How to Clean a Mattress

It’s not something that’s at the top of the to do list but giving your mattress a deep clean occasionally is important to help maintain it. On average we spend a third of our lives asleep in bed, and although it may not be obvious our mattresses contain a build-up of all sorts of things including dead skin cells, dust, and bacteria. Therefore, it’s important we create a hygienic and healthy sleeping space. Once you discover the perfect mattress that helps you to have a restful sleep night after night, it’s essential to look after it is allowing you to enjoy a blissful sleep for as long as possible. Ideally aim to clean your mattress every 6 months.  

Mattress Size 

At Laura James we offer mattresses in single, double, and king size. Our single bed size mattress measures 190cm x 90cm, our double mattresses measure 200cm x 135cm, and the king size bed mattress measures 200cm x 150cm. We also have a choice of memory foam styles as well as a pocket sprung mattress. When purchasing a new mattress, make sure it will fit your chosen bed frame. 

Prepare Your Mattress for Cleaning 

Start by stripping the bed and washing the bedding. Bedding should ideally be washed at least once a fortnight and wash bedding on a hot temperature to ensure this eliminates any bacteria from sweat and dust. Once your bedding is removed it’s a good opportunity to air out your mattress. Open the windows and allow the fresh air to circulate and leave it for a couple of hours for a good airing. Depending on the size of the mattress and the size of the room and you take the mattress off the bed and move it close to the window.  

Vacuum Regularly  

Once aired out for a while, it is time to begin mattress cleaning, by vacuuming your mattress. Ensure you vacuum your mattress thoroughly and use the brush attachment on your vacuum to pick up the dust on corners and crevices. 

Here at Laura James, we also recommend vacuuming the headboard of your bed particularly if you have an upholstered bed in fabric such as boucle or velvet both of which tend to collect dust. 

Tackle Stains 

Sometimes stains are inevitable on a mattress, particularly if you have children and pets. Once you have aired and vacuumed your mattress, you can use an upholstery cleaning solution or mild detergent with water and use a cleaning brush to apply the product to any stubborn stains. Once you have scrubbed, use a clean damp cloth to wipe away the stain remover solution and allow the area to dry. Sprinkle some baking powder over your mattress to help absorb moisture and neutralise any smells. Leave it for about an hour and then vacuum.   

Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach, which can damage fabrics and opt for natural solutions for an eco-friendly way to clean your mattress. Natural oils such as lavender and tea tree combined with baking powder will not only leave your mattress smelling divine, but they have antibacterial benefits. White vinegar and baking soda is a winning combination for tackling stains and eliminating any nasty smells, which is particularly useful for any urine stains. The vinegar is a natural disinfectant and baking soda is a deodoriser. For pet stains or odours then you could also use an enzyme remover cleaning solution, which should help to kill the lingering smell and prevent repeat offending from your pet. 

Should You Turn Your Mattress? 

There are some recommendations that turning and rotating a mattress can help with general wear and tear and with the longevity of the product. However, this really depends on the type of mattress you have. Those with a memory foam layer including a single memory foam mattress or a double memory foam mattress should not be turned over as this is the layer you sleep on which is designed to help support your body whilst sleeping. Spring mattresses can be flipped, and this should be done every three or four months. It’s recommended that all mattresses should be rotated regularly.

Disposing of a Mattress 

If you are looking to invest in a new mattress and you want to remove your old one, then there are a couple of ways to go about this responsibly. If the mattress is in good condition, then consider donating your mattress to charity. Many charities that re-sell household furniture will collect your mattress free of charge if it has a fire label. Donating is a fantastic way to prevent your mattress from going into landfill.  

If your mattress really is beyond cleaning and it’s time for a new one, then your local council may offer a disposal service for large waste items. There may be private companies in your local area that can collect and recycle your mattress responsibly. Contact your local council for more information on how to dispose of mattresses.  

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