How to Clean a Mattress to Improve Its Lifespan and Your Air Quality
Trust us, you’ll sleep better knowing your mattress is sparkling clean.
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Despite daily use, we tend to neglect our mattresses when it comes to the chore cycle. Many of us go years without cleaning theirs, and some admit they don't know how to clean a mattress. With some help from our experts, we offer step-by-step guidance for cleaning your mattress, along with some tips on dealing with memory foam, treating stains and mold, and keeping your mattress cleaner longer.
Why Clean a Mattress?
“A dirty mattress can be a hub of bacteria, as mattresses can accumulate dust mites, bacteria, mold, dead skin, dirt, and different allergens over time,” notes Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional at Two Maids and a Mop.
Cleaning expert Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse, adds that keeping your mattress clean improves your well-being and sleep quality, improves the lifespan of the mattress, and promotes better indoor air quality.
How Often to Clean a Mattress
Aim to clean your mattress every six months to avoid major damage or dirt, dust, and dead skin cell buildup, says Cohoon. The process is easier than you think and doesn’t take too long. Plus, if you incorporate the task into a day of deep-cleaning your home, you can work on other projects between mattress-cleaning steps.
“Homeowners should clean their mattresses more often if they notice an uptick in allergy or asthma symptoms," Rubino adds, "or if they find their mattress is losing consistency."
Pro Tip: Buy a new mattress every six to 10 years, depending on how much use it gets.
What You Need:
Laundry detergent
Laundry additive (optional)
Hydrogen peroxide
Cleaning cloths
Baking soda
How to Clean a Mattress
Perhaps part of the reason why people forego cleaning their mattress is because they simply don’t know how to do it. Here’s the step-by-step rundown.
Step 1: Remove and Wash Bedding
Toss everything into the washing machine, including your fitted sheet, top sheet, and duvet cover. For extra cleaning power, Rubino recommends using a laundry additive—such as Micro Balance EC3 Laundry Additive ($29, amazon.com)—that helps remove small particles like mold spores, mycotoxins, organic matter, and bacteria.
Step 2: Vacuum
Use a handheld vacuum or hose attachment to vacuum dry debris, dust, and loose dirt from the mattress. Our cleaning pros recommend HEPA vacuums, which have robust filtration systems that help get the cleanest clean.
Step 3: Spot Treat
Cohoon recommends mixing equal parts cool water and hydrogen peroxide, and then dabbing it on the stain with a soft cloth. Wipe away with water and allow the area to dry. If you need a stronger cleaning agent, try a spot treatment approved for fabrics and/or mattresses.
Step 4: Sprinkle Baking Soda
A light dusting on the mattress is plenty. Allow the baking soda to sit for about an hour to neutralize odor and bacteria. While waiting, “circulate the air in the room with fans and open windows, if possible, to break down odors and eliminate bacteria,” Cohoon advises.
Step 5: Vacuum Again
Vacuum up all the baking soda, making sure to remove any powder that migrated into the mattress' creases and folds.
Step 6: Flip and Repeat
Flip your mattress and repeat the process, provided your mattress is two-sided and flippable.
How to Clean a Memory Foam Mattress
The process for cleaning a memory foam mattress is similar to cleaning a regular one, except the materials on a memory foam mattress are more delicate. For this reason, choose gentle cleaners instead of harsh chemicals, which can break down the memory foam inside. Also, avoid over-saturating the mattress, because memory foam tends to hold onto moisture.
How to Clean Pee Out of a Mattress
Accidents happen, but rest assured that pee can be cleaned from a mattress. You just need to catch the stain and clean it as soon as possible.
“First, strip and wash all the bedding. Then use an enzyme cleaner to spot-treat the affected area and allow it to dry well,” Cohoon says. “Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda and allow it to sit for an hour to absorb any bacteria and odor, then vacuum well.”
How to Clean Mold From a Mattress
Unfortunately, the best way to handle mold on a mattress is to replace it with a new one. “That’s the only way to ensure all of the contamination is removed,” Rubino warns. “If it’s a small spot, you can attempt to clean it, but you just never know how deep the contamination issues go.”
Tips for Mattress Cleaning and Maintenance
A mattress can be a hefty investment, so it's worth it to follow these tips for keeping your mattress cleaner longer.
Wash Bedding Often
“Your bedding makes a difference in the cleanliness of your mattress,” says Cohoon, who recommends you wash your sheets weekly so bacteria and dirt don’t build up between your bedding and the mattress. Wash your comforter or bedspread at least once every two to three months.
Treat Stains Immediately
“Treat any stains and damage as soon as you see it to avoid it becoming a bigger issue,” Cohoon urges. Mattresses are porous and absorbent, so the quicker you get to a stain, the better.
Flip or Rotate the Mattress
When possible, flip your mattress once every three to six months, or any time you notice sagging or dents, Cohoon advises. Check with the manufacturer regarding whether your bed can be flipped, though. Most memory foam, pillow-top, and hybrid mattresses are one-sided, so they can only be rotated.
Use an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your home is a good move in general. In the bedroom, it helps “remove small particles like mold spores and other organic matter from the air so they don’t settle on the mattress,” Rubino says.
Related: How to Wash a Comforter So It's Fresh and Clean
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