Dust mites are one of the leading causes of allergies in the bedroom.
Mattresses are the favourite hangouts of dust mites, bugs, and all kinds of other creepy crawlies. A mattress can contain up to 10 million mites, and their droppings! Eew.
Fret not. Here are some handy tips on how to clean mattresses to help keep those mites away, allergies at bay, and have you sleeping as soundly as a baby.
1. Remove All The Bedding
The first step on how to clean your mattress is to strip your bed of all the bedding, including any mattress toppers or pads. Stick them all into the washing machine at the highest possible setting allowed by your washer, as well your beddings’ maximum washing temperature.
Dry them on the highest possible setting as well, or air dry under direct sunlight if your bedding care instructions will allow this.
Sun the pillows, bolsters, and duvet under direct sunlight. Pillows don’t have to be constantly or frequently washed but a few times a year will ensure that they stay free of dust mites.
2. Get The Stains Out
The second step in how to clean your mattress is to use laundry detergent, hydrogen peroxide or an enzymatic cleaner to remove any stains. Alternatively, use a homemade cleaning solution made out of vinegar and water with a ratio of 1:4.
Apply the cleaning solution to the stains and let it sit for about 10 minutes, or 30 minutes for more severe stains.
Clean off the solution by gently dabbing. Do not rub or scrub them, as this could cause the stain to set further and worsen the situation.
3. Use Baking Soda
After spot cleaning your mattress and removing the stains, sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress’ surface to remove any lingering odours.
Baking soda is a versatile product that can be used to remove odours from a variety of surfaces. Leave the baking soda on the mattress for a few hours or if you can, overnight. But how do you get rid of the baking soda when you are done?
4. Vacuum The Mattress
The next step on how to clean your mattress - after the baking soda has sat for a few hours or longer, you’ll need to vacuum it up.
You will need a vacuum cleaner with a hose and upholstery attachment. Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum up all the baking soda and all around the surface of the mattress, including the edges.
5. Deep Clean
DIY-cleaning might be okay for most mattresses, but if you had a major “oops” and now have a mattress that needs a serious cleaning, you can leave it to the professionals. There are numerous companies that will deep clean your mattress professionally to get into all the nooks and crannies and remove any severe stains or linger odours.
How to clean it yourself? You can also use a mattress shampoo if you want to deep clean yourself. However, certain types of mattresses like pillow-tops or memory foam mattresses cannot be shampooed.
6. Flip The Mattress
In the final step of how to clean your mattress - flipping your mattress is an important part of keeping it clean and fresh, evenly distributing the accumulation of dust, dirt, and debris.
In addition, by flipping your mattress, you are distributing the wear and tear evenly, and preventing any one spot from becoming too worn down.
Do not flip the mattress upside down, as this can cause it to lose its shape.
Be sure to flip your mattress at least once every few months, or however often you feel like it's necessary.
Let Zinus Take Care Of All Your Mattress Needs
A good quality mattress can last several years but will eventually still have to be replaced after its lifespan of around 8 years. When your mattress starts to lose its shape, or starts developing lumps that cause discomfort, it’s time to go mattress shopping!
Let Zinus take care of all your sleeping needs. Whether you like soft or firm mattresses, our affordable range of quality mattresses will have something for everyone.
Shop our extensive mattress collection online in Singapore and enjoy a free 100-day trial. That way, you can be guaranteed that you will enjoy your new mattress!