Making the bed, keeping the pillows fluffed and the sheets clean does not make sure you have a clean mattress; it is more in depth than that. Unkempt and untidy mattress can draw bugs to the bed and make your life a nightmare, especially if you cannot get a good night’s sleep due to it. However, bug or not, sleeping on the same mattress for weeks, months and even years can hardly be sanitary or good for health. We should clean our mattresses as regularly as we’d clean any other part of our house.
If you are still new to it and are unable to fathom any cleaning procedure for your mattress other than by giving it a good wash – and ruining it in the process – then allow us to guide you with the following cleaning hacks:
Get Rid of the Dust:
This is the kind of cleaning that you must do daily. Aside from making the bed, make sure to get rid of the dust mites. It is necessary to avoid any sort of breathing problems and lung diseases while sleeping. Since a mattress is completely flat with no cracks or fissures, you’ll need a vacuum cleaner to pull the dust from within it. Make sure to push a little deeper to draw out dust from deep within. Use crevice and upholstery tools accordingly to reach all the corners of the mattress.
Attack the Stains:
Like any surface, the bed is not safe from stains either. But unlike other surfaces, they are a lot harder to clean. Mattresses are made of fabric and any stain can go deep inside the mattress if not cleaned immediately. Different stains on mattresses require different kinds of cleaning solutions to be cleaned. Here are a few solutions that work when dealing with a stubborn stain on a mattress:
- A solution of lemon juice and salt.
- Using non-toxic detergents and natural enzyme cleaners.
- Making a solution of baking soda, dish detergent and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Make it Smell Good:
Know what will send you into a really good and peaceful slumber? A mattress that smells heavenly. Once you have vacuumed and removed all the stains, take it to the next level and freshen up your mattress by removing all the odors, if any. Usually, there are sprays that you can use or if you want to go down the DIY route, sift baking soda all over your mattress and leave it. Dust it off or vacuum after some time. You can also use other forms of refreshing paraphernalia. A few drops of essential oil will work too and so will a disinfecting spray, like Lysol.
Pet Odor and Stains:
If your pet has made it a habit of lounging leisurely on your bed, they may leave their odor behind, along with the pesky stains. Fortunately for us, there are cleaners that tackle both issues at once and we can get rid of pet stains and also get a fresh wave of scent in one sweep.
Let it Dry:
Whenever you have used any sort of cleaning detergent on your mattress, make sure you leave it to dry in the air before making the bed or else your mattress will start to reek of an equally unpleasant smell.
Turn Over the Other Side:
Usually, when you flip your mattress after many months of usage, you’ll find the other side to be all fluffed and new. So, in order to let the mattress wear out evenly on all sides, rotate it. This way, you won’t find one side of the mattress all pressed up while the other side is slightly raised.
Cover-up:
There are bed covers that you can easily pick up from any store and they’ll help you avoid stains and dust. Cleaning also becomes a lot easier when all you have to do is throw the cover in the laundry basket.
Call the Experts to Handle Matters:
If you are moving to a new house or are lending your room to someone else but do not have the time and means to freshen up your mattress, call the experts. Luckily enough, there are professionals who know how to get rid of dust mites, stains and bad odors within hours. Not only that, but they also leave your mattress smelling all good. If you are living with a person who is ill, has dust allergies or any other issue with dust and pets, then make sure to call the professionals. Their cleaning chemicals not only clean but also get rid of all bacterial fungus. Also, they know how to get rid of bedbug infestations.
While you are perfectly capable of keeping the mattress clean yourself, getting rid of bugs is an entirely different matter. If the infestation has gotten out of hand, then only professionals can help get rid of it once and for all. However, make sure you always keep your mattress immaculate and fresh to prevent such a situation from arising.