How to Clean & Remove Stains From Mattress

Do you have little children or pets at home? Then your mattress is subject to stains. Apart from that, dead skin, sweat, etc., can leave marks or stains on the.

So, it is very important to clean and maintain your mattress regularly. If not, it can impact sleep. If you have allergies, then it can get worsen.

Unsure of the right method to clean your mattress? Do not worry! It is not as difficult as you think.

In this article, we listed out the simple and easy ways to remove the stains and odours from your mattresses. All you need to do is follow the steps below.

How to Clean a Mattress? – Step By Step Guide

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you clean your mattress easily and effortlessly. Let us get started with the process.

Step 1: Keep All the Mattress Cleaning Supplies Handy

The very first step is to keep all the materials that you may require for cleaning in hand. Gather all such supplies and have them with you before starting the cleaning process. These may include the following:

• An upholstery vacuum cleaner or a vacuum with an upholstery brush attached to it
• An enzyme cleaner or any other cleaning solution to remove the stains
• Laundry Detergent
• Baking Soda
• Clean Cloth

Cold Water You may not require all of them at a time. You may need each of the items, as mentioned above, in different steps of the cleaning procedure. Make wise use of them in every step.

Step 2: Remove All Parts Of The Bedding And Give Them A Nice Wash

Let us move on to the next step, which is, stripping the bed. Remove all the parts of the bedding, i.e., bedsheets, pillow covers, etc. It is time to clean these. Before that, soak these items in a hot water bucket for some time. Ensure that you are not mixing the whites with the coloured sheets. Separate them, if any, and also check for the washing instructions mentioned on the tags.  

Soaking the beddings in hot water for a specific time ensures the removal of allergens or dust mites from them. After that, wring them and place them in the  washing machine. 

Step 3: Clean The Mattress Using Vacuum

Let us get started with the cleaning of the mattress. As the first step, use an upholstery vacuum cleaner or a vacuum with an upholstery brush attached to it. Start vacuuming the bed to get rid of dirt, hair, dead skin, pet hair, etc., from it. For cleaning the top of the mattress, use a wide brush. To clean the side and corners of the bed, the edges, and piping or to get into the cracks, use a long upholstery nozzle attachment. 

Step 4: Use A Stain Remover To Get Rid Of The Stains

After vacuuming, let us now focus on the stains, both old and new. For older stains, use a stain remover for cleaning. Remember, you should not spray the remover or cleaning solution directly on the mattress. It will soak the foam or material inside and cause damage to it. Instead, try doing this. Take a clean cloth, damp with the stain remover or cleaning solution, and rub it over the stains. 

For biological stains like urine, vomiting, sweat, etc., use an enzyme cleaner. As mentioned earlier, damp clean cloth with the cleaner and then blot the stained area with it. Now, take another clean cloth damped with cold water and blot it over the stain until you see them getting erased.

If you do not have an enzyme cleaner available with you or want to use an alternative to it, this is what you can do. You can prepare your own cleaning solution in the DIY method and use the same. How do you do it? This is how:

• You can mix the dish soap in a bowl or mug of water and apply the foam over the stains.
• You can prepare another cleaning solution by adding equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and cold water. Apply this solution to the stains to get rid of them.

We have mentioned other cleaning methods for removing different kinds of stains at the end of the article. You can follow those suggestions for specified stains. 

Step 5: Deodorize the Mattress by Sprinkling Baking Soda 

After you finish removing the stains on the mattress, it is time to deodorize the bed. You can dry it in the sun and fresh air if possible. If you cannot do this, do not worry. We will tell you what to do. You might be having baking soda available at home. Don’t you? You can make use of this efficiently. This is what you ought to do:

• Sprinkle the baking soda all over the mattress, and let it sit for long hours. 
• Make sure you sprinkle it evenly across the mattress. You can make use of a sifter for the same. 

The reason we are using baking soda is that it helps in breaking down the acid and absorbs any leftover moisture or odour from the mattress. Remember, the longer hours you allow the baking soda to sit, the better results you get! Ensure you leave the windows of the room open when doing this. Allowing the light and sunshine inside causes the sun’s UV rays to kill any mould or bacteria present on the mattress. 

Step 6: Clean the Baking Soda Using a Vacuum 

After you allowed the backing soda to sit on the mattress for a stipulated time, start cleaning it. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the powder. Simultaneously, it will vacuum all the acids, moisture, and odour from it by absorbing. Repeat step 3 here by making use of the attachments. 

Step 7: Flip and Repeat

After you cleaned the top of the mattress, flip it to the other side for cleaning. If you notice stains on the other side also you may have to repeat the above steps for cleaning. Else, a normal vacuuming would do to get rid of any allergens, pet hair, grime, dust, etc. 

Step 8: Let The Mattress Air Out

Once you have finished cleaning the mattress, let it air out for some time so that any remaining liquid or moisture inside will dry. Whenever the moisture gets trapped inside the bedding, it will lead to mould formation that could be difficult to remove. 

If you are cleaning the mattress in the warmer seasons, this is what you can do. Open the windows of the room and let the air and sunlight come inside. This will dry the bed faster.

When you let the sunshine inside by removing the curtains and drapes, the UV rays in the sun 

You can also open drapes and curtains to let the sunshine in. The sun’s UV rays will kill any mould or bacteria present on the mattress, remove the odour from it and dry it faster.

Step 9: Flip Or Rotate The Mattress

To protect your mattress from wear and tear, you can flip it over. Some mattresses have identical paddings on both sides. In such cases, you can turn the mattress with the bottom side up and sleep over it. A few models may come with a specified mentioning of which is the upper side and lower side. For such designs, you can rotate the mattress to 180 degrees and sleep over it. This protects the mattress from uneven wearing on the surface. 

Step 10: Use A Mattress Protector

Just like cleaning a mattress often is important, protecting it is equally important. But, how do you protect your mattress? The answer is by using a mattress protector. After you finished cleaning and drying, cover the mattress with a protector. This will maximize the ease of cleaning in the future. Furthermore, it protects from dirt, bed bugs, and stains due to spills.

How Do You Clean Specific Stains On Mattresses?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach for all kinds of stains. Some stains need different methods to remove them. In the above paragraphs, we talked about a common method for normal stains. Let us now discuss the various stains on the mattress like a urinal, blood, coffee, and wine. We will also learn the different procedures to get rid of these stains.

1. Urine Stains

Bedwetting is common, especially when you have kids at home. Sometimes, even sweat can leave yellowish stains on the mattress, which will eventually become discoloured and start stinking. How do you remove such stains and odour from your mattress? Well, here is a DIY method to get rid of urine and sweat stains. You can prepare a disinfectant spray at home with the available ingredients. Let us learn how to make one.

This is all you need:

• Laundry Detergent
• White Vinegar
• Cold Water
• Baking Soda
• Spray Bottle

Instructions:

• Take two tablespoons of laundry detergent and one cup of white vinegar.
• Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing the above ingredients with two cups of cold water. 
• Take this solution in a spray bottle and spray it over the mattress.
• You may feel that the direct application is a contradiction to what we mentioned earlier. It is okay. Since your mattress is already wet with urine, a little more moisture on it will not be a big deal. 
• After spraying the cleaning solution over the mattress, allow it to sit for about 15-20 minutes. (The detergent plays a catalyst in removing the urine stain off the mattress, whereas the vinegar helps in neutralizing the odour.)
• This will allow the solution to get into the stain, meanwhile. 
• Now, apply baking soda as a layer over the stained area.
• Allow it to sit overnight. This will help to absorb the liquid and odour from the stains.
• After the stipulated time, check whether the powder on the mattress is dry. If yes, take a vacuum cleaner and clean the baking soda over the mattress. 
• If you feel the powder has not dried and is still wet, try using the brush to dust it off in the dustpan.  
• Apply a little more baking soda on the stains to dry out the remaining wetness or moisture.
• If you feel the odour persists, try repeating the procedure by applying a cleaning solution to the mattress and drying it. 
• Repeat the process until the odour gets eliminated.

2. Blood Stains 

Blood stains are the trickiest ones to get rid of. Once they settle on the mattress, they can be difficult to remove. We suggest using cold water for treating blood stains. While many prefer using hot water, we do not advise doing so because it will trap the stain into the mattress material. This is how you can tackle the blood stains on your mattress.

This is all you need:

• Microfiber Cloth
• Cold Water
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Baking Soda
• Clean Dry Cloth
• Clean Damp Cloth

Instructions:

• Take a microfiber cloth damped with cold water and blot it over the blood stains. 
• After that, apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the stain and let it sit for some time. 
• Once it stops fizzing, take a clean dry cloth and blot it over the stains. Repeat this several times until you see them getting erased.
• Now, make a cleaning mixture using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. You can also use cold water in place of hydrogen peroxide. 
• Take this paste and apply it over the stains. 
• Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
• Now, take a clean damp cloth to remove the paste and rub over the stains.
• This will remove the blood stains on the mattress.
• After finishing the procedure, let the mattress dry completely by either air-drying it or putting it under the sun.

3. Vomit Stains 

Another commonly seen stain on the mattress is vomit. Similar to the urine stains, even the vomit stains can sink deep into the mattress and give an unpleasant odour. You need to be thorough with cleaning in order to get rid of the stains and the odour, as well. Let us see how to do it.

This is all you need:

• Old Bath Towel
• Paper Towel or Microfiber Cloth
• Laundry Detergent
• Warm Water
• White Vinegar
• Spray Bottle
• Baking Soda
• Vacuum Cleaner

Instructions:

• Start the process by cleaning the vomiting on the mattress. Try not to rub it into the mattress.
• You can make use of an old bath towel to clean the vomiting.
• Now, take a microfiber cloth and blot it over the mess to absorb as much moisture as possible. You may even use a paper towel instead of a microfiber cloth.

Prepare a Cleaning Solution 1

• To prepare this cleaning solution, take two cups of warm water in a bowl and add laundry detergent to it.
• Take a clean cloth and damp it with this solution. Now apply this mixture over the stains and spot clean the surface. Do not spray it directly on the mattress or soak the mattress.
• The detergent plays a catalyst in breaking down the stain and removing it off the mattress.

Prepare a Cleaning Solution 2

Let us learn the preparation and application process of another cleaning solution. 

• Take three portions of white vinegar and mix it with one portion of water.
• Transfer this solution to a spray bottle.
• Spray this cleaning solution on the stained area. Make sure you do not soak the mattress with the mixture but just dampen it. 
• Although vinegar may smell very strong, it will slowly dissipate as it dries. 
• Let the solution sit on the mattress for some time and allow it to dry.
• Repeat the process until the stains get cleaned.
• Now, take baking soda and sprinkle it all over the treated area. Let it sit for an hour.
• Now, remove the baking soda with the help of a vacuum cleaner.
• After removing, let the mattress dry completely by either air-drying it or putting it under the sun.

4. Coffee Stains 

Let us now talk about how to remove coffee stains from the mattress. Below is a simple method you can try for the same.

This is all you need:

• Dishwasher Soap
• Vinegar
• White Cloth
• Wet Cloth

Instructions:

• You can use either dishwasher soap or vinegar to remove the coffee stains.
• Pour some of the liquid on the stain directly. 
• Take a white cloth or any light-coloured one based on your availability. Now blot it over the stain to clean it. 
• Make sure you start with the edges first and then slowly move inwards. See to it that the colour does not spread when doing so.
• Repeat this process until you notice the brown colour of the stain getting absorbed by the cloth.
• After this, take vinegar in a bowl. Damp a clean cloth in it and blot it over the stained area.
• Follow the same procedure to clean the stains. Start with the edges first and then slowly move inwards. 
• Allow it to dry, and then take a wet cloth to dab and rinse the stains. 
• After finishing the procedure, let the mattress dry completely by either air-drying it or putting it under the sun.

5. Wine Stains 

Does your mattress have stains of wine on it? Do not worry. You can use wine stain removers available in the market. If you do not have it handy, try the below procedure. This method will help you remove the marks effectively. 

This is all you need:

• Cold Water
• Salt
• Paper Towel
• Dry Cloth

Instructions:

• Take a paper towel and put it on the stain. It will allow the paper to absorb the wine. You can even use a dry cloth in place of a paper towel.
• After that, take the salt and sprinkle it on the stain.
• Now, dab cold water also over the treated area. Let it sit for a while and blot away the liquid.
• Now, take the salt and sprinkle it again on the wet area. Allow it to sit for about three minutes.
• Again, dab the treated area with water and rub the stain.
• Use a dry cloth to blot it over the stain and dry it. 
• Repeat this process until you notice the stain getting removed.
• After finishing the procedure, let the mattress dry completely by either air-drying it or putting it under the sun.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Conclusion:

Clean your mattress as and when required to protect it from wear and tear. Also, it helps to keep it fresh and free from allergens, stains, dust, and odour. If you want to enjoy a night of peaceful sleep, cleaning and disinfecting the mattress is a must. It increases the air quality inside your room and also offers additional benefits. 

Now that you know why it is crucial to clean the mattress, start implementing it. If you have not tried it before or if you were doing it the wrong way, no worries. Try it today by following any of the methods cited in this article.

Share your experiences with us by posting your comments. Let us know how this article helped you in effectively cleaning your mattress. Write to us in the comments section below if you have any questions or need more information. Do not hesitate to add your inputs to this article. We would love to hear and learn from you.

Stay healthy and stay safe!!!