Clean stains and disinfect dirty mattress: Mattresses are the place we frequent the most to rest after a day at work or a hectic day. These have an internal structure that gives them shape and which is covered with padded sheets and textile fabrics.
To keep your mattress in optimal condition, you must carry out procedures that prevent its deformation, dust accumulation, and increased humidity. Mattresses are also susceptible to accidental staining. Body fluids, blood, vomit, and other substances can unexpectedly land on your mattress.
Some warranties are not valid if your mattress is stained. How to solve it? Today we will talk about everything you need to know to keep your mattress clean and in optimal condition.
Tips and habits to keep a mattress clean and in good condition
Perform a thorough cleaning every 6 months
All people have multiple tasks to perform every day, therefore, they do not usually check their mattresses and these can accumulate stains, dust, bad smells, and mites …
You should plan a cleaning day for your mattress, which should happen at least twice a year. However, if you have the opportunity to clean your mattress every quarter that would be great.
Similarly, if an unexpected event occurs that stains your mattress, you should advance your cleaning day, the sooner you attend to the stains, they will be easier to remove.
Change the bedding
When you sleep, unnoticed, your skin regenerates and sheds tiny flakes of dead skin.
These skin residues are the favorite food of mites, not changing the bedding could cause the appearance of mites and microscopic insects that cause allergies. You should change the bedding at least once a week, even this action reduces the accumulation of sweat on the mattresses.
Buy a mattress cover
This accessory is perfect for collecting all kinds of dirt and stains, preventing your mattress from getting dirty.
These covers can be purchased with special anti-mite fabrics and special treatments against humidity and odors. You can wash the mattress cover whenever you consider necessary, being able to sleep peacefully with the spectacular feeling of your perfectly clean bed.
Vacuum the mattress once a month
Removing dust particles, skin scales, and other residues will prevent the presence of mites and prolong the useful life of your mattress. It’s best to use an allergy-friendly vacuum with a HEPA filter.
It is recommended to vacuum the mattress once a month. You can even sprinkle baking soda on the mattress, wait an hour, and do a thorough vacuuming. This baking soda procedure will kill mites, remove odors, and disinfect your mattress.
Turn your mattress every three months
Sleeping in the same place on your mattress causes undulations that could later be uncomfortable when sleeping.
You should turn the mattress every three months so that it maintains its original shape.
In mattresses with padded surfaces ( pillow tops), it is recommended to rotate or turn from top to bottom every three months.
What products and home remedies can be used to clean a mattress?
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate is a compound with abrasive characteristics.
It is a product that removes any type of particles adhered to surfaces, it is sold in powder presentations, which are easily dissolved in water.
This abrasive action favors cleaning tasks, however, care must be taken when using it on delicate surfaces. But that’s not all, baking soda also increases the alkalinity of the surfaces where it is placed, being an advantage when you want to disinfect dry surfaces. You can sprinkle baking soda on your mattress or a sofa, in this way, the alkalinity will increase to inhospitable levels and any existing microorganisms will die.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is the only antibacterial compound made up of only water and oxygen.
It is capable of oxidizing most germs, bacteria, and microorganisms to the point of death, and even acts effectively on a wide variety of elements susceptible to oxidation. This makes it useful for removing blood stains, rust, and more.
White vinegar
It is the most popular vinegar in Spanish kitchens, and the most acidic of all vinegar (8% acidity), therefore, it is an excellent antibacterial, antifungal, and disinfectant.
Its price is affordable, with a few euros you can buy a liter of vinegar, and its use is so diverse that you can use it to remove odors or to remove gum accidentally stuck to mattresses. But that’s not all, white vinegar is an excellent product to repel insects such as mites, fleas, and ants.
Dishwashing liquid soap
It is a type of soap designed to remove grease from your dishes, which means that its cleaning action is superior to other detergents.
Dishwashing liquid soap does not require excessive amounts of water to do its job, which makes it ideal for cleaning without creating significant moisture in the mattress.
This product is one of the most used homemade formulas to clean mattresses, it mixes very well with other ingredients and removes sweat, grease, or food stains.
Steps to clean different stains from a mattress
Urine and sweat stains
When we have small children, in the stage that they are leaving their diapers, it is common for accidents to happen and the little ones to wet the bed during the night.
This situation can create yellow stains on mattresses as well as an unpleasant odor. Similarly, when we sleep our body perspires and the mattress can collect sweat, causing a yellowish stain to form and an unpleasant odor, similar to that produced by urine. To clean urine and sweat stains you must follow these steps:
- Prepare a cleaning solution: in a plastic container you must put 50 g of baking soda, 150 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 5 drops of liquid dishwashing soap. You will need to mix until the baking soda dissolves and forms a liquid solution.
- Spray the mattress: the liquid solution should be placed in a spray bottle, and the affected area will be sprayed, allowing the liquid to penetrate the stain.
- Allow the mattress to dry: The mattress should be air-dried for an hour or more. If quick drying is necessary, a fan or hair dryer may be used.
This procedure causes the elements that cause the stain to be removed and sent to the outside of the surface. You can brush a little and vacuum the residue, you will notice that the stain and odors will have already disappeared.
Blood stains
There are numerous situations where a small amount of blood could stain your mattress. In many cases, this type of stain is one of the most unpleasant and but it has an easy solution, you just have to carry out the following procedure:
- Make your cleaning solution – You should only use 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can put the hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle to make it easier to dispense the product.
- Spray the mattress: you must spray the blood stain with hydrogen peroxide, you will be able to see how the blood reacts quickly by oxidation. A little foam will be generated that will carry the blood residues to the outside of the fabric, you can clean it with a towel. You should repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. There is a theory that heat can set bloodstains, so it is ideal to treat bloodstains as soon as possible.
- Let the mattress dry: You can air dry the mattress or use a hair dryer with the cold option.
Vomit stains
Vomiting at night is also a common situation when you have young children. They can be caused by a stomach virus or indigestion, the point is that children rarely tell when they feel like vomiting.
Therefore, if they are in their room, they will most likely end up vomiting on the bed. To avoid a stain that is difficult to remove and bad odors, it is best to act quickly, you can carry out the following procedure and you will see how quickly you remove this stain:
- Prepare the cleaning solution: in a spray bottle you must place 100 ml of water and 100 ml of white vinegar, you will only have to stir a little and it will be ready to use.
- Clean the mattress: you will have to spray the affected part, you can brush a little and then you will have to clean with a towel. You must repeat the procedure until the stain disappears.
- Apply baking soda: the baking soda should be placed on the wet surface, this will help remove residue from the stain, work as a disinfectant, and dissipate odors. You should let it dry in the open air and once dry you should brush it a little and collect the resulting dust with a vacuum cleaner.
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