Believe it or not, most of us spend about a third of our lives in our beds. Now consider this: When is the last time you deep-cleaned your mattress? You probably can’t remember. The truth is, even though we spend so much time on our mattress we probably don’t give much thought to it, including cleaning it. To get a better sleep, stay healthier and extend the longevity of our mattresses, it’s important that we start giving them a little TLC.
A good general rule is to clean your mattress twice per year – in spring and fall, for example. Here’s how to do it.
Strip the mattress
It stands to reason that the first thing you’ll need to do is to remove all of the bedding from your bed. Remove all of the sheets, pillowcases, and coverings and throw them in the wash.
Get out the vaccum
The next thing to do is to vacuum the surface of the mattress. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum if it has one, so you can get into the tight areas, such as the seams, where dirt, dust, and other allergens can collect. A handheld vacuum is ideal for this purpose, but be sure to invest in a high-powered one to ensure does the job.
Spot clean
Next, check for any stains and spot-clean them with a cleaner designed for this purpose, such as upholstery cleaner. If the stains are from pets. A homemade cleanser made from water and dish detergent can be very effective.
Deodorize
Now that you’ve deep cleaned and spot cleaned your mattress, it’s time to deodorize. One of the best ways to do this is to sprinkle the entire sleeping surface of the mattress with baking soda. If possible, leave the baking soda on the mattress for 24 hours, but as long as you can is best. The baking soda will absorb any odors in the mattress. If you can, position the mattress by a window to get the added cleaning benefit of direct sunlight.
Vacuum, again
Once the baking soda has had a chance to do its work, vacuum away any leftover residue that remains.
Finishing touches
Now that your mattress is cleaned, sanitized, and fresh, invest in a mattress cover and mattress pad. Place the mattress cover directly over the mattress and the pad over that, under the fitted sheet. This will keep allergens at bay and provide an extra layer between your body and the mattress.
There you have it: In just a few easy steps, your mattress is cleaned and deodorized. Now you can rest easy knowing that your mattress is as clean as can be!
Cleaning your mattress should be a part of your regular spring cleaning routine. If you are looking for help with your cleaning tasks, consider hiring a company like kingofmaids.com to help do the heavy lifting for you.