How to Safely Clean Your Mattress Without Using Harsh Chemicals

Knowing how to properly clean your mattress is a must for anyone who’s experienced an accidental spill in bed (and that’s pretty much everyone). To ensure you get the best sleep and keep your mattress in prime condition, we consulted with a mattress designer for expert tips.

While hiring a professional cleaner is an option, you can save money by handling the cleaning yourself. (Cleaning a memory foam mattress is very similar to cleaning a traditional one, as long as you avoid using chemical cleaners.) By taking a few simple preventative steps and following easy guidelines, you can keep your mattress spotless with minimal effort.

The Ideal Frequency for Mattress Cleaning

As a general guideline, it’s recommended to clean your mattress twice a year. Dust mites, allergens, and dead skin cells naturally accumulate over time, so regular cleaning is key to ensuring you sleep on a clean and healthy surface. However, if you experience spills such as blood or urine, it’s crucial to clean them up immediately to prevent staining.

Flipping Your Mattress

While you’re already cleaning your mattress, it’s a good idea to flip it as well. The area where you sleep tends to form a permanent indentation, which can eventually cause the materials in the mattress to deteriorate (and possibly lead to discomfort). Flipping your mattress helps prevent these indentations from becoming too deep.

It’s recommended to flip your mattress at least each time you clean it, but doing so every three months is the best practice. If possible, mix it up by flipping it one time and rotating it the next, ensuring the materials are worn evenly. Both regular cleaning and flipping can help extend your mattress's lifespan, which typically ranges from 7 to 10 years.

Using Dish Soap to Clean Your Mattress

Essential Items You'll Need

• Vacuum cleaner
• Soft sponge
• Baking soda
• Dish soap
• Spot treatment pen or gel stick
• Powdered laundry detergent
• Dry towel
• Hair dryer (optional)

Step 1: Strip and Launder Bedding

Start by removing your sheets, as well as any pillow protectors and mattress cover. Be sure to wash them using the highest water temperature recommended to eliminate bacteria and germs.

Step 2: Vacuum Thoroughly

Quickly run a handheld vacuum or use the brush attachment on a larger vacuum to remove any dust and debris from your mattress surface.

Step 3: Address Stains

For smaller stains, try using a spot-cleaning pen or gel stick. "Be careful not to overapply, and make sure the area is fully dry before you make the bed again," advises Heather Corrow. "If the stain is tough, you may need to repeat the process, including the drying step, a few times."

For larger stains, Corrow recommends the following approach:

1. Combine powdered detergent with a small amount of water, aiming for a ratio of three parts powder to one part water. The mixture should have a paste-like consistency. "Minimizing the water is crucial to avoid mold growth," says Corrow.
2. "Gently apply the mixture to the stain and leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes before wiping it away with a slightly damp cloth."
3. Blot the area with a dry towel and let it air dry completely.

Step 4: Apply Baking Soda to the Mattress

Sprinkle a light coating of baking soda across your mattress and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes to help eliminate odors.

Step 5: Vacuum once more

After the baking soda has had enough time to settle, vacuum it up once again.

Step 6: Clean the Mattress Surface

Combine warm water with a few drops of dish soap in a bowl, bucket, or sink. Soak your sponge, wring it out well, and gently clean the entire mattress. Be careful not to oversaturate it, as it will take longer to dry.

Step 7: Allow the Mattress to Dry

The best way to dry your mattress is by letting it air dry. It's recommended to clean your mattress early in the day, so you don’t end up on a damp bed. As Jacob Fox suggests, you can also use a hair dryer, a fan, or open windows in good weather to speed up the process and ensure the mattress is fully dry before putting the bedding back on.

It is essential to let your mattress dry thoroughly to avoid mold and mildew growth. Corrow also recommends using a handheld steamer that leaves minimal moisture behind.

How to Freshen Up a Mattress

To avoid odors, it’s important to change your bedding at least once a week. Corrow also suggests vacuuming your mattress weekly, ideally while your sheets are in the wash. For a more thorough deodorizing, Corrow recommends the following steps:

Items You’ll Need

• Vacuum
• A disinfectant spray made with lemon, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol
• Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or tea tree
• Baking soda

Step 1: Vacuum Your Mattress

Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the mattress.

Step 2: Apply Baking Soda

Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the surface of the mattress. "Gently work it in with a dry sponge or brush, spreading it evenly to form a light coating," she advises. You can also add a few drops of your preferred essential oil to the baking soda for extra freshness.

Step 3: Let it Sit for 1 to 2 Hours

Allow the baking soda to sit for up to an hour or two before vacuuming a second time. According to Corrow, this gives it time to "absorb and neutralize the odor."

Step 4: Vacuum Again and Spritz

To get rid of the baking soda, vacuum the mattress again using the upholstery attachment. Next, lightly spritz the mattress with a natural lavender or disinfectant spray. "For disinfecting, you can use lemon, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol, and add lavender, eucalyptus, or tea tree essential oils to keep it smelling fresh," she suggests. Let it air dry for a few minutes.

How to Get Rid of Stains on a Mattress

Accidents happen, but that doesn't mean the smell has to stay forever. For urine stains, try using a product specifically designed to remove and deodorize pet messes from carpets and furniture. While it can be difficult to remove blood stains, there are products made specifically for blood removal. Alternatively, follow these steps:

Items You'll Need

• Paper towels or cloth
• Cleaning vinegar
• Baking soda
• Salt, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice
• Vacuum

Step 1: Remove the Bedding

Take off the bedding immediately and toss it into the laundry.

Step 2: Dab the Stain

Use paper towels to gently blot the stain. Avoid scrubbing, as it could push the stain deeper into the mattress.

Step 3: Prepare a Cleaning Solution

For urine stains, mix equal parts water and white vinegar or cleaning vinegar. Spray the solution over the affected area, then sprinkle with baking soda.

For blood stains, combine one part baking soda with two parts cold water. Apply the mixture to the stain.

Step 4: Allow to Sit

For urine, let the baking soda sit for at least eight to ten hours.

For blood, let the baking soda and water mixture sit for thirty minutes. Then, soak up the solution with a rag dampened in cold water. Dab with a dry towel to absorb the moisture and let the area air dry.

Step 5: Vacuum the Mattress

For urine, after letting the mattress sit for eight to ten hours, vacuum up the remaining baking soda. If the odor persists, repeat the process until it’s gone.

Step 6: Try Another Cleaning Method

For blood stains, if the initial method doesn't fully work, consider using salt, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice, depending on what you have on hand.

While it's not always possible to completely remove blood stains from a mattress, it's worth trying. One option is Carbona Stain Devil (available on amazon.com), which is specially formulated to tackle blood stains. Alternatively, follow these steps:

• Cloth or rag
• Baking soda
• Salt, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice

If the previous method isn't effective, you can retry using salt, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice, depending on what materials you have available.

How to Prevent Stains on Your Mattress

The most effective way to maintain a clean mattress is to stop stains before they happen. "Using a mattress protector is the best way to avoid stains altogether," Corrow advises. "Unlike the old noisy vinyl ones you might remember, today’s market offers affordable options made from soft fabric with a waterproof backing. Some even offer added benefits like stain resistance, antimicrobial properties, and bed bug protection."

Zippered mattress protectors are ideal, as they cover the entire mattress, including the sides, which are prone to dirt, spills, and even bedbugs. If you use a mattress topper, be sure to place it beneath the zippered protector. For those who tend to sleep hot, layering a cooling mattress pad under the protector is also a good option.

Mattresses inevitably accumulate dirt and undergo wear from constant use. To help combat this, allow your mattress to breathe for at least 20 minutes when you change your sheets. This will help eliminate odors and dry out any moisture.