How to clean a mattress at home: stains, odours and mites

To clean a mattress at home, vacuum it thoroughly with an upholstery nozzle, gently blot stains with a sponge dampened in lukewarm water without scrubbing, sprinkle baking soda over it to deal with odours and vacuum it up after several hours. Wash the removable cover according to the label. Never soak the mattress, and let it dry completely in a ventilated place before putting the bedding back on.

First, the label and the manufacturer's instructions

Mattresses differ in both core and cover, and what does no harm to one may damage another. Before you start, find the label or instructions: they will tell you whether the cover can be removed and washed and at what temperature, whether the mattress is two-sided, and what kind of cleaning the manufacturer permits. If the label is missing, look up the instructions by model name on the manufacturer's website, or choose the gentlest approach: vacuuming and as little water as possible.

For example, TEMPUR states that mattresses made of its memory foam cannot be washed, sponge-cleaned or dry-cleaned, and recommends absorbing spilled liquid with towels as far as possible (TEMPUR UK: How to clean your mattress). IKEA warns that foam is sensitive to moisture and that, with spring cores, trapped water can cause rust (IKEA Switzerland: mattress care).

What you will need

• a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery nozzle, ideally with adjustable suction,
• clean white cloths or paper towels for absorbing liquid,
• a sponge and lukewarm water,
• a mild detergent without bleach, such as one for hand washing,
• baking soda,
• a fan, or the possibility of ventilating the room well.

Step-by-step cleaning

1. Strip the bedding and protector. Put them in the wash and let the mattress air for a while.
2. Vacuum the mattress. Use the upholstery nozzle and a lower suction setting so the surface is not damaged. Go over the seams, edges and hollows where dust and skin flakes collect. If the mattress is two-sided, vacuum both sides.
3. Treat the stains. Proceed according to the type of stain, as described in the next section. Always blot; never scrub.
4. Sprinkle on baking soda. Apply it evenly in a thin layer, leave it for several hours and then vacuum thoroughly.
5. Let the mattress dry. Open a window or switch on a fan. Put the bedding back on only when the mattress feels dry to the touch, including the areas where stains were treated.
6. Turn the mattress. If the manufacturer allows it, rotate it by 180 degrees; if it is two-sided, flip it as well.

IKEA recommends vacuuming the mattress thoroughly once a month, turning a two-sided mattress twice a year and leaving baking soda to work for several hours; according to IKEA, it is enough to blot stains with a sponge and lukewarm water, and the whole mattress should never be soaked (IKEA Switzerland).

Sweat, urine and blood stains

The rule common to all stains: absorb as soon as possible, use as little water as possible and never scrub. Scrubbing pushes the stain deeper into the filling and spreads it.

Sweat and yellowed areas

Add a few drops of mild detergent to lukewarm water, wring the sponge out well and blot the area from the edge towards the centre. Then dab the area with a sponge and clean water so that no detergent remains in the cover, and dry it with a dry cloth.

Urine

Immediately blot a fresh stain with dry cloths for as long as moisture transfers to them. Then treat the area with lukewarm water and mild detergent in the same way as sweat, and leave it to dry thoroughly. Any remaining odour can be reduced with baking soda sprinkled on a completely dry area. Do not use products containing chlorine on a mattress, and never combine them with other cleaning products.

Blood

Use cold water on blood, as warm water may set the stain. Blot with a clean cloth dampened in cold water for as long as the blood transfers, and dry the area. Dried stains often cannot be removed completely, which is why it is important to act straight away.

Test any product, including upholstery cleaners, on a hidden part of the cover first, for example on the side near the foot of the mattress.

Drying and preventing mould

Moisture inside a mattress is worse than a stain on the surface. The US EPA recommends drying damp materials and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mould from taking hold (EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home).

Dry the mattress in a ventilated place with an open window. IKEA advises against exposing foam mattresses to direct sunlight (IKEA Switzerland). While it dries, do not lean the mattress against a cold external wall or lay it flat on the floor; stand it on its side or prop it up so that air can circulate on both sides. If the mattress smells musty or has dark mould spots, first establish the cause, for example an unventilated bedroom or a bed against a cold wall; for details, see the article mould on walls: how to remove it and why it keeps coming back.

Mattress cover and protector

Wash a removable cover only according to the label. TEMPUR states that its mattress covers are usually recommended to be washed at 60 degrees, but that some covers cannot be machine-washed and simply need regular airing (TEMPUR UK). Put a washed cover back on only when it is completely dry.

A breathable, washable mattress protector considerably reduces how often you will need to clean the mattress itself. IKEA recommends keeping the mattress covered with a protector at all times, changing the bedding every week, vacuuming the mattress on that occasion, and leaving the bed unmade for at least ten minutes every day to let it air (IKEA USA: How to deep clean your mattress). According to IKEA, the protector is usually washed at 40 to 60 degrees roughly once a month, always as per the label.

How often to care for your mattress

Regular light care saves you a big clean. The following overview is based on IKEA's recommendations (IKEA USA, IKEA Switzerland); if your mattress has its own instructions, they take precedence.

Mattress care is also part of seasonal cleaning; see the deep cleaning checklist for your home.

Dust mites and allergies

Dust mites live in bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture and soft toys. National Jewish Health recommends that people with a dust mite allergy encase mattresses and pillows in zippered anti-mite covers, wash bedding every week in hot water at 130 °F, i.e. about 54 °C, and keep the humidity in the home below 40% (National Jewish Health: Dust Mite Allergy). According to the same source, a person with an allergy should not vacuum themselves or be in the room while it is being vacuumed.

Cleaning is no substitute for treatment. If you have an allergy, consult your doctor or an allergist. You will find more practical advice in the article cleaning with a dust mite allergy.

When to choose deep cleaning

Home cleaning can cope with dust, odours and fresh stains. Old or extensive stains, or an odour that returns after drying, usually need machine cleaning. However, do not use it on mattresses that the manufacturer does not allow to be washed. How deep cleaning of upholstery works is described on the page sofa upholstery shampooing.