how to clean a mattress
If you feel your mattress is starting to collect dirt or stains, then it may be in need of a re-fresh. It’s important to keep your mattress clean to stop bacteria from spreading and prevent any infections. So, whether you’re looking for mattress care tips as part of an annual spring clean or you just want to know the best way to clean a mattress, then we’ve got some handy tips to help you give your mattress that ‘brand-new’ feeling and keep it feeling fresher for longer.
how to clean a mattress with stains
If you have a Silentnight mattress, we don’t recommend any vigorous methods, as any harsh chemical products or heavy moisture may damage the fabric and stitching that makes up your lovingly handmade mattress. However, when it comes to cleaning a mattress there are a few mattress cleaning tips we recommend to tackle any dirt or stains.
Remove your bedding Strip the bed of all bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and any mattress protectors, so you can get to the mattress directly.
Dab the stain If the stain is fresh (not dried), dab it gently with something like a clean cloth or kitchen roll to soak up as much of the liquid as possible. Don’t rub the stain, as this may spread it.
Make a cleaning solution and apply it to the mattress Mix warm water and a mild soap detergent to make your cleaning solution and apply this directly to the stains in moderation (avoid too much moisture) and let this soak in for a few minutes.
Gently scrub the stains Using a soft brush or sponge, gently scrub the stained area in a circular motion. Be careful not to scrub too vigorously, as it may damage the mattress fabric.
Dab again Again, use a clean cloth or kitchen roll to re-dab the area in order to bring up excess moisture and lift the stain.
Rinse Spray the area with clean, cold water to rinse away any remaining soap residue and dab again with a clean, dry towel.
Use bicarbonate of soda Once the mattress is dry, sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda over the entire surface. Baking soda helps neutralise odours. You can leave it on for at least 15-30 minutes, or longer if needed.
Vacuum your mattress Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove the bicarbonate of soda from the mattress - make sure all the residue is gone.
Let the mattress dry Allow the mattress to air dry completely before putting your bedding back on. This may take several hours, so consider doing this cleaning in the morning to ensure it's dry by bedtime.
how to keep your mattress fresh
Now your mattress is clean again, you want to keep it that way! So, we have put together our best care tips so you can get the most out of your mattress.
Always use a mattress protector. They do what they say on the tin – they’re designed to provide an extra layer of protection for your mattress. Check out our mattress protector range or our Anti-Allergy Mattress Protector, which offers protection against bacteria and dust-mites and is approved by the British Allergy Foundation too.
Air your mattress in the mornings. Before you make your bed first thing in the morning (we won’t judge if it’s more like lunchtime…) keep your duvet peeled back for 20 minutes or so to let the mattress air out from any moisture.
Open your windows. To help with airing your mattress, leaving the window open in the morning will increase ventilation in your bedroom and speed up the evaporation of moisture from your bed.
Wash your bedding regularly. Washing your bedsheets, duvet covers and pillowcases will help keep your mattress clean. Make sure you wash them on a high heat to kill all germs or dust mites.
We all know and love that ‘new mattress’ feeling, so follow these above steps to keep it feeling fresh for much longer. If your old mattress is starting to feel like its days are numbered, we’ve got a mattress for every type of sleeper – check out our full mattress range here.
