A mattress is one of the most used items in a home, we sleep in our beds every day without worrying about what is housed in the mattress. A mattress is exposed to sweat, urine, blood, dead skin, and oil from hair and skin; these make a mattress incredibly inviting to dust mites that feed while you sleep. Your mattress is a breeding ground for mould and mildew, while also being filled with bacteria, dirt, and allergens, and for pet owners, pet dander. It is not healthy to sleep amongst these particles, as such, your mattress needs to be cleaned properly on a regular basis. Read on to find out how to clean a mattress with baking soda and vinegar in six easy steps.
The method discussed here uses a natural cleaning agent – a combination of baking soda and white vinegar. They are safe for use, yet abrasive for cleaning up stains and odours from your mattress.
Cleaning Supplies
To clean your mattress, you will need the following:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Vacuum and upholstery attachment
- Spray bottle
- Sieve
- Enzyme cleaner
- Essential lavender oil (optional)
1. Take Off Bedding
Start by removing all bedding from your mattress, this includes sheets, pillowcases, the duvet cover, mattress cover and blankets. You may as well put your bedding into the washing machine, but make sure to read the labels on the bedding items before doing so.
2. Vacuum The Mattress
Once the mattress is bare, grab your vacuum cleaner and vacuum the mattress to get rid of crumbs, dust, dirt, skin cells, dust mites and pet dander that have been building up over time. Be sure to use a fresh upholstery attachment, and be careful not to miss grooves, seams, and sides of the mattress.
3. Spot Clean
The next step is to spot clean the mattress; it is not good to get your mattress completely soaking wet. For getting rid of stains, you should use an enzyme cleaner in a spray bottle and a fresh microfiber cloth. Spray the cleaner onto specific stained areas of the mattress. Then, using a cloth, dab the cleaner into the stain until the stain is no longer visible. You can also apply the enzyme cleaner to a microfiber cloth and dab on the stain until it is gone. Use a new cloth to then dab at the same area to dry it and remove the cleaner residue.
3. Spray On Vinegar
Pour some white vinegar into an empty spray bottle. Spray a layer of vinegar over the whole surface of your mattress. Allow it to sit for an hour or so and the vinegar will start breaking down bacteria and other stains.
4. Sprinkle Baking Soda
Using a sieve, evenly coat the mattress with baking soda. You can add a few drops of essential lavender oil or any essential oil you like the smell of. Add the essential oil to the baking soda while it’s still in the sieve for an ultra-clean mattress smell. The baking soda should cover your whole mattress, this is to absorb and remove more dust, dirt and moisture from the white wine vinegar.
5. Let It Sit
Leave your mattress with baking soda on it for a couple of hours or a day. The longer the baking soda is left to work, the better moisture, leftover dirt and other particles are removed. When you decide it’s been long enough, reach for your vacuum again, and start vacuuming your mattress thoroughly. Go over a few times to be sure that the baking soda is removed.
6. Flip And Repeat
For both sides of the mattress to be cleaned, flip the mattress over to the other side when the first side is dry enough. Repeat steps 1 to 5 on the other side. You will have to leave your mattress to dry which can take a few hours to a day. Once your mattress is completely dry, finish off by putting on fresh bedding.
Cleaning a mattress can be simple when you follow these steps. You can now clean your mattress and enjoy the benefits of sleeping on a clean mattress. Now that you know how to clean a mattress, you can say goodbye to sleepless nights.
