Mattress takes up different types of dirt, dead skin, and mites. Therefore steam cleaning your mattress helps in getting rid of urine, sweat, stains, dust, kills mites and bedbugs. Do you know how to steam clean a mattress?
Here, we are going to look at how to steam clean a mattress, how to remove stains, and how to deodorize a mattress. Keep reading if you are interested in the article.
Why Should You Steam Clean Mattress?
Getting your mattress steam cleaned brings you a lot of benefits that you may not know. The advantages of steam cleaning mattress have been concluded as follows:
- To Keep Healthy
When you often clean your mattress you will get rid of millions of dust particles and bacteria. This will prevent you from any kind of allergic infections.
- To Sleep Better
Routinely steam cleaning your mattress removes trapped dirt. You can’t prevent your body from sweating. Therefore, for deep sleep, you have to clean your mattress.
- To Avoid Discoloration
The mattress is the most used in a lifetime will pick up more stains. This will change your mattress color. Removal of stains makes it smell fresh and tidy.
- To Reduce Flu Chances
When your mattress becomes a flu virus target you will be distressed. Cleaning it regularly prevents you from such incidents.
- To Be Efficient
The method is relatively inexpensive and very fast. Not like the regular cleaning method, it takes about 2 to 4 drying hours, which save you a lot of time.
- To Be Environmentally Friendly
Steam cleaning mattress requires the use of water and heat which when done correctly have no impact on surroundings.
- To Increase Mattress Longevity
The use of professionals in steam cleaning your mattress helps in extending its life. This is because professionals are equipped with the right techniques. This method ensures all mattress layers are free from stains.
How to Steam Clean Mattress?
Here we have a video to show you the specific instructions for steaming clean a mattress. Steam cleaning a mattress is easier and you can do it alone or you can hire a professional.
Here are detailed tips and guides for you to learn about.
Step 1. Remove All Beddings
Move blankets, pillows, or mattress covers from your mattress. Wash all beddings and dry them under high heat. You can take your beddings to the dry cleaner depending on the size and nature of the materials.
Step 2. Use Baking Soda
Sprinkle a reasonable amount of baking soda over an entire mattress. You can also mix the baking soda with a few drops of oils such as Lavender, or lemon oil to perfume your mattress. When it comes to penetration you can apply a little bit of white vinegar with baking soda.
Leave the baking soda to sit on your mattress for at least 45 minutes to an hour. This enables it to absorb all smells and oils. However, when you have a problem with a tough smell, like urine, allow the baking soda to sit longer or even for 24 hours.
Step 3. Vacuum the Mattress
Slowly and thoroughly run the upholstery or vacuum hand attachment all over the mattress. Ensure the vacuum stays longer in places of frequent skin contact such as feet and head areas.
This will ensure enough time to take up all dust, mites, baking soda, and dead skin cells. Although you can use any hand attachment to do your deodorizing, an attachment with a wide-mouth nose and rotating brush should perfectly work.
Step 4. Apply the Steam
You can use a cloth steamer, steaming iron, or household steam cleaner. If the water doesn’t get hot enough, like in carpet cleaner, it won’t kill bedbugs and bacteria. Therefore, it is important to check machine specifications and ensure the water can heat to 212℉.
Apply hot steam from the mattress top to its bottom passing the steamer along its sides. In the case of a double-sized mattress, you are supposed to steam each side at a time.
Step 5. Dry the Mattress Completely
Leave the mattress for about 2 to 4 hours to completely dry. To attain quick results ensure your room fans are running, all windows opened and your mattress is in an area of direct sunlight.
Once your mattress is dry, cover it with clean linens. It is important to ensure it’s completely dry before sleeping on it. This will prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
How to Deodorize a Mattress?
Besides steam cleaning the mattress, you may also need to deodorize your beddings. To deodorize a mattress is to eliminate any germs or allergies odors on the mattress, which makes your pillows and cushions clean and tidy. Now here are steps for you to do it.
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Sprinkle the Baking Soda
You need to sprinkle the soda over the entire surface of the mattress using a flour sifter. Leave it to stay for about 30 to 40 minutes to remove odors.
During this time, ensure your windows are open and your mattress is exposed to direct sunlight. Later, vacuum your mattress to remove the used baking soda.
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Mix White Vinegar
To prevent the chemicals that can elevate your allergies, you can mix white vinegar with distilled water. This acts as an organic deodorizer capable of neutralizing any odor left on your mattress.
Using a spray bottle. Prepare a mixture of equal proportions and spray it on the entire surface of the mattress.
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Use Oils
You can use your favorite oil with a soothing effect and mix it with baking soda. It is recommendable to use about 20 drops of essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or lemon oils. The oil scent will neutralize the bad smell from your mattress. Leave the mix to stay for some hours and then vacuum your mattress.
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Neutralize the Smell
Mattress odors could be due to several things. In the case of body oils, you can perfectly use cornstarch to neutralize the smell. In this case, you are supposed to make a mixture of baking soda and cornstarch and evenly sprinkle it on the entire mattress.
Leave the cornstarch-baking soda mixture to stay for about 24 hours. Then vacuum your mattress and let it dry thoroughly.
How to Remove Stains From Mattress?
It’s possible to get rid of any stain from your mattress using commercial or homemade treatments. It’s necessary to understand the kind of stain you want to remove. This will enable you to have the right treatment and prevent further discoloration. Also, tackle stains differently depending on the kind.
- Sweat Stain
using hydrogen peroxide, lightly spray the stained area to damp, then allow the stain to fade away as peroxide dries.
- Urine Stain
you can use a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid dish soap. Do it repetitively and slightly to prevent drenching it. Allow it to dry.
- Blood Stain
prepare a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, salt, and liquid dish soap at a ratio of 2:1:1. Then apply the mixture using a clean cloth on the stain and scrap it out after about 10 minutes.
Tips for Mattress Cleanliness and Maintenance
Mattress cleaning and maintenance is as important as we consider other household items. Taking proper care of your mattress makes it free from bacteria and other allergens that could prevent you from having a healthy and quality sleep.
- Wash Your Mattress Cover Regularly
The mattress cover including your sheets, blankets, and pillowcases needs to be regularly washed and changed. This removes airborne dirt particles and other allergens capable of causing chronic diseases such as asthma. In this case, always wash your bed linens with hot water of about 60 degrees Celsius for effective elimination of dust mites.
- Never Wet Clean Your Mattress
Manufactures do not allow any fluid wetting the mattress. Therefore, liquid cleaning solutions aren’t recommended. In case you experience mattress spillage and you want to immediately attend to it, always use a clean cloth to get rid of the excessive fluid before reaching the mattress. In case of a stain, you can use a baking soda paste, rinse with a damp cloth and leave it to dry.
- Use of Professional Mattress Cleaner
It’s important to be engaged with a professional mattress cleaner who is well equipped with the right cleaning methods. They can take care of sensitive material layers, spring coils, and fabrics.
- Solid Foundation
Any mattress will last longer when placed on a firm and strong foundation. It’s important to ensure you buy your mattress and its foundation from a single company. They will make the right decision for you.
- Rotate the Mattress Regularly
This will ensure uniform wearing of the mattress no matter the size or material. Rotate your mattress at 180 degrees after every two to six months.
- Allow Light in
You are supposed to occasionally let lights in after stripping your mattress. Doing this after a month or two when the sun is hot to prevent excess moisture.
FAQs
1. Is Steam Cleaning Good for Mattress?
Well, steam cleaning does no harm to your mattress as long as there is not too much water left.
The process of steam cleaning a mattress is relatively simple and feasible. All you need to do is to ensure you have all required materials on hand. On recommendation make sure to have white vinegar, dry towel, water, steam cleaner, vacuum cleaner, and a neutral cleaner such as baking soda.
2. How Often Should I Deep Clean My Mattress?
To prevent the accumulation of urine, saliva, sweat, and dirt make sure you deep clean your mattress after every two weeks. Since in a year a lot of sweat will have accumulated on your bed lines leading to the growth of fungi. The following signs show your mattress is unhealthy for you to use.
- Visible stains.
- Night elevated allergen symptoms.
- Bad odors or smelly mattress.
- Bedbug bites
During deep cleaning use of steam is highly recommended as it’s highly effective and natural. In this case, always apply medium heat to avoid elastic parts damage.
3. Can I Steam Clean a Pillow Top Mattress?
It’s highly possible and easier to steam clean your pillow top mattress.
Although its additional padding is not visible due to the way it’s sewn, it needs to be cleaned. Your pillow top mattress is prone to sweat, urine, stains, and dirt which can lead to unhealthy related problems.
To achieve its soft and comfortable sleeping feeling, you are supposed to ensure you often steam clean. Using the procedure above about steam cleaning a mattress, make sure you deodorize, sanitize, and completely dry your pillow top. To prevent any accidental damage to your pillow top always follow the provided manufacturer instructions.
Conclusion
Steam cleaning your mattress helps in removing dust, mites, bedbugs, sweat, and urine stains. A clean mattress gives you a fresh smell and deep sleep. It’s important to use a washable mattress protector to reduce frequent deep mattress cleaning.
It’s recommendable to put your mattress outside in direct sunlight to kill hidden molds. Cleaning the mattress takes a few hours and you can do it in the morning and use it at night.
