Cleaning Guides

How to Clean a Mattress

Fantastic Team
Published: Apr 06/2022
Last update: Aug 13/2025Array
7min read
Views: 135

There’s no other feeling like going to bed after a long day to freshly laundered and changed sheets. And we are not even talking about the health benefits of sleeping.

It’s those warm fuzzy feelings you get when you snuggle under the covers and can finally transcend into another dimension that we have in mind. However, did you know that keeping your mattress as hygienic as possible is essential for prolonging its life?

Just like sheets, mattresses can collect stains, smells and lots of dead skin cells. Thus, every so often, you need to give yours some TLC. And if you are now wondering how to clean a mattress, keep reading.

Why should you clean your mattress?

While sleeping, we spend nearly eight hours a day snuggled up in our beds. And if we do the math, that adds up to ⅓ of our day.

Regardless of how much you shower before going to bed or how often you change your bed linen, dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells are always there to make your mattress as unsanitary as possible.

The bad thing is that it doesn’t end there. Thanks to that, mattresses become a breeding ground for bacteria that are difficult to exterminate. The more often you clean your mattress, the less risk of allergies and itching there is. And don’t even get us started on how cleaning your mattress prolongs its lifespan.

Best way to clean a mattress

Let us give you our Fantastic mattress cleaning tips and describe briefly the steps you need to go over.

1. Gather your cleaning supplies

Before we walk you through the mattress cleaning steps, let us tell you what products you’ll be needing:

Laundry detergent;
Baking soda;
Sponges or microfiber cloths;
Vacuum cleaner – with upholstery attachment;
Lukewarm water;
Spray bottle.

2. Remove and wash the bedding

Is it surprising that our how-to-deep-clean-a-mattress guide begins with removing the bedding and any mattress covers so that it is left completely bare?

Load the laundry and let your washing machine do its magic. It’s best to put your sheets and pillows on a hot wash to eliminate any germs, bacteria and dust mites that may be living on them.

3. Vacuum the mattress

While your sheets are being washed up, open your window so that your mattress can breathe for a while. After a few minutes, you can start vacuuming the top surface of your mattress.

Don’t forget to go over the sides, as well.

It’s essential that you don’t miss this step, as vacuuming helps you get rid of hair, dead skin, dirt and other small particles that could be otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Be extra careful when going over any seams and crevices.

4. Clean any spots or stains from the mattress

Mattresses aren’t cheap, so finding a stain on yours can be a bit of a mood-killer. Ideally, you’d tackle any spill or mark the moment it happens, but let’s be honest, life doesn’t always work that way. The good news? Even older mattress stains can be dealt with if you know a few tricks.

Start by mixing a little gentle, chemical-free laundry detergent with some lukewarm water. If you’re dealing with something more stubborn like sweat, urine, or blood, try going specific – an enzyme cleaner works wonders on urine, while cold water with a touch of hydrogen peroxide can help lift blood stains.

Grab a clean sponge, dip it into your solution, and lightly dab the stain. Be patient and repeat if you need to. Whatever you do, resist the urge to rub as it’ll just push the stain in deeper. Once the mark has faded, blot away the excess moisture with a dry towel.

5. Deodorise the mattress

If you want to freshen up a smelly mattress, there are a few tried-and-true methods to remove lingering odours.

Baking soda is one of the simplest and most effective options. Sprinkle it generously over the mattress (don’t be shy — a whole packet works well, especially for a first deep clean). Leave it for at least 30 minutes, or longer if possible, to absorb smells from sweat, urine, or vomit, then vacuum it up.

White vinegar is another inexpensive choice. Its acidity helps neutralise odours and sanitise the surface. Lightly spray it on the mattress and let it air dry — no rinsing needed.

Baby powder with essential oils can help with both moisture and smell. Add 15–20 drops of essential oil to a pack of baby powder — mint works well for sweat, while citrus helps with urine odours. Sprinkle it over the mattress, leave for at least an hour, then vacuum.

Finally, a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol (in equal parts) can help alleviate body odour caused by oils and sweat. Spray it lightly over the area and let it air dry for the best results.

When cleaning a memory foam mattress, the process is much the same as with other mattresses, but there are a few key points to remember. Avoid chemical cleaners, as they can damage the foam. Never wash the foam itself, as this reduces its support and comfort, but most have removable covers you can machine wash. Always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions, and every so often, let the mattress breathe by airing it out.

6. Let it breathe

Once you are done with all the cleaning steps, it’s time to let your mattress rest and breathe for a few hours.

Don’t miss this step because if there’s moisture trapped inside the mattress, you’ll probably be looking up how to deal with mattress mould next. Spoiler alert: Mould is difficult to remove.

7. Flip and repeat

If your mattress is double-sided, we advise you to repeat the cleaning procedure so that every inch of it is sanitised and ready to be used again.

Don’t forget to dust and vacuum your bed frame as well before putting the sheets and covers back on.

If you want to steam clean your mattress, fill the cleaner with water and heat it as the manufacturer recommends, most produce steam hot enough to kill dust mites and bacteria. Hold the steamer a few inches above the surface and test a small patch first, keeping it moving to avoid damage. Work in a steady push-and-pull motion until the whole surface is done. Then let the mattress dry for several hours – the longer, the better – so all the moisture is gone before bedtime.

How to protect your mattress

Once you’ve cleaned your mattress, the next thing that is probably on your mind is how to protect it? Mattress protectors have been mistaken for just another cover.

However, high-quality protectors turn out to be the next big thing that can prolong the life expectancy of your mattress. They will gently cover and protect your mattress while allowing you to sleep comfortably.

How often should you clean a mattress?

It’s advisable to deep clean your mattress once every six months. Using a high-quality mattress protector may help you maintain the mattress sanitised for longer, but that won’t last forever. If you spill a glass of liquid on the mattress, it would be best to clean it immediately.

If mattress cleaning is too much of a hassle, call the professionals!

Even if you clean your mattress regularly, some stains are difficult to tackle at home regardless of how much time and effort you put into them. Instead of getting irritated, try booking a professional mattress cleaning service. The certified technicians can remove stains and unpleasant odours from the mattresses in no time.

Additionally, feel free to combine mattress cleaning with Fantastic Service’s deep upholstery cleaning service if your upholstered furniture needs some TLC as well!

Do you need help with cleaning your mattress?

Get your mattress professionally cleaned by Fantastic Services today!

Takeaways

Mattresses should be cleaned at least twice yearly to ensure they are as hygienic as possible.
Always vacuum the surface from all sides to remove dirt, dead skin cells, hair and other small particles.
The longer you leave the mattress to dry after cleaning, the better.
Baking soda, white vinegar, baby powder and rubbing alcohol are budget-friendly and effective methods for smell removal.

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What is your method of choice when it comes to mattress cleaning? Let us know in the comment section below!

Image source: Shutterstock / FotoDuets