A soft, clean mattress can give you a good night's sleep, but as any parent knows, accidents can happen at any time. You don't need to worry about replacing that soiled mattress when you've figured out how to get rid of those mattress stains quickly and easily!
Our guide will show you how to remove stains and odors from your mattress: from nighttime accidents, to surprise blood stains! You don't need to wash your entire mattress at every stain, particularly when your little one is still learning the ropes of maintaining a clean room.
What You’ll Need
You'll need a couple of things before you get started on removing that stain. As a precautionary measure, always don on a pair of gloves and protective eyewear when handling cleaning solutions. Here are some of the tools and solutions you need to clean out mattress stains:
- Wet vacuum cleaner
- Gloves
- A spray bottle
- Stain remover: White Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda, or Dish Soap
- Upholstery shampoo or laundry detergent
- Clean cloth or wet sponge
- Scrub brush
- Steam cleaner (optional)
How to Clean a Soiled Mattress
First thing's first: remove the mattress cover from your mattress, and wash the cover in the laundry machine with some upholstery shampoo or regular detergent. This will prevent the stain from setting, and give your sheets a fresh cleanliness.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Stains
Both urine stains and period blood stains can be removed, deodorized, and sanitized by some hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong disinfectant and bleaching agent that removes stains quickly and easily, neutralizing any odors that come with the stain just as well.
The best use of hydrogen peroxide to clean a mattress stain would be to spritz the solution directly on the soiled areas, and blot the area clean using a clean towel or some paper towels. You can also use the same solution to clean stains from your mattress protector before it goes into the laundry machine for a wash!
You may add baking soda to the mix for a stronger solution, and use a scrub brush to loosen stains that have already set into the mattress surface, which may be the case with a blood stain. Take note that hydrogen peroxide may have a bleaching property to it, so best to use this solution on light and white mattresses only.
Make a Deodorizing Vinegar Spray
Sometimes, it's not your kids that have accidents - it's your pets! Pet stains are some of the most common forms of furniture stains, and the urine smell from the stains is unbearable for most people. You can create a safe and effective deodorizing and cleaning spray from just white vinegar!
Mix together white vinegar and cold water in equal amounts. Place the solution in a spray bottle, and liberally apply to the soiled areas. Blot the solution out and repeat the process if the stain is still noticeable. Afterwards, let the mattress dry completely before using.
As the vinegar dries, the smell of both the vinegar and the stain should dissipate, leaving you with a clean, neutral-smelling mattress that survives to live another day! For a deep clean, saturate the soiled area with the vinegar solution, and use a wet vacuum with an upholstery attachment to remove excess moisture.
Steam Clean Old Stains and Dust Mites
If you have access to a steam cleaner, you can use the appliance to lift out old stains using heat and moisture. You'll find that when stains have set, they tend to be difficult to remove, especially on furniture that you can't wash often. Steam cleaning also disinfects your mattress, and kills dust mites that may be causing your itchy allergies.
Use the steam cleaner as directed on the manufacturer's instructions. Use the upholstery attachment to properly clean your mattress, and go over the soiled area multiple times. Use a clean towel to blot out the stain, and repeat the process until you no longer see the stains.
To kill and prevent dust mites, go over the entire mattress area a couple of times, then let the mattress air dry before using. You'll be left with a clean, sanitized mattress you can comfortably sleep on! This is also the best method to clean memory foam mattresses as the foam can sometimes be difficult to dry with saturated cleaning methods.
Use Baking Soda to Clean Fresh Spills
If the stain on your mattress is new: for instance, you dropped some food sauces on the mattress, then a good sprinkle of baking soda will get that liquid out before the stain has the chance to set. You can even keep a small jar of baking soda by your bedside table for this purpose, as well as other cleaning purposes.
Simply sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all over the spill. Let the baking soda sit to soak up all the excess liquid, then use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the powder. You may now use a vinegar spray to deodorize and clean the area, blotting out excess moisture using a towel.
Use Dish Detergent to Break Down Grease Stains
Mix together dish soap and warm water to create a sudsy solution that can break down grease stains from any surface! Place the solution in a spray bottle for a convenient cleaning, and spray away any food spills, grease stains, and makeup stains on your mattress.
Sprinkle baking soda for a stronger solution, and let the detergent work before blotting out. After letting the mattress air dry completely, you're now left with a clean, non-greasy mattress that is comfortable to sleep on as it is easy to clean!
Make Cleaning a Priority
Just because you've never stained your mattress doesn't mean that you can forego cleaning altogether. Mattresses can still pick up dirt, moisture, and bacteria throughout daily use, and cleaning your home should be a top priority for any homeowner.
When you're too busy to clean, look to Luce SG for top-quality mattress cleaning services that are sure to get every inch of your mattress spotless! Check out our full list of services through our website today.
