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Our mattress cleaning guide will have you sleeping comfy all night long

You don’t have to wait for spills before cleaning your mattress. This guide will prove that you can do it on your own with ease.

Published May 21, 2024
3 min. reading time
Mom and daughter cleaning bed
Photo: pexels / Ron Lach

If sleep is important to you and you have invested in a good quality mattress, learning how to clean your mattress should be next on your to-do list.

Cleaning your mattress regularly isn’t just essential for hygiene purposes, it also stops infestations such as bed bugs, which can cause skin irritation. By removing dust, dead skin cells and potential pests, cleaning your mattress can preserve its longevity and give you a good night’s sleep.

So, how do you clean a mattress at home?

Trust us, cleaning a mattress isn’t as hard as it seems. Let us show you how.

Read more: Shop the best bedding for your mattress

Essential mattress cleaning products

Jimmy Mattress Vacuum Cleaner
Jimmy Mattress Vacuum Cleaner
$159.99 at Amazon
OXY-PRO - Instant Spot & Stain Remover
OXY-PRO - Instant Spot & Stain Remover
$25.95 at Walmart
ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda Refillable Shaker
ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda Refillable Shaker
$4.50 at Walmart
Biokleen Bac-Out Enzyme Stain & Odor Remover
Biokleen Bac-Out Enzyme Stain & Odor Remover
$34.98 at Amazon

How often should you clean your mattress?

Whether you have a foam mattress or a memory foam, ideally you’ll want to clean your mattress every six months. That said, if there are any spills, you should clean your mattress immediately to prevent the spills from soaking in.

Turning your mattress over every time you clean can also help with its maintenance and prevent it from sinking in.

Woman removing sheets
Photo: Pexel / cottonbro studio

Step 1: Remove and wash your bedding

To start, remove all your bedding, which includes the mattress cover, pillowcase and bed sheets and throw them into the washing machine for thorough cleaning. Set your temperature to hot water as it will help with removing dust mites.

However, if your bedding requires specific instructions, make sure you follow them to avoid damaging your bedding.

Step 2: Gather your cleaning supplies

The items you need to deep clean your mattress include the following:

  • A dish soap or an enzyme cleaner

  • Cold water

  • A vacuum cleaner

  • A rag or old clothes

  • Laundry detergent

Person vacuuming mattress
Photo: Canva

Step 3: Vacuum your mattress

The best way to clean a mattress is to start by vacuuming the entire surface of the mattress. If you don’t have a vacuum specially designed for mattress cleaning, grab your vacuum cleaner's upholstery attachment before going over the surface. 

Pay attention to any crevices to ensure you trap dust particles.

Step 4: Spot clean where necessary 

The next step is spot-cleaning any stains and discoloration. You can do so by following these steps:

  • Apply a small amount of cleaning solution to a cloth

  • Gently blot the stained area with the cloth

  • Apply cold water to a different clean cloth and blot until the stain is removed

For tough stains, add a few drops of dish soap to one part water and two parts white vinegar. Put the mixture in a spray bottle so you can easily focus on stains. Spray the area and rub clean using a rag.

Step 5: Use baking soda 

Baking soda is great at breaking down acid and absorbing any remaining moisture or odor. So, if you don’t want to move your mattress and leave it to dry under the sun, applying baking soda all over your mattress is a better option.

Leave the baking soda for a few hours before moving to the next step. We recommend airing your room while this process takes place.

Baking soda in box
Photo: Target

Step 6: Vacuum your mattress, again

Once the baking soda has done its job, vacuum it using the upholstery attachment. While you’re at it, vacuum any dust that might be coating  your bed frame.

Step 7: Flip your mattress and repeat the steps

Great job! You’ve got one side of your mattress cleaned and spotless. Now, flip your mattress and repeat steps three to six. You won’t have to flip your mattress again once you’re done with one side.

Step 8: Put on fresh bedding

Now that  your mattress is clean, it’s time to protect it. Once it’s completely dry, put on your mattress pad followed by your fitted sheets, pillow and blanket.

There you go! You have a comfortable and clean bed to sleep on.

Essential products for mattress cleaning

Jimmy Mattress Vacuum Cleaner
Photo: Amazon

Jimmy Mattress Vacuum Cleaner

You save $20 (11.11%)
$159.99$179.99

Unlike a normal vacuum cleaner, the Jimmy Mattress Vacuum Cleaner has a high heating can that removes up to 99.99% of allergens on your bed, mattress, pillows, crib and carpet. It also has UV light that can kill dust mites.

A hydrogen peroxide solution is great at removing tough stains and spots. We recommend this OXY-PRO - Instant Spot & Stain Remover as it’s odorless, safe on the skin and comes in a spray bottle.

ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda Refillable Shaker
Photo: Walmart

Baking soda is one of the most useful items to have at home. This ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda Refillable Shaker comes in a shaker bottle and can easily be refilled once you run out.

This enzyme cleaner from Biokleen is a more natural way to remove buildup and stinky odors. We recommend this for those who have sensitive skin and who are eco-conscious.

Leaving a gentle, long-lasting aroma, this Lavender HE Liquid Laundry Detergent whitens, brightens and fights tough stains. Use it to spot-clean your mattress.


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Prices updated on 05/21/2024. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.

Afina Najib Professional Headshot
Written by
Afina Najib

A journalism graduate from Curtin University, Afina Najib specializes in writing tech, finance, automotive and wellness content. Now residing in Kuala Lumpur, Afina spends her weekends hitting the gym or watching Formula 1 races.

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