Our mattresses are full of all types of lovely things from sweat to dead skin cells. So why would you want to sleep on that every night without cleaning it? Follow these tips on cleaning your mattress the right way and sleep peacefully at night.

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Do you know what you’re sleeping on every night when you lay down in your bed?

Mattresses are full of stains, sweat, dust mites, dead skin cells and who knows what all else.

Despite keeping our mattresses covered with sheets and blankets (and maybe even a mattress pad) we still need to give our mattresses a deep clean once about every 6 months.

Cleaning Your Mattress

Remove linens

Remove all the sheets and blankets, pillow coverings, pillows, etc. from the bed and wash them. While the linens are in the wash, you can work on cleaning your mattress.

Vacuum your mattress

Once all the bed linens have been removed, give it a quick sweep with a vacuum to remove any crumbs, dust, pet hair or any other dirt that has collected over time.

My cats love to sleep on my bed and during this time of the year they start to shed more. There isn’t a time when my house (and my clothes) is cat hair-free.

Spot clean to remove stains

Depending on the stain is going to determine how you clean it. Here are some tips on treating certain types of stains.

• Sweat, urine, and vomit: I know. Gross! But it happens and it has to be cleaned. Mix one cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Mist the stain lightly with plain water just until damp, then mist the mixture over the stain gently scrub with an old toothbrush or a scrub brush until the stain is gone. Mist the area with clean water and blot with a towel.

Tip: You don’t want to get it too wet because it’s hard to soak up all the water from a mattress. Over soaking can cause mildew and we don’t need to add more problems to the mattress.

See also: 12 Ways to Use a Toothbrush for Cleaning

• Blood: Get rid of blood using the same method as above, but make sure the water and cleaning solution are cold. Leave them in the fridge for about an hour or so before cleaning your mattress.

Tip: Bloodstains may need extra scrubbing and a repeat cleaning. Remember to blot all the excess liquid with a towel.

See also: Amazing Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

• Food & drink: To clean up food and beverage stains mix one part laundry detergent, one part vinegar, and 10 parts water in a spray bottle. Mist the stain and scrub with a toothbrush or scrub bush in a circular motion. Wait about 15 minutes, then blot with a sponge or towel.

Tip: Rinse the towel or sponge and continue to blot until the stain is gone. Finally, blot with a dry absorbent towel to make sure all the liquid is removed.

See also: Save Money with These Vinegar Hacks

Deodorize

Lightly sprinkle the mattress with baking soda and let it sit for a couple of hours. The baking soda will absorb any liquid left behind from the stain removal process, plus leave your mattress smelling clean and fresh. After a couple of hours, vacuum the baking soda off, making sure to get in all the crevices.

Tip: My homemade carpet freshener is great for deodorizing a mattress, too!

How should you keep your mattress clean?

Daily

Consider purchasing a mattress cover to protect your mattress in between deep cleanings. There are different types of mattress coverings out there, so choose carefully. Make sure it will fit your bed properly so it’s easy to remove and put back on. Look for a mattress cover designed to reduce dust mite allergens.

Weekly

Your bedding – comforter, pillowcases, sheets – should be washed weekly. A good tip to help you remember to wash weekly is to wash bedding on the same day, such as Sunday. This will eventually form a habit and Sunday will become “wash the bedding day”.

Monthly

Remove and wash the mattress cover monthly, or as soon as stains appear. It’s also a good idea to vacuum your mattress once a month to remove dust, dander, dirt, and dust mites that may have built up. However, if someone has allergies it may be best to vacuum more than once a month.

How long should your mattress last?

Most mattresses have a life span of up to 10 years and some high-end mattresses come with a 25-year warranty. This is a case where you really get what you pay for. I would say it’s safe to invest in a higher quality, more expensive mattress. After all, you spend a lot of time on it.

Using a mattress cover and cleaning your mattress regularly will prolong the lifespan of your mattress. When you start to notice your mattress sagging, or notice increased pain or stiffness after sleeping then it might be time to replace it.

Cleaning your mattress will not only lengthen the life span of your mattress, but it will also keep you healthy!

Looking for more cleaning inspiration? Check out these great posts:
Deep Clean Your Master Bedroom
Clean Your Bedroom in Just 15 Minutes
How to Clean Up Fast for Company
How to Make Money Cleaning Your Home