How to Deep Clean a Mattress and Remove Stains

Those nasty bites that leave you itching all night; the sneezing fits; the sudden wheezing; and persistent skin irritation could all be caused by one thing – a dirty mattress! When you pay little to no attention to the cleanliness and sanitary condition of your mattress, you end up with one that is not just filthy, but stained and prone to bed bugs and dust mites, too!

With that horror-filled image in your head, the question on everyone’s mind is ‘how to deep clean a mattress and get rid of bed bugs and stains?’ Well, MaidForYou has the answer right here in the form of a step-by-step guide to make your mattress clean and stain-free again! So, let’s get right to it then!

Step 1: Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuuming a mattress isn’t anything like vacuuming a floor or carpet; you have to be so thorough that you cover the entire mattress including seams and edges (where bugs and mites tend to hide). Remember, you also need to vacuum the sides and underside of the mattress so it may take a while and a lot of back and forth motions to vacuum each section thoroughly. 

In order to vacuum your mattress safely and effectively, use a brush head such as an upholstery attachment.

Step 2: Sprinkle With Baking Soda

While baking soda is often used as a core ingredient in household cleaning, the purpose of applying it at this stage is not to aid in cleaning the mattress but rather to remove bad odours from it. To do this, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over your mattress so that a thin, patchy layer covers the surface. 

Step away for a good 2 or 3 hours while the powder absorbs those musty or foul odours, as well as moisture. Bear in mind that the longer you allow the baking soda to sit on the surface, the more effective it is in removing bad odours from your mattress.

Step 3: Vacuum Again

Unlike the initial vacuuming of your mattress, this time around needn’t be so thorough since the goal is to remove the baking soda which is limited to the surface. Nevertheless, it’s important to vacuum up all the powder as it has been absorbing moisture and bad odours from your mattress which is quite icky, to say the least!

To do this efficiently, start with one corner and work your way downward till the other corner. Vacuum each section in a straight line and you’ll be done in time!

Step 4: Make a DIY Natural Mattress Cleaner

There’s no need for commercial cleaners or laundry detergent when deep cleaning your mattress. In fact, harsh cleaners or chemicals should be avoided altogether which is why we use a cleaning solution made from 100% natural ingredients.

To make MaidForYou’s DIY natural mattress cleaning solution, combine 1 litre of water, ½ a cup of white vinegar, lemon extract from 2 lemons, and 1 cup of baking soda. For fragrance, you can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil, however, this is optional. Once mixed, pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake well.

Step 5: Apply the Cleaning Solution and Scrub

It’s important to note that at no point should your mattress be saturated with the cleaning solution. This means lightly spraying on the cleaner using the ‘mist’ setting rather than a stream spray. Spritz sections of the entire mattress without worrying about getting every inch of it.

After the cleaning solution has been applied, it’s time to gently scrub the material with any cleaning tool that will lift dirt (such as a cloth) rather than work it into the mattress (like a brush). We prefer using a pair of microfibre gloves for its effectiveness and convenience. If you come across dry spots, simply spray on the cleaner and continue scrubbing. Don’t forget the flip the mattress and scrub the underneath, as well as the four sides of the mattress. 

NOTE: If the gloves or material of the cleaning tool is picking up dirt, you should rinse and wring it at intervals until the scrubbing process is complete.

Step 6: Remove the Cleaner and Dry

There is no harm in leaving traces of the cleaning solution as it is 100% natural; however, it is advisable to remove as much of it as you can to prevent a lingering smell (from the cleaner). The best way to do this is with a clean, damp towel. Simply wipe the material from top to bottom on all sides.

Drying a mattress after you have deep cleaned it can be tricky because it is a large (and often heavy) item. Nevertheless, the cleaning experts at MaidForYou advise taking your mattress outside to dry under the sun. Of course, you will need a large plastic or bed sheet to place the mattress on to prevent dirt from sticking to the damp material. Allow both sides at least 3-4 hours to dry in the sun.  

How to Remove Stains from Your Mattress

If you have stains on your mattress, they will need to be treated before applying the cleaning solution to the material. It’s always best to tackle mattress stains first because any leftover discolouration will typically come out during the rest of the scrubbing and cleaning process.

Here are two quick step-by-step methods to remove two common types of mattress stains.

How to Remove Urine Stains from Your Mattress

1. Pre-treat the stain with a solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide (1 cup), baking soda (2-3 tablespoons), and a squirt of dish detergent. To apply the solution to the stain, use a clean white towel dipped in the mixture, and blot the stain. Pay more attention to the outline of the stain as this is typically the most stubborn part of the discolouration.
2. When the area dries up, inspect the stain for any leftover discolouration. If present, treat it with the following steps.
3. Combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 2-3 tablespoons of laundry detergent; use a whisk to mix them together in order to create foam.
4. Scoop out the foam with a spoon, and cover the entire urine stain on your mattress. Set a timer for half an hour, and in that time, check that the foam has not dissolved completely. If so, cover the stain with foam again.
5. After 30 minutes have passed, blot the area with paper towels to soak up moisture.
6. Allow the mattress to air-dry. Repeat the steps from 3 – 5 if necessary.

How to Remove Blood Stains from Your Mattress

1. Blot the stain with paper towels to lift as much colour as possible. Allow the stain to dry up completely thereafter.
2. Run water over a soap bar and rub it over the stain.
3. Dampen a clean white towel with hydrogen peroxide, and gently dab the area. Avoid rubbing blood stains on your mattress as this will only spread the colour around.
4. Next, make a paste consisting of hydrogen peroxide, liquid dish detergent, and salt. The paste needs to be thick enough to coat the stains so avoid adding too much liquid to it. 
5. Leave the paste to sit for 20 minutes before removing it with paper towels. 
6. Finish off by dabbing the area with more hydrogen peroxide and a clean towel until the stain vanishes completely. 

Although you may not see your mattress too often, you use it every day and that should be enough to tell you that deep cleaning is a must! Make it a routine task every six months to ensure that your mattress is clean, sanitary, and serving you well! If the DIY methods mentioned above don't work, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service to get the job done with more rigorous, specialist equipment.