Tips and recipes for washing a mattress at home

The mattress and bedding must meet sanitary and hygienic standards. Therefore, maintaining their cleanliness and freshness is the key to a comfortable and healthy sleep for a person.

You can clean your mattress either at a dry cleaner or at home. Only for this you need to know how to do it and with what, depending on the type and degree of contamination.

For more information on how to wash a mattress at home, read the article.

What materials are they made from?

When choosing a method for cleaning a mattress, you should first of all focus on the type of filler.

Dry cleaning is recommended for the following types:

• spring;
• with coconut filling;
• orthopedic.

For other products, dry processing is needed as a preventive measure to preserve freshness.

Should I go to dry cleaning?

Anyone who intends to clean a mattress is faced with a choice: take it to a dry cleaner or do it on their own at home.

The first option is preferable if there are strongly ingrained stains and a persistent unpleasant odor that cannot be dealt with using improvised means.

It is not recommended to try to remove particularly stubborn marks with chemicals yourself., which include urine, rust and other stains of biological origin.

This can lead to large stains on the fabric and increased odor. It is better to immediately contact the services of professionals, then there is a better chance of returning the mattress to its original cleanliness.

When the area of ​​contamination is too large, and the lifespan of the mattress exceeds 5-6 years, then it is wiser to replace it with a new one. In such a situation, even professional help may not help; it will only waste time and money.

Orthopedic products are also difficult to clean because they consist of several layers (in the middle - springs or latex plate, on the sides - padding polyester, coconut, holofiber, foam rubber or a combination of different materials, on top - a fabric cover).

This multi-layering causes the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms inside. Dry cleaning will deal with this problem more efficiently.

What can I use to clean it?

Household foaming gels, sprays and dry foam will help effectively rid your mattress of dust and dirt. Stain removers and various concentrated cleaning products for carpets and upholstered furniture also work well on fabric stains.

The most popular household chemicals suitable for cleaning mattresses:

1. Vanish, Shine, Cinderella, Selena - sprays.
2. Vanish – active foam, powder.
3. Nordland - foam.
4. Antipyatin - soap.
5. Dr. Beckmann - gel.
6. Udalix, MienLiebe – stain remover pencil.
7. Just a minute, Cinderella – cream.

If preference is given to traditional methods of cleansing, then You can use the following available tools:

• laundry soap;
• 3% hydrogen peroxide;
• pure alcohol;
• solvent or acetone;
• soda;
• salt;
• vinegar;
• borax;
• glycerol;
• ammonia.

Before choosing how to clean a mattress, you should determine the nature of the contamination.

Step-by-step instructions for washing and removing dust and dirt

Regardless of the type of mattress, When cleaning it, you should follow a certain algorithm:

1. All bedding is removed and sent to the wash. You need to do this regularly, then the mattress will become less greasy.
2. Remove small debris and dust accumulations using a vacuum cleaner. Use a wider nozzle, and for hard-to-reach places use a special upholstery nozzle. For convenience, connect it to a flexible hose, removing the tube.
3. Before wet cleaning, remove existing stains. The composition is selected depending on the source of contamination and the type of product. Most stains, even old ones, can be easily removed with oxygen-containing bleach.
4. Then carry out wet cleaning of the mattress, if indicated. You can find out about this from the manufacturer's care instructions on the label.
5. Upon completion of the procedure, ventilate the product so that the moisture completely evaporates from it (on the balcony or by opening a window). Otherwise, a fungus that is dangerous to health will begin to develop in it, which will be difficult to get rid of in the future. An alternative is exposure to ultraviolet radiation - the mattress is placed under the sun's rays.
6. Then sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the mattress to eliminate the unpleasant odor and remaining moisture.After half an hour they go through with a vacuum cleaner.
7. Then put a fresh mattress cover on the mattress and make clean bed linen. They only first inspect the product and make sure that there are no wet marks. Otherwise, mold will inevitably appear.

Cotton

After final vacuuming, the cotton mattress can be steamed using a special device or iron with this function. Under the influence of high temperature it will be possible to kill pathogenic microorganisms and dust mites.

If the mattress is very dirty, you will have to resort to wet cleaning, but you cannot wash it completely (the filler will roll off).

How to clean a product with cotton filling:

1. Pour warm water (about 40°C) into the container and add washing powder or liquid detergent with stain-removing properties.
2. Wet a stiff brush in the solution and process the product from all sides. The more foam, the better - they try to use it with minimal wetting of the surface.
3. The remaining product is removed with a dry cloth, then with a damp sponge and again with a dry cloth. Then leave the mattress to dry, preferably in the sun. To prevent the cotton wool from clumping, periodically beat the product with a carpet cracker.

Foam rubber

Before you start cleaning a foam mattress, it is important to know that it easily bursts and changes shape when bent, wrung out and at a water temperature of more than 40? C. It can be washed, but only by hand.

Sequencing:

1. Lay out the product along the bottom and sides of the bathtub or on the street, laying down a tarpaulin (if possible).
2. The cover is washed separately.
3. If the procedure is carried out outdoors, the mattress will be knocked out of dust. At home, they resort to initial rinsing with a shower.
4. The moistened mattress is kneaded with hands over the entire area until the protruding water becomes clear.
5. Moisten again with water and apply washing liquid or dishwashing detergent. Begin to intensively rub the surface until abundant foam appears.
6. Leave the product in this state for 30 minutes, then wash it with a shower (hose).
7. Place it on its side and after the water has drained, wet it again. Again, they begin to intensively knead with their hands to get rid of the bulk of the water, and leave the mattress on its side to drain the rest.

The foam mattress should be dried in a lying position in the open air, turning it over periodically.

Made from coconut fiber

Coconut fillings are ideal in terms of comfort and firmness. Such mattresses do not cause allergies, are hygroscopic and have good breathability, and also have antibacterial properties. With proper use, it can last at least 10 years.

The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules:

• stored, cleaned and transported only in a horizontal position;
• used indoors with humidity not exceeding 70%;
• systematically ventilate and turn over.

Such products require dry cleaning using foam, powders or special pencils.

If stains appear on the surface, you should immediately blot them with a sponge, but do not rub them.. Apple cider vinegar works well for organic stains; for others, use other available products.

On springs

It is recommended to vacuum the spring mattress periodically and wipe it with a damp sponge.

As a result, it accumulates in layers and over time appears in the form of stains on the surface. It is easier to dry clean a spring mattress.

Orthopedic

Such products have a rather complex multi-layer structure, so cleaning the surface alone will not be enough. In this case, as with the spring option, it is better to seek professional help.

But you can give a few tips that will delay this moment:

• every six months the mattress is turned over;
• vacuum once a week;
• put on a protective cover;
• If stains are found on the fabric, use cleaning products for upholstered furniture.

The only way to remove the unpleasant odor coming from an orthopedic mattress is to sprinkle it with baking soda and vacuum it after an hour.

Polyurethane foam

This is the most common filling for mattresses. Clean such products with a brush and vacuum cleaner.. First, the mattress is lightly moistened with the solution (1 teaspoon of ammonia is diluted in a glass of water), cleaned and left to dry.

Inflatable

The easiest option to maintain. This is due to the fact that the air mattress is not afraid of moisture and only becomes dirty on the surface. So it’s not difficult to clean it with the help of improvised and household products.

Since such mattresses are afraid of sharp objects, the preparations used should not contain abrasive particles.

One way to cleanse:

1. 200 g of laundry soap shavings (washing powder) are diluted in 1 liter of warm water.
2. Soak the sponge in the resulting solution and treat the stains until they disappear completely.
3. Leave the mattress to dry.

Stubborn marks are removed as follows: squeeze lemon juice onto them and sprinkle with salt. Then they begin to rub intensively with a brush.

Leave the product for 3 hours and wash off the remaining salt with a damp cloth. To reduce the drying time of an air mattress, you can use a hairdryer.

How to get rid of stains?

You can clean problem areas on the surface of the mattress using products that are always available at home. It’s just better to start the procedure as soon as possible so that contamination does not have time to penetrate into the filler.

Blood

Newly diagnosed blood stains are treated with an appropriate solution using a spray bottle:

• dilute 1 tbsp in a glass of water. l. salt or 100 g of baking soda;
• dissolve 1 aspirin tablet in 200 ml of cool water;
• Add 30 ml of dishwashing liquid to a glass of water.

Urine and excrement

Before you start cleaning the mattress from urine, you should remember that all methods are effective only if the traces are fresh.

Effective ways:

• treat stains on the fabric with soapy water, blot with a dry towel and allow to dry;
• mix salt with lemon juice and apply to the problem area, then wait a couple of hours and wash off with a damp sponge.

To prevent such troubles, it is better to put a water-repellent cover on the mattress.

Mold

Mold and the smell from it are eliminated in the following way:

• prepare a solution from water and isopropyl alcohol (1:1);
• a mixture of borax (100 g), boric acid (50 g), white vinegar (150 ml) and water (1 liter) is heated to 70? C and applied to the stains;
• industrial chemicals.

Pollution of other origins

Methods acceptable for getting rid of other types of stains:

1. Wine. Sprinkle the stains with salt (soda) and wait about half an hour. Then clean the surface with a vacuum cleaner. In case of persistent contamination, make a paste of table vinegar and baking soda.
2. Juice. Combine 3% hydrogen peroxide (200 ml), soda (3 tbsp) and any detergent (1-2 drops). Apply the pulp locally and vacuum it after 10 minutes.
3. Coffee Tea. Fresh marks are removed with a napkin soaked in peroxide, ammonia or vinegar. Stubborn stains are removed with a solution of 30 ml of washing gel and vinegar (the same amount), diluted in 100 ml of water.

   Soak the marks and leave for 10-15 minutes, then wipe with a damp sponge. If necessary, repeat the steps.

4. Marker, pen. It is effective to use pure alcohol or in combination with acetone (in equal proportions) or glycerin (1 tsp of each ingredient). To avoid streaks, start processing from the edge and move towards the center of the stain.
5. Lipstick and other cosmetics. Alcohol will help get rid of lipstick. And marks from spilled nail polish are removed with nail polish remover.
6. Oily stains. Fairy helps a lot - squeeze a little onto a cotton pad and rub the stain. You can use vodka, ammonia or medical alcohol.
7. Glue, chewing gum, tape. Sticky marks are treated with ice cubes, then the hardened mass is scraped off with a knife. Wax and paraffin are removed by ironing through a sheet of paper with a hot iron.
8. Soil, sand. Mix vinegar and water in equal proportions. Using a sponge moistened with this liquid, gently blot the stain and then wipe with a dry cloth.

How to get rid of an unpleasant odor?

Even after cleaning and removing stains, the mattress sometimes produces an unpleasant odor. To finally get rid of it, the following methods are recommended:

• treat the fabric with vinegar solution (1:1);
• wipe the mattress with ammonia;
• Mix a tablespoon of bleaching washing powder, 100 g of soda and a liter of water, then spray this solution over the fabric.

You can buy ready-made odor absorbers in the store. They are scattered over the surface of the product and after 3-4 hours of exposure they are removed with a vacuum cleaner.

Video on the topic

How to clean a mattress from stains, video recipe:

Conclusion

By following these simple tricks, you can extend the life of your mattress. Moreover, all cleaning methods do not require special financial and physical costs.

To ensure that the mattress lasts as long as possible and maintains its original appearance, it is recommended to buy a protective cover. It is especially indispensable if there are small children and animals in the house.

If you are interested in how to wash other bedding, take a look here.