how to clean a used mattress

If you want the mattress to last longer by avoiding the nasty stuff that you release from your body, then a mattress encasement is ideal. Cleaning, wiping, and treating with a chemical disinfectant tends to break down the mattress surface material making it more porous and increasing the likelihood of body fluid penetration to the mattress core itself. Use an Antibacterial Spray Lightly spray the entire mattress with a product like Lysol. Cleaning a mattress is very simple and remarkably effective considering the items used. If you want to learn more about how to protect your mattress from stains in the future, keep reading the article! The cleaning powder needs time to work its magic, so let it sit undisturbed on your mattress … We have a post that goes into great details and explains the difference here. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. How can red wine be cleaned from a mattress? You should use enough of the stain remover to counterbalance the amount of urine that has soaked into the mattress before leaving to air-dry. After 30 minutes take a clean dry cloth and dab excess liquid. House Cleaning Professional. Originally published September 13, 2018 Sanitizing the Mattress. Steps are important to success. Good research tool for quick answers to otherwise, "I had no idea how to go about cleaning a mattress. Use a clean rag to gently pat the stain until it lifts. Don’t forget if you have allergens to something like dust mites it would be foolish to get a used mattress as there is a fair chance it’s covered in dust mites. Before you clean a mattress, remove all of the sheets, blankets, and pillows that are covering the bed. Before you toss a mattress that you find too hard, or buy a new mattress to replace your old one, consider getting a mattress topper to increase the comfort and longevity of your mattress. No matter if you go with the used mattress or get a new one – BUY AN MATTRESS ENCASEMENT! How To Clean A Mattress Step #1 Strip and vacuum Strip the mattress bare by removing the sheets, bedding, and pillows. Blot the foam with a clean rag damp with cold water. This will ensure you are left with a clean mattress and, more importantly, have a healthy good night’s sleep. 2. Why not contact professional cleaners? Avoid the 5th-grade science experiment of mixing baking soda and vinegar – it doesn’t work like you think it does! Secondhand mattresses, unlike other secondhand furniture, aren't always a good idea. It’s the easiest thing to do, and it supplies a way to keep the bugs and other stuff on the mattress from getting to you even after you have cleaned it. Should I clean a mattress in a specific method like steam cleaning? If you avoid the retail stores and buy online, you can often find more attractive price points on Mattresses. Start the cleaning process by stripping the mattress of all sheets and bedding and tossing the items in the wash. To remove tough stains, always use a … This makes a soluble remedy to remove the stain and pick up the odor from your mattress. Before cleaning the mattress with bicarbonate of soda, Strip the bed linen and wash in the washing machine. Use similar steps to clean it: Separate the mattress and box spring. You’re human, and you sweat, drool, and do other nasty stuff that you don’t realize on your mattress. Mix together dish soap, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to create a mattress stain remover. Fold up blankets and move items from the bed to a different part of the room so they're out of the way when you clean. Baking soda will break down acid and absorb any remaining moisture or odor. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,072,337 times. Let it soak into the mattress for about 15 minutes and then scrub it away with water. This article has been viewed 3,072,337 times. It’s also important to clean any spills as soon as possible, in order to prevent stains from setting or mold from growing. It’s better to spray the cleaners on a rag first and then clean. Simply follow the six steps below: Strip the bed and wash your bed linen. Lightly spray the mattress with vinegar and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the stain. Chris Willatt. Glad I researched before using a cleaner directly on. Allow the mixture to sit for a couple hours. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Plus, you avoid the “used car salesman” experience too. Mattresses aren't designed to get wet, especially memory foam, so use as little cleaner as necessary to treat the stains. Vacuum all sides and crevices of the box spring. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Perfume your mattress with a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Approved. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018. Disinfectant spray, such as lysol. If that doesn't get rid of it, then soak that area of the mattress in a tub of soapy water (using dish soap might help, or a small amount of laundry detergent). unlocking this staff-researched answer. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. I love the explanation, "Helpful and descriptive in all the areas I needed advice on. Try using stain remover and a toothbrush. I just wanted to freshen it and this article is excellent. Do you hate cleaning and wish there was an easy way? To give your mattress a fresh smell, stir five drops of your favorite essential oil into the baking soda before sprinkling it onto the mattress. You can leave the baking soda on for several hours if you have the time. Just keep in mind, no matter how well you clean the used mattress you’ll never get the years of soil out 100%. 2. Allow it to air dry. You can also cover the stain with oxidizing bleach. When cleaning a mattress, it can be tricky. The same way moisture during regular sleep can cause damage to your mattress, liquid detergents and soaps should be strictly avoided while cleaning your mattress. If any stains smell particularly off-putting, add a dash of vinegar to them before cleaning. If the mattress surface becomes dirty or soiled, it is possible to give your mattress a good spot clean! CLEANING your mattress isn't an easy job compared to other household chores. If you encase a damp mattress in linens and blankets, it won’t dry out and you'll have mold growth. If there are stains which have set in, dip a toothbrush into a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and liquid dish soap, then gently scrub away the stains. Scrape off the baking soda with a butter knife or flat piece of plastic. You can follow up with an upholstery cleaner, blot up the upholstery cleaner and allow it to dry again. ", of why you need to ensure it's dry and why you should vacuum first. Dab it on the stain and keep it in place for 30 minutes before rubbing it with a clean toothbrush. The sun can be a great way to clean and even air out the mattress. How to Use a Mattress Topper, Clean a Mattress Topper, & When to Replace a Mattress Topper. The mattress encasement goes double for the ones that want to have a used mattress as it gives you the barrier from bugs and other nasty stuff. This article was co-authored by Chris Willatt. ", "I learned how often to vacuum a mattress.". Can i add the hydrogen peroxide into the steamer vacuum and do it on the blood stain? Mattresses are on the receiving end of dead skin cells, sweat, stains, dust mites, and all manner of lovely things. Why risk it with used – just get a new one. Repeat until the stain is gone. Remake the bed with clean sheets. To apply the baking soda more evenly, pour it into a sifter first, and distribute it over the mattress using the sifter. You should flip or rotate your mattress every three to six months to ensure even wear. Let’s talk about them. During the warmer seasons, open a window in the room to let in fresh air and dry out the mattress faster. Despite linens and mattress pads, you still need to periodically clean the thing you sleep on every night—at least once every six months if you sleep on it nightly. Because of this I highly recommend the first thing you do is to get a Mattress Encasement. Thoroughly vacuum the mattress surface to … Avoid over-wetting the mattress. What Happens If You Sleep on Your Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours? Easy, "I knew about washing the linens, and rotating the mattress, but I didn't know about the baking soda for a fresh, "Great and informative. "Great and complete article. Mattress Ruined??? Clean dirt or smudges from a mattress. The goal should be to avoid using any water if possible. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018. Cleaning expert and author of "Clean My Space" Melissa Maker breaks down how to clean your mattress. Spring Mattress & Pillow Top Mattress Guides, Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress, Baking soda can be bad to suck up with a vacuum, post that goes deeper into why steam cleaning a mattress is bad. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Salty-water is not a great cleaner and water should be avoided as much as possible on a mattress to stop the growth of mold. You spend about a third of your life on your mattress, so this is one household item you should take careful steps to keep clean. Lastly, make sure to leave the baking soda on the mattress for at least 24 hours. An enzyme cleaner will break down the proteins in blood, urine, sweat, vomit, oil, grease, and other biological stains. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Lightly spray the surface with a 50/50 vinegar/water mix. Spray it with equal parts cold water and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide). It will foam as it releases. 1 July 2019. Avoid keeping it overnight or when raining as water can destroy a mattress. Feel the mattress all over before making the bed to check for moisture. Vacuum the dust cover on the bottom of the box spring. Mix boiling hot water and soap together, then get a towel or something to blot it with. Easy! How do I disinfect a mattress in a single spot? If your mattress is stain-free, cleaning it should be a quick process. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Allow the mattress to dry all day or If you can place the used mattress in the sun all day. 12 July 2019. Vacuum mattress, base, and under your bed and spray solution onto the mattress surface. Use hot water and vinegar. Follow the instructions on the labels and remember that stains … Repeat as necessary. To deodorize the mattress, sprinkle baking soda across the surface, then vacuum it away about 30 minutes later. Sprinkle baking soda onto the mattress, let sit for a couple hours, and vacuum mattress again and air dry. Pour vinegar in a water spray bottle and spray on to the mattress top. Fabric refresher, like Febreze. Read and follow care labels when washing any fabrics. Blot away any excess moisture. Throw fabric sheets into the laundry basket along with the pillow cases. In addition to mattress cleaning, the Little Green can be used to spot clean carpet, auto interiors and fabric furniture. Sanitizing takes cleaning one-step further by eliminating germs that were left behind. By using our site, you agree to our. Rubbing the baking soda solution gently on the mattress allows the powder to penetrate the inside of the mattress for deep cleaning. Or maybe you’ve bought a mattress and would like to clean and disinfect an old used mattress at home. Not a good trade-off. Here is a link to why baking soda and vinegar don’t clean well. The problem is compounded by the time required to properly clean and sanitize a mattress using a chemical intervention. This article has been viewed 3,072,337 times. There are also mattress pads and covers you can buy to protect just the top of the mattress from spills and dirt. Disinfect the Mattress Once the used mattress looks clean, it is time to get rid of the funky stench. The good news is that cleaning a mattress isn't too difficult, and you can do it with some basic cleaning tools and ingredients. Support wikiHow by You will have to scrub very hard, but it may come out. A dilute dish-washing detergent can also be used if you do not have a citric solution readily available. Mattresses are expensive. How to Spot Clean a Mattress. ", lengthy and unhelpful info other sites provided. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Here’s how to deep clean your mattress: Vacuum: This removes all debris, from dust to dog hair. What is the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide used? Many places will come to your home to clean your mattress for you. Expert Interview. Then, steam clean the mattress from top to bottom and back to front. Sprinkle the baking soda mix Sprinkle the baking soda mixture on the entire surface of the mattress then give it a good rub. I haven't tried that out as yet, but will today. If you want to learn more about how to protect your mattress from stains in the future, keep reading the article! How do I clean blood stains off my mattress? Regular mattress cleaning can help reduce allergens in your bedroom and keep your mattress new and fresh for years. Mattresses are giant sponges that will hold on to water so much that they can mold. What’s the best way to deep-clean a mattress? Step 3: Clean up all stains with any of the stain-removing techniques in this guide. If you use your air mattress regularly, a deep cleaning every other month might be a good idea. When a stain or spill happens on a mattress, you should immediately remove and wash all bedding including the mattress cover. You can try cheap hairspray to bring up the stain. How do I get pee stains out of a mattress? When the two mix it looks like they’re doing a lot by bubbling up but what is really happening is that you’re making salty-water. Concise and clear help when you need it! Soak the area affected with water first and then try a fabric cleaner pen (like Tide To Go or something similar). References Spread the foam on the stain, wait 10 minutes, and scrape it away. Rotate your cloth to a clean area as it picks up the dissolved stain to keep from depositing it back onto the fabric. Sprinkling baking soda on each side of the mattress is the first step. We sleep on hotel beds so what’s the big deal with used mattresses? A mattress is the only thing where we spend hours on sweating, drooling, and doing other “adult related stuff”. How do I remove a Coke stain from a mattress? Use this to remove wine, vomit, or unknown mattress stains. Leave it overnight and then remove the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner. House Cleaning Professional. What will take the stain out? unlocking this staff-researched answer. Lastly, dab with a clean cloth dipped in cold water to remove excess cleaner or leftover blood. With a damp cloth (water and soap), rub the surface of the mattress to help eliminate … How do I remove a dried red jello stain from a memory foam mattress topper? You can wash your mattress by using an upholstery shampoo or simply with warm, soapy water. Before vacuuming, make sure the nozzle and brush attachments are completely clean. Let it set for an hour. I spilled soda on my bed and didn't realize it had gone through to the mattress cover until it had already dried. This article was co-authored by Chris Willatt. In step 8 we talked about getting a new mattress instead. Support wikiHow by {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Clean-a-Mattress-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-a-Mattress-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Clean-a-Mattress-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid289422-v4-728px-Clean-a-Mattress-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"