Clean Your Mattress

Cleaning a mattress can be annoying, especially since you need it that same night. From blood to sweat, and, yes, semen, mattress stains are also not pretty, but they still need cleaning.
We have you covered with this step-by-step guide.

Supplies | Wash | Stains | Maintenance

You’ll need:

• Hydrogen peroxide or stain remover or ammonia
• Sponge
• Household gloves
• Washcloth or rag
• Spirit vinegar
• Hair-dryer
• Vacuum cleaner
• Baking soda
• Protective mask (only if using ammonia)
• Soap (only if making anti-moisture paste)
• Lemon (only if making anti-moisture paste)
• Starch (only if making anti-moisture paste)
• Fine salt (only if making anti-moisture paste)

Wash the mattress

A general wash of the mattress is important because it helps to remove mainly organic residues (especially perspiration), and therefore, odors.
There are several ways to clean your mattress, choose one that suits you depending on the products you already own.
The main detergents that can be used are ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and any stain remover. You can replace the hydrogen peroxide with white vinegar.

Using hydrogen peroxide

Perform this cleaning in the morning so that your mattress can have time to dry.

• Remove the sheets and mattress pad.
• Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to clean water. Dampen a sponge with it.
• Rub mattress with the mixture.
• Rinse with clean water.
• Allow the mattress to dry.
• To speed up the drying process, place it directly under the sun, under open windows, or use a hair dryer.

Using ammonia

Ammonia is suitable for mattresses with a lot of stains.

• Soak a washcloth with ammonia (slightly diluted).
• Open the windows and wear household gloves and a mask to protect yourself from ammonia vapors.
• Rub the mattress and especially the specific stains.
• Rinse with a damp cloth.
• To prevent the ammonia smell from permeating your mattress:
• Sprinkle it with baking soda when it’s almost dry.
• Vacuum it to remove any baking soda just before you go to bed (to leave it as long as possible).

Removing stains from the mattress

Removing stains from a mattress can be quite tricky. It can be difficult to send it to a dry cleaner, and yet you still need it that same night.
Over the years, stains accumulate, and cleaning them may be unavoidable.
Here are some tips to loosen specific stains from mattresses.

Blood

To remove a blood stain on a mattress:

• Blot the stain with a glove soaked in spirit vinegar.
• If that’s not enough, use hydrogen peroxide.
• Rinse with a damp cloth.
• Dry the mattress with a hairdryer.

Sweat

One of the most common stains to remove on a mattress.
To clean out sweat stains, rub them with a glove soaked with water and ammonia.

Moisture

To eliminate a moisture stain and wet spots on a mattress, you’ll first need to make a paste.
Mix the following:

• 1oz (30g) of grated soap
• 1oz (30g) of starch
• 0.5oz (15g) of table salt
• A dash of lemon juice

Once you have it, you can clean the moisture:

• Cover the stain with this mixture.
• Let it stand for at least 1 hour.
• Remove the paste and vacuum.

Semen

Try to remove semen stains immediately with lukewarm water or hydrogen peroxide.
If you haven’t been able to remove it immediately:

• Blot the stain with a cloth soaked in ammonia.
• Rinse with a damp cloth.
• Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress to avoid lingering ammonia odor.
• Let it stand several hours and vacuum the baking soda.

Urine

To remove urine/pee stain on a mattress:

• Rinse immediately with warm water or wipe it with hydrogen peroxide.
• Dry the mattress with a hair dryer.

If you haven’t been able to remove the stain immediately:

• Blot the stain with a cloth soaked in ammonia.
• Rinse with a damp cloth.
• Sprinkle with baking soda the mattress while it’s drying. You’ll avoid lingering ammonia odors.
• Vacuum to remove the baking soda just before bedtime.

Vomit

If you can, immediately clean the vomit stain with warm water.
Otherwise:

• Rub the stain with a glove soaked in ammonia and water. Do not forget to wear a mask and gloves to avoid ammonia fumes.
• If that’s not enough, you can also rub the stain with hydrogen peroxide.
• Rinse with a damp cloth.
• Dry the mattress.

Maintain your mattress

Once you have thoroughly cleaned and removed stains from the mattress, it’s up to you to maintain it regularly.
For this, the vacuum cleaner and the sun will be your best allies.
Ensure for yourself healthy nights of sleep.