If you want your mattress to last a long time, then you need to practice proper care and maintenance. Let’s get some information from a bedroom furniture store in Houston, MO. Below are the most essential steps for cleaning your mattress, as well as an overview of the importance of keeping it clean and how often you should clean it.
Why mattress cleaning is so important
Dusting, vacuuming and cleaning clutter in your home is important if you are to maintain a healthy home. Cleaning ensures good indoor air quality, but that can be impacted when you overlook your mattress and mattress toppers. You sweat and shed skin on your bed nightly, which quickly leads to an accumulation of bacteria, fungal spores and dust mites (these tiny critters feed on dead skin). Without regular mattress cleaning, your mattress may easily be the dirtiest thing in your entire house!
Frequency of mattress cleaning
Although sleeping on fresh sheets is healthy and offers greater comfort, you have to consider that some of that dirtiness from used sheets will get onto your mattress. The truth is that you are also sleeping on new and old sweat, body oil, dust, dust mites, other allergens and, if you have pets, pet fur and dander. Think about how often you change your sheets versus the frequency at which you clean your mattress—it’s probably nowhere near the same. Clean your mattress once a season, or at least twice a year, following the steps below.
Step 1: Vacuum
This step removes dead skin cells, dust and other debris that has accumulated. But before you begin vacuuming, remove all bedding from the mattress, including sheets, pillows, toppers and mattress pads. Use an upholstery attachment to vacuum the mattress, making sure to get deep into the seam lines, because this is where most mattress debris will settle. Remember to wipe down the attachment before using to avoid depositing new contaminants onto the mattress.
Step 2: Spot clean
Did you know that sweat, blood, vomit, saliva, your body’s natural oils and other bodily fluids can go through sheets and leave stains on your mattress? To clean these stains, dab the area with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water using a soft toothbrush. Let dry for five minutes. It may be necessary to repeat the process. Oily stains from food spills can be lifted using a paste of baking soda, salt and water. Apply, let stand for 30 minutes, then brush away and wipe with a damp, cool cloth and dry with a fan.
Step 3: Deodorize
Because of sweat and debris, your mattress will begin developing an unpleasant aroma after a while. Deodorizing it can neutralize these odors! Simply sprinkle the mattress top with baking soda. Let it sit for one hour before vacuuming the baking soda away.
Step 4: Flip it
If you have a two-sided mattress, clean the top side first, then get help flipping it over. Follow the deodorizing step for this side as well.
Crowleys Homeworks offers it all—home furniture, floor coverings, mattresses, furniture accessories and so much more. Visit our bedroom furniture store in Houston, MO today!