[Guide to Cleaning a Mattress] How to clean a mattress? 5 Steps to Mattress Cleaning to Fight Mattress Mold and Stains
We can't sleep without mattresses. The service life of mattresses can be more than ten years. While many families wash their sheets and quilt covers, many people ignore the importance of washing mattresses. Why do you need to clean your mattress after all? How should we clean the mattress?
Serta brings you detailed mattress washing strategies to help you fight off mattress mold, dust mites, stain residues and other problems, extend the life of your mattress, and sleep more peacefully!
How dirty is the mattress if it is not washed?
The human body naturally sheds dandruff and secretes oil. When we use mattresses, these natural secretions can easily cause bacteria to breed in the mattress. Research in Taiwan points out that if a mattress is not washed for one year, there will be 3 million bacteria, and the number will increase exponentially to 9 million in two years, increasing year by year. Foreign studies have shown that an eight-year-old mattress can contain 10 pounds of human dander. Coupled with the hot and humid environment in Hong Kong, the inside of the mattress will be filled with moisture for too long, and the mattress will become moldy.
What impact does irregular mattress cleaning have on the human body?
If the mattress is not cleaned, dust mites and bacteria on the mattress may cause respiratory or skin health problems. Common problems include asthma, eczema, nasal allergies, etc.
Can I clean the mattress myself?
Unless your mattress has large areas of stains and requires the assistance of a mattress cleaning company, you can actually follow the mattress cleaning methods below for daily mattress maintenance.
Cleaning mattress cleaning frequency
We recommend that you clean your mattress at least twice a year.
Common tools for cleaning mattresses
1. Internal dust mites – dust removal with full vacuum cleaner/steam iron
Many dust mites hide deep inside the mattress. Just wiping the surface cannot solve the problem of mattress dust mites. At this time, we can use a dust mite vacuum cleaner to suck away the dust mites. Since dust mites cannot survive in an environment of 60 degrees Celsius, we can also use the high temperature of a steam iron to kill dust mites.
The best practice is to turn the mattress over regularly and tap it with a stick, and then use the above tools to clean the mattress thoroughly.
2. Internal moisture – baking powder + vacuum cleaner
If the mattress has too much moisture, it is easy for the mattress to become moldy. We can use baking powder to absorb the moisture from the mattress, and then use a vacuum cleaner to suck away the powder to complete the mattress cleaning process.
3. Mattress odor – baking powder + vacuum cleaner + aromatic essential oil
Soda powder also has a deodorizing effect. If you want to make the mattress scented after cleaning it, you can mix a few drops of aromatic essential oil with soda powder, shake it vigorously and sprinkle it on the mattress. Wait for 2 hours and then vacuum up the powder.
Five Steps to Regular Mattress Cleaning
As long as there are no special stains, you can follow the following regular mattress cleaning methods for maintenance:
The first step in regular mattress cleaning methods: absorb surface dirt
Use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum the surface of the mattress, including the upper side, sides and seams of the mattress.
Step 2 of the conventional mattress cleaning method: Clean mattress stains
Use a spray bottle to spray the cleaner onto a white cloth, and use the cloth to blot the lightly soiled area. Soak another clean cloth with cold water and continue blotting until the stain fades or is completely removed. This step can also be performed using a fabric cleaning machine.
Step 3 of the regular mattress cleaning method: remove moisture, odor, mold and dust mites
Sprinkle baking powder on the surface of the mattress and let it sit for at least two hours. At the same time, open the windows and curtains in the room where the mattress is located to allow air circulation and sunlight to enter the room. Make good use of sunlight to kill bacteria and mold on the mattress. , to prevent mattresses from getting moldy.
Step 4 of the conventional mattress cleaning method: Complete the first side of the mattress cleaning
Use a vacuum cleaner to absorb the baking powder. This completes the first step of cleaning the mattress.
Step 5 of the regular mattress cleaning method: Clean the other side of the mattress
Turn the mattress over, repeat steps one to four, and use this side of the mattress until the next mattress cleaning to prevent one side of the mattress from deforming due to long-term pressure.
How to clean special stains on mattresses
blood stains
When blood stains are accidentally stained on the mattress, you can add salt to lemon juice and use it instead of general detergent to further remove stubborn blood stains. If it is determined that the material of the mattress can be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, the effect of using hydrogen peroxide will be better. You can spray hydrogen peroxide on the stained area, wipe it with cold water and absorb the water. Do not use hot water to accelerate the coagulation of blood stains.
urine stains
Urine stains must be treated early, otherwise they will become more difficult to remove over time.
If it can be dealt with in time, you can spray white vinegar on the stain, wait for an hour and then use a wet towel to press and dry the mattress to clean it. Do not wipe the mattress in a circular motion to prevent the stain from expanding.
If the urine stain has been there for a long time and is difficult to remove, you can use a toothbrush to slowly brush off the stain using the same technique, and blow with a hair dryer until it is dry.
drink stains
If there are drink stains on the mattress, you can use a towel with good absorbency and alcohol to wipe it gently. Do not use a towel with poor absorbency, otherwise the stain may spread due to too much alcohol.
