As you read this article, you’ll learn why cleaning a mattress is important
- Your mattress absorbs sweat over time
- Your mattress can be home to microorganisms
- Accumulated dust and mildew can affect your health
As a homeowner in Glendale, AZ, you know how important it is to keep your house clean. That’s why you regularly sweep your floors, wash your dishes, and dust your furniture. However, there’s one item that most people don’t think about cleaning: their mattresses.
Why clean a mattress? Aren’t sheets enough to keep it clean? As it turns out, your mattress can get dirty even with these barriers.
The good news is, cleaning your mattress doesn’t have to be an ordeal. With the right approach, you can easily sanitize your sleeping space.
Reasons To Clean a Mattress
Why clean a mattress when you’re just going to sleep on it again? First, let’s go through all the things hiding in your mattress springs. Over time, dirt and sweat can get absorbed into your mattress, which makes it appealing to dust mites.
If that isn’t enough to make your skin crawl, you should also know that your mattress may contain dead skin. Humans shed pounds of dead skin cells throughout their lives, and those flakes have to go somewhere. Even though you can’t see the microscopic cells with the naked eye, they’re building up on your mattress.
Benefits of Cleaning a Mattress
So, what are the benefits of sleeping on a clean mattress? The most obvious is sleeping without thinking of all the dirt and discarded skin underneath you, but there are several other advantages.
Better Indoor Air Quality
If you live in Glendale, AZ, you know how bad air pollution can get. While you can’t control the dust outside, you can take steps to improve the air quality inside your house.
All those particles weighing your mattress down can make their way into your air. With so many particles floating around, you may notice your home gets dustier quicker, and residents with asthma may have more severe symptoms.
Reduced Allergy Symptoms
Dust, dead skin cells, and dust mites can also trigger allergies. Do your allergies seem worse in the morning? It may be because you were lying on a pile of allergens all night.
Signs You Need To Clean Your Mattress
How do you know it’s time to clean your mattress? Many of the issues we mentioned are invisible, so you’ll need to rely on other signs.
Your Mattress Smells Musty
Is there a musty smell in your bedroom, but you can’t tell where it’s coming from? It might be your mattress.
Sweat dampens your mattress, making it the perfect home for mildew, mold, and microorganisms. All three of these can create a musty odor. Next time you change your sheets, give your mattress a sniff to see if it’s the source of that mysterious smell.
It’s Been More Than Six Months Since You Last Cleaned It
Experts recommend you clean your mattress every six months. That way, you can prevent microorganisms and mold from taking root.
How To Spot Clean Stains
Mattresses are subject to more stains than you think. Menstrual blood is a common cause, though spilled drinks from a cozy evening in bed can also be a problem. Why clean a mattress immediately after spills? If you wait too long, your mattress can absorb the liquid and become permanently stained.
Fortunately, you can easily spot-treat stains to reduce their visibility and prevent mold from growing inside your mattress. Here are the basic steps for spot cleaning.
1. Remove the Sheets
Take off all the bedding. You can throw most sheets and covers in the washing machine.
2. Blot Excess Moisture
Use a rag to blot away the excess moisture. Don’t rub — instead, apply firm pressure to the area so the rag will absorb the liquid. Keep doing this until nothing else comes up.
3. Scrub With Soap
Now you can scrub to your heart’s content. Use a fresh rag and a one-to-one mix of dish detergent and water to work at stubborn stains. You can also use spray fabric cleaner if the product is safe to use on mattresses.
4. Use Cold Water To Remove Blood
If you’re trying to remove menstrual blood, remember only to use cold water. Warm or hot water will cause the stain to spread, while cold water will remove it.
Your Health and an Un-Cleaned Mattress
Why clean a mattress? Because a dirty mattress can affect your health in multiple ways. We’ve briefly discussed air quality and allergens, but we haven’t talked about sleep.
The average adult needs between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night, and it needs to be of good quality, with about 90 minutes spent in REM sleep. If you’re not getting deep sleep, then you’re not well-rested.
There will also come a day when, no matter how well you’ve cleaned your mattress, it’s time to get a new one. Everything wears out eventually, and mattresses are no exception. Here are a few signs that it’s time to visit a mattress store:
- Your bed is uncomfortable
- You wake up with aches and pains
- Your mattress squeaks when you move
- You notice sagging areas
Prolonged Lifespan of Your Mattress
Most mattresses last about 10 years, but if you want to get the most out of yours, you should clean them. Many people discard their mattress simply because it’s gotten too dirty to handle; if you tackle this issue before the point of no return, you may be able to get an extra year or two out of your bed.
Additionally, dirty mattresses are more susceptible to tears and other damage. If you have a traditional mattress with springs, that can make them more vulnerable to rust, dust, and other issues.
Mattress Topper & Encasement Tips
If you want to keep your mattress fresh between cleanings, you should consider a mattress topper. These covers go over your mattress much like a fitted sheet, with the actual fitted sheet on top. Some mattress covers are padded for extra cushioning. When it’s time to wash, you can throw the topper in the washing machine along with your sheets.
Another option is to use mattress protectors or encasements, such as the Malouf Sleep Tite and Pure Care Frio. In addition to physically covering the mattress, these products are waterproof, providing additional protection from spills and stains.
How To Clean a Mattress
We’ve talked about why it’s important to clean your mattress, so let’s get down to the nitty-gritty details of how to do so. For thorough cleaning, follow these steps.
1. Strip Your Bedding
You want direct access to the mattress, so make sure to strip all your bedding. You can take this opportunity to throw them in the washing machine.
2. Vacuum
Vacuuming your mattress will remove all those microscopic particles that cause so many problems. Most vacuums have an upholstery attachment you can use for this.
3. Apply Baking Soda
Baking soda is an odor-killer, making it the perfect tool to freshen up your mattress. Sprinkle it all over your mattress, wait a few hours, and vacuum it up.
4. Air Out Your Mattress
If you can let your mattress catch some sunshine, do so. The sun’s UV rays kill bacteria, making it a great free cleaner.
5. Flip Your Mattress
Finally, lay your mattress opposite-side up. Spring mattresses compress over time, so you should flip yours every few months.
Find the Right Mattress at Mattress360 in Glendale, AZ
Are you in the market for a new mattress? Then Mattress360 can help. To see the selection available at our Glendale, AZ location, visit us online or give us a call at (623) 376-8360 for more information.
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