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Do-it-yourself mattress washing methods, such as high resilience polyurethane or fibre, vary depending on the material. In addition to basic mattress care methods that can be performed daily, we will show you how to remove six stains, including mold, dust mites, bedwetting, and water washing.
Why Mattress Cleaning is Necessary
Mattresses used daily during sleep gradually accumulate invisible dirt. It is said that people sweat one cup (about 500 ml) during sleep.
Night sweats cause moisture, leading to mold and bacteria growth. Some people, such as those who live alone, may have never taken care of their beds! However, mattresses are surprisingly dirty and need to be correctly cared for.
In addition, stains from bedwetting and menstrual blood can cause mattresses to deteriorate. Mattress care is essential to keep your mattress clean and prolong its life.
Five Points for Cleaning Mattresses Made of Different Materials
Mattresses accumulate dust mites, mold, bedwetting stains, and other dirt, but many people are unsure how to care for them.
Depending on the material, some mattresses can be washed at home, while others cannot. The properties and care instructions differ depending on the mattress material. Check the fabric of your bed and take care of it properly.
(1) High resilience urethane, low resilience urethane and latex composite materials
The most famous manufacturers of urethane mattresses are Magniflex and air. The mattress itself is relatively light, and many are reasonably priced.
They have a weakness in that they have poor ventilation and are prone to mold growth, so daily maintenance should be performed to release moisture and air them out frequently.
Some manufacturers sell dehumidifying sheets that can be placed under the mattress to release moisture. Urethane mattresses are also susceptible to water damage.
When trying to remove stains, etc., test the mattress by pouring a small amount of cleaning solution on the edge of the mattress to see if any deterioration occurs.
(2) Coil (spring) material
Some mattresses use coils or springs as the core material. A typical manufacturer is France Bed.
They are very breathable and are resistant to mildew in mattresses, but this does not mean that mildew cannot grow on them. It isn’t easy because the mattress is heavy, but regular ventilation should be performed.
(3) Fiber material
The representative fibre material mattress is Airwave. Its most significant feature is that it can be washed entirely in water.
When dirt accumulates, wash it with water in the bathroom. Some products cannot be used with electric blankets or futon dryers because they are sensitive to high temperatures.
How to Wash Your Mattress Daily by Yourself
To keep your mattress clean for a long time, it is essential to take care of it daily.
Here we introduce you to how to take care of your mattress daily, along with the frequency of cleaning.
(1) Every morning: Turn the quilt over to release moisture.
Every morning when you wake up, flip up the comforter to release moisture from the mattress. This can be done in as little as 5 seconds and is recommended for people living alone.
Leaving the comforter in place will not release the moisture from the mattress, which can lead to the growth of dust mites and mold. Turning the quilt over is a simple process, so be sure to do it every morning.
(2) Once a week: Wash sheets and pillowcases
Relatively thin sheets and mattress pads can be easily washed in a washing machine at home.
Although they are large and somewhat cumbersome to dry, washing them once a week, such as on holidays, is advisable. The author purchases sheets that can be dried in a dryer and use a drum-type washing machine to dry them.
(3) Once every two weeks: Airing out the mattress
Aim once every two laps to put the mattress up against the wall and air it out on the back side where it is difficult to be exposed to the wind.
In a well-ventilated room, prop the mattress against the wall and leave a window open.
Blow air from a fan or hair dryer on rainy days or in rooms without a window.
If the mattress is too heavy to stand up, such as a coil type, dry it by referring to the tips for drying a mattress.
Some mattresses are sensitive to heat or high temperatures. Regardless of the mattress material, drying in the sun is not recommended. Dry it in the shade.
(4) a month: Vacuum to clean surface dirt
Vacuum once a month to remove dust mites, hair, and other dirt that accumulates on the surface of the mattress.
Dirt will accumulate on the mattress even if sheets or pads are used. Seams and grooves are especially prone to dirt accumulation. Change the tip of the vacuum cleaner to a narrow one to clean dirt in small areas.
5) Once every two to three years: Professional cleaning
If possible, hire a professional to clean your mattress once every two to three years.
Even if you take care of your mattress regularly, dirt will accumulate throughout the mattress due to night sweats and other factors.
If you want to keep your mattress clean, you should ideally have it cleaned once every two to three years if you take good care of it regularly or once a year if you do not take good care of it.
The cost of professional cleaning is about 75.07 USD for a small-size mattress. If You can replace the mattress at a lower price, or if it has been used for a long time and has deteriorated, it may be better to replace it instead of cleaning it.
Might it be the end of your life? Mattress replacement guidelines!
- I have body aches or back pain when I wake up.
- The part of the mattress where your back hits the mattress is sagging and dented.
- The coils of the mattress are creaking and making noise.
- Mildew is present.
- The coils feel like they are hitting my body.
How to Wash a Mattress: 2 Types of Stain Removal
Mattress stains left unattended will become stubborn stains that are difficult to remove. If you notice a stain on your mattress, remove the stain immediately.
For all types of stains, if the side fabric (the original cover attached to the mattress) is washable, remove the side fabric and wash the mattress according to the washing instructions.
If it is not washable, wash the mattress in the same manner as the mattress itself, following the instructions below.
Mattress Stain Removal Points
- Mattresses are the enemy of moisture. When drying, make sure to dry not only the surface but also the depth of the stain.
- Mattresses made of low resilience urethane or latex are particularly vulnerable to water and deteriorate rapidly when wet. Before removing stains, test the edge of the mattress to see if it can withstand stain removal.
(1) Mattress mold: Ethanol for disinfection
If mold has grown on the mattress, it can be sterilized with disinfectant ethanol.
Preparations
- Disinfectant ethanol
- Spray bottle
- Towels that can be thrown away
Disinfectant ethanol can be purchased at drugstores. When using anhydrous ethanol, put anhydrous ethanol and water in a spray bottle at a ratio of 4:1 to make the concentration the same as that of disinfectant ethanol.
Procedure for removing mold stains from mattresses
(1) Spray disinfectant ethanol on the mold
Fill a spray bottle with disinfectant ethanol and spray until the area where mold grows is moistened.
(2) Leave for one hour leave for 1 hour
Leave for one hour to allow the ethanol to penetrate the mold thoroughly.
(3) Dab with a lightly wrung towel Dab with a lightly wrung towel
Coat a towel with a little lukewarm water, squeeze it lightly, and tap the sprayed area to wipe it off.
Point
- Be sure to tap the area. Rubbing will spread the mold.
Tips for drying a mattress
If the mattress is heavy and difficult to stand against a wall, use a heavy mattress with a thick mattress.
If the mattress is heavy and difficult to stand against a wall, place a thick book or another object under the mattress to create a gap between the bed frame and the mattress, and blow air from an electric fan or a hair dryer on the mattress.
(2) Yellowing and stains on mattresses: baking soda
If you find yellowing or mysterious stains that you have no idea about when you remove the sheets or side fabric (the original cover on the mattress), the cause is night sweats. People perspire a cupful of night sweat per night, which accumulates and turns into yellowing and stains.
If you notice a yellowing or mystery stain, use baking soda to remove the stain.
What to prepare
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
- Water (100 ml)
- The towel that can be thrown away
- Spray bottle
Procedure for removing yellowing and stains from mattresses
(1) Make baking soda water
Put the prepared baking soda and water in a spray bottle and shake well to dissolve the baking soda.
(2) Spray the stained area
Spray baking soda water on the stained area. Then, let it sit for about 5 minutes.
(3) Wipe off the water with a towel.
Thoroughly wipe off any water remaining on the sprayed area. Wipe thoroughly so that no moisture remains.
(4) Repeat steps (2) to (3) several times.
Repeat until all stains are removed. Stand the mattress upright to dry. Once the stains are removed, dry the mattress by referring to the tips for drying a mattress.
Check It Out! What is Mattress Cleaning?
If you hire a professional to clean your mattress, what kind of cleaning and washing will they do? Let’s check the work by looking at the pictures.
(1) Checking the current condition
Before the cleaning process begins, we will check the condition of your mattress.
In rare cases, if the mattress is badly stained or damaged, we may suggest replacing it without cleaning to avoid unnecessary expense.
(2) Curing
We lay down a protective sheet to prevent the floor from getting dirty. Once the mattress is moved, the bed frame is lifted. Under the bed with the accumulation of hair and dust.
A business operator vacuumed the foundation on which the beds are placed. Once the blue sheet is laid out on the clean floor, and the mattress is placed on it, the cleaning process begins.
(3) Cleaning
First, the entire area is roughly vacuumed, and then an alkaline cleaning solution is sprayed on the mattress.
The chemicals used vary depending on the company. (Clean Life Partner, which we requested this time, uses an alkaline cleaning solution considering the possibility of direct contact with the skin.)
After spraying the cleaning solution evenly, a steam cleaner is applied to the mattress to remove the dirt inside.
A business operator was applying a steam cleaning machine to a mattress.
Then, a specialized instrument called a “rinser” is used to absorb the water containing the dirt.
(4) Drying
Once the mattress is clean, we will dry the mattress using a tool like a hair dryer. Take about 20 minutes to dry it thoroughly, as leaving it fresh can cause mold to form inside.
(5) Simple cleaning
Once the bed frame is back in place, and the mattress is on top, the last step is to wipe the floor with water to complete the cleaning!
(6) Before and after
It’s a little hard to see in the photo, but the patterns are now vibrant, and the mattress is soft and fluffy like new! The somewhat attached smell of daily life has also been eliminated.
