| You know that phrase "out of sight, out of mind"? Well, | | | | it as normal. |
| it applies to your mattress. Because your mattress is | | | | In cases where your mattress is submerged in water |
| usually covered by sheets, comforters, pillows, quilts, | | | | (i.e. a flood) or is exposed to a moist environment for |
| dogs, clothes, people, etc. it isn't necessarily the first | | | | long periods of time, the steps to get the mattress are |
| item on your list of things to clean. This article will | | | | going to be quite different. First and foremost, when |
| provide you with some easy tips on both how to keep | | | | mattresses get wet they can (and often do) develop |
| your mattress clean and how to clean your mattress | | | | mold. This mold is usually not visible and can pose |
| when it gets dirty. | | | | serious health risks. Because you likely spend 8 or |
| Keeping your mattress clean | | | | more hours in or on your bed a day you are putting |
| The first thing to be said about cleaning a mattress is | | | | yourself at risk to be inhaling mold spores. These |
| do what you can to keep your mattress clean. The | | | | spores can make you sick and in some cases can |
| more disciplined you are with what happens in or | | | | actually kill you. That said, if you have the means to |
| around your bed, the less cleaning you will end up | | | | replace a mattress that has been exposed to large |
| doing. That means that you will want to avoid eating | | | | amounts of liquid do it! Spending a few hundred dollars |
| and drinking while in your bed. you will also want to | | | | to replace a mattress may save you thousands in |
| avoid letting pets sleep on your bed. While it may not | | | | mold related medical expenses down the road. If your |
| seem like much, keeping animals, food, and drinks | | | | mattress starts to smell a little musty then chances are |
| away from your mattress will greatly reduce the | | | | that it has developed some mold/mildew. When this |
| chances of spills and accidents. The more spills and | | | | happens you will need to kill the mildew. Using a light |
| accidents you can avoid the less you will have to | | | | bleach solution spray and blot the mattress, then let the |
| worry about cleaning your mattress. In cases where | | | | mattress dry in the sun. While the bleach and sun will |
| mattresses are at a higher risk for spills or accidents | | | | help to kill the mold you may want to consider running |
| (in a child's room for example) then you may want to | | | | a humidifier in the room to help prevent new mildew |
| consider a mattress bag or mattress liner/cover. Such | | | | from growing. |
| mattress covers are typically placed below the sheets | | | | For spills that involve solids (chips, cookie crumbs, etc) |
| and help to prevent liquids from seeping into the | | | | you will need to first pick up the large pieces. Once |
| mattress. Most covers can be purchased for $10 - | | | | you've gotten those out of the way vacuum up the |
| $40 and are usually durable enough to last a couple | | | | smaller pieces. If there was any staining from the spill |
| years. You may also want to consider a washable | | | | then spray the area with an appropriate cleaner (we |
| mattress pad. Costing $100 - $300, washable pads are | | | | talked about finding the right cleaner above) and blot |
| considerably more expensive than plastic liners or | | | | the sprayed area with a clean, dry towel or rag. If |
| covers, but are more durable and comfortable, and | | | | there is any lingering odor once the area has been |
| help protect against both solid and liquid spills. | | | | sprayed and blotted then sprinkle it with baking soda, |
| Cleaning Up | | | | let the baking soda sit for 8 - 10 hours (or longer for |
| Given how much time we spend in or on our beds it's | | | | bigger spills) and vaccum the area clean. |
| inevitable that accidents happen. However, if you are | | | | There are also a number of good mattress cleaning |
| prepared for such accidents, then when they do occur | | | | solutions that are available for purchase in retail |
| you will be able to take care of them quickly and | | | | locations and online. You may want to take a look at |
| reduce the chance that your mattress will be | | | | Butler's Secret and ProKlean (although we've heard |
| permanently stained or damaged. | | | | horror stories about their customer service). You can |
| If the spill or accident involves liquid (i.e. urine, vomit, | | | | also always contact the mattress's manufacturer to |
| drinks, etc.) then the first thing you will need to do is | | | | get additional cleaning and maintenance tips! |
| blot the spill. Using a clean, dry towel or rag, apply as | | | | Clean Mattress Maintenance |
| much weight as you can on the spill (you can even try | | | | Most mattresses are designed to be used for 5, 10, 20 |
| standing on the towel/rag). Do not rub the spill! Rubbing | | | | years or more. With that much use there are a few |
| liquid spills does not allow the towel or rag to absorb | | | | things you can do to keep your mattress smelling |
| as much of the liquid and can cause the stain to seep | | | | fresh. One of the simplest things you can do to keep |
| deeper into the material. Continue blotting until the spill is | | | | your mattress fresh is to change the sheets regularly. |
| slightly damp to the touch. Once you've removed the | | | | By changing your sheets regularly you will prevent dust |
| bulk of the liquid then you are ready to apply a cleaner. | | | | mites, dander, and dead skin cells from making their |
| The cleaner you apply will depend on the liquid that | | | | way through the fabric of the sheet and into your |
| was involved in the spill or accident. For organic spills | | | | mattress. A second simple maintenance procedure is |
| (urine, vomit, juices) you will want an enzymatic cleaner | | | | to vacuum the surface each time you flip your |
| or a 50/50 solution of lemon juice or vinegar and cold | | | | mattress. When vacuuming make sure you use the |
| water. Enzymatic cleaners work by breaking down the | | | | hose with either no attachment or the hard surface |
| peptide bonds in the proteins of the liquid. They can be | | | | attachment (that does not have a brush). |
| found at your local grocery store and usually cost $5 - | | | | If your mattress starts to smell a little stale there are a |
| $20. Most non-organic spills can be taken care of by | | | | couple things you can do. First, you can lightly clean the |
| common spray upholstery cleaners. Once you've | | | | mattress's surface with a lemon scented upholstery |
| decided on which cleaner will work best for your | | | | cleaner or with a 50/50 lemon juice and cold water |
| situation, spray, not pour, the cleaner on the mattress. | | | | solution. The surface should be lightly sprayed and then |
| Pouring a cleaner onto your mattress can yield the | | | | blotted dry. A second step you can take is to place a |
| same results as the initial accident, as the cleaner can | | | | few dryer sheets underneath the sheets and other |
| seep into the mattress's material. After lightly spraying | | | | bedding. Dryer sheets are not a perfect or long term |
| the spot, blot the cleaner with a new, clean, dry towel. | | | | solution, but they can provide some temporary relief. If |
| Once the area has been thoroughly blotted again, | | | | you or someone you share the room with start to |
| sprinkle some baking soda over the area. The baking | | | | experience headaches, you will want to try a new |
| soda will both help to absorb the remaining moisture | | | | scent. If there is a residual smell from cigarette or cigar |
| and will help eliminate odors as the area dries up. While | | | | smoke, sprinkle baking soda over the entire surface of |
| you will want to leave the baking soda on for longer | | | | the mattress, let it sit overnight and then vacuum clean. |
| the larger the stain is, we recommend at least 8 - 10 | | | | We hope that this guide has been useful! Best of luck |
| hours. Once the baking soda has had time to do its | | | | getting your mattress cleaning and keeping it that way! |
| job, vacuum it off of your mattress and continue using | | | | |