for instance) can have inconvenient side effects (skin irritation, respiratory problems, etc.).
As it can be difficult to choose among available products, we recommend that you lean towards eco-friendly cleaners. These alternatives are usually healthier choices.
Pro tip: To avoid these problems in the first place, we always recommend the use of a mattress pad! This way, there is a better chance of protecting your bed from dust mites, spills, and other germs.
Keeping your mattress clean is a big task, but the results are more than worth it. And when you lay down to sleep, you’ll know that there’s nothing lurking in your mattress. But if you’ve never cleaned your mattress or if it has old stains, don’t stress; At Jim’s Appliance & Furniture, it’s important to us that your mattress is clean and healthy, so you are too. So, if it’s time for a fresh one, we have a variety of mattresses for you to test out today. Stop by and find the next mattress of your dreams!