Why should I clean my mattress?
You spend around 1/3 of your life sleeping, but most people don’t even think about their sleep unless they can’t get to sleep. But consistent, quality sleep is an essential part of your mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Because sleep has such an influential and large impact on your life, it’s critical that the time occupied by sleeping is restorative. With great sleep, you can enjoy your waking life more thoroughly.
Unfortunately, a mattress full of dirt, dust mites, bacteria, and even pests can seriously affect how well you sleep. In fact, those particles, debris, and problematic critters may even leave you with respiratory issues, insomnia, allergies, and a negatively impacted immune system.
Not only is a clean mattress healthier for you, but it can also help extend the life of your mattress up to 8-12 years, depending on the mattress brand.
Ready to get your memory foam mattress squeaky clean? Keep reading to learn how to take care of basic stains and dirt so you can create a more sanitary, peaceful sleeping environment.
Removing Dirt and Debris
Regular vacuuming of your mattress is a good way to remove surface debris like dirt, lint, hair, and dust. Consider vacuuming your mattress every time you change your sheets to prevent dirt from permanently settling into your mattress.
A handheld vacuum or a regular vacuum with a detachable brush attachment will provide you with the easiest, most convenient cleaning solution.
Don’t forget to vacuum all the crevices of your mattress and consider moving your mattress away from any obstacles so you can reach all the sides effectively.
How to Remove Stains
Unlike washing a weighted blanket from Layla, which can be tossed directly into a washing machine for nuisance-free cleaning, mattresses don’t generally fit in most machines (and we don’t recommend attempting such a feat, either).
Pro Tip: It’s important to note that a mattress made from memory foam will act as a giant sponge for everything that gets on it. So, as you can imagine, it’s not a good idea to dump lots of cleaning products onto your mattress because it will make it significantly harder to get your mattress fully dry.
To spot clean small stains that aren’t dark, you should use a mild cleaning solution. For the best results, it’s important to get to the stain before it sets in and dries. You can dilute a very mild detergent and apply it directly to the stain, being careful not to soak the mattress. Try one ½ cup of detergent or another mild fabric cleaner mixed with 1 cup of water and mix in a spray bottle.
When you start cleaning your mattress, don’t rub too hard with the rag because you can push the stain further into the mattress layers. Instead, rub the washcloth in circular motions gently. Then, allow the mattress to fully dry before replacing the sheets.
How to Remove Deep Stains
When it’s time to remove those deep stains, you’re going to need a little bit more elbow grease and more concentrated cleaning power. With that said, it’s still never a good or smart idea to apply bleach directly to your mattress because it can discolor or damage the mattress.
Fill a spray bottle with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 3/4 cup water. Mix thoroughly and spray the solution on the spot or stain. Gently spot clean the stain with circular motions. Wipe away any extra cleaning solution with a rag or paper towels. Allow the spot to fully dry before putting your sheets back on the mattress.
Pro Tip: You can use hydrogen peroxide on a stain, but make sure to do a spot test first. A solution with hydrogen peroxide can be effective but can damage the surface of your mattress.
Cleaning Urine
Potty training is cruel to us all. Maybe it’s your pet or your child learning the ins and outs of potty training, but regardless, accidents will happen. In turn, you now have a mess to clean up. Luckily, cleaning urine is pretty simple. But for your best results, it’s critical to act quickly to prevent the stain from setting.
First, use paper towels to absorb as much urine as possible and discard the towels. Then cover the stain with white vinegar from a spray bottle. Sop up the vinegar with a paper towel. Finally, cover the stain with baking soda and let it stand for 8-10 hours. The baking soda works by absorbing any leftover liquids. Once absorbed, vacuum up the baking soda. After this, a gleaming clean mattress should be revealed.
It’s also a good idea to let your mattress sit out in the sun for a few hours, which can help remove any unwanted smells. But make sure you lay the mattress on a tarp or blanket to prevent it from getting dirty.
Drying Your Memory Foam Mattress
It’s absolutely critical to allow your memory foam mattress to dry as completely as possible. You don’t want to bring a wet mattress into your bedroom where it can grow mold, forcing you to toss your expensive investment into the trash. In order to ensure that your memory foam mattress is completely dry, you’ll need to give at least a few hours outside in the sun.
Don’t forget to turn your mattress periodically so it dries evenly. If there’s not enough sun left in the day to dry out your mattress, consider sprinkling some baking soda over the wet spots. This should help absorb any dampness at a faster pace.
After around a half hour, the baking soda should be done soaking up any liquid. At this point, it’s time to vacuum up the baking soda.
If you find your mattress is still moist, use a blow dryer on a medium setting to gently dry the mattress. Don’t use the hottest setting or keep the hot air concentrated in one area for too long, because you risk damaging the mattress. Using sweeping motions, go over the entire mattress with the hair dryer until it’s no longer wet.
If you’re drying your mattress inside your home, use a fan or hair dryer on a low heat setting in a well-ventilated area to fully dry. It can take one to two days for your memory foam mattress to dry out completely. But, as we mentioned earlier, this helps to prevent mold and mildew growth. Plus, nobody wants to wake up to a wet mattress.
Keeping Your Memory Foam Mattress Clean
The best way to keep dirt, debris, and stains from building up on your mattress is by not allowing them to happen in the first place. Memory foam mattresses can be a significant (but incredibly worthwhile) investment, so it’s important to treat it with care. And, the type of memory foam mattress you choose can have a big impact on the cleanliness of your mattress. For example, maybe you’re a hot sleeper and you tend to sweat. Instead of letting your mattress build up with grime from your nightly sweat sessions, consider a Layla Copper Memory Foam Mattress or a Layla Hybrid Mattress.
Layla Mattresses are specifically designed with cooling copper technology, which draws heat away from the body. If you find your mattress getting dirty often because you’re sweating so much, cooling copper memory foam might just be the answer.
Besides making the right mattress choice, it’s also a good idea to invest in a mattress protector to keep out dirt and prevent stains. Layla Sleep offers three levels of protection to keep you and your mattress safe from accidents.
The Essential Mattress Protector offers stain resistance, a dust mite barrier, hypoallergenic fabric, and overlocking corners. The Cooling Mattress Protector offers those same qualities in addition to extra padding and cooling fibers. And the Full Encasement Mattress Protector offers the most protection with full encasement that keeps out bed bugs and other debris.
Takeaways: Prevent mattress germs and dirt with regular cleanings
Hopefully, you’re already in the habit of changing out your sheets once a week. For your mattress, consider deep cleaning it thoroughly twice a year besides those general vacuum surface cleanings. And, to prevent stains, smells, and germs, consider using a mattress protector. A mattress protector not only helps keep your mattress intact, but it repels common allergens and delivers a healthier sleep environment for the user. With these tips, you can enjoy a deeper, cleaner sleep.
