How do I clean a mattress?
Vacuuming, deodorising and spot-treating a mattress without soaking it, plus what actually reduces dust mites.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 2 hr
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Vacuum it thoroughly, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the surface, leave it an hour or more, then vacuum again. Spot-treat stains with minimal moisture and dry them fast — a soaked mattress takes days to dry and can grow mould inside.
You cannot wash a mattress, so cleaning one is really vacuuming, deodorising and careful spot treatment. The main risk is over-wetting: foam and fillings hold water for days, and the mould that follows is inside where you cannot reach it.
What you'll need
- Vacuum with an upholstery tool
- Bicarbonate of soda
- White cloths
- Enzyme cleaner for organic stains (optional)
- Fan
Step by step
- Strip the bed and wash all the bedding at 60°C where the labels allow.That temperature is what deals with dust mites in the bedding itself.
- Vacuum the whole mattress including the sides and the seams.Seams and piping collect the most. Go slowly — suction needs contact time.
- Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda generously over the surface.It absorbs moisture and odour. A sieve gives an even layer.
- Leave it at least an hour, longer if you can.Several hours is better. Open the windows while it sits.
- Vacuum the bicarbonate off thoroughly.Go over it twice — it works into the fabric more than you expect.
- Spot-treat stains with a barely damp cloth and minimal cleaner, blotting rather than rubbing.Use an enzyme cleaner for anything organic. Work from the outside of the stain inwards.
- Dry any treated area fast with a fan and open windows.This is the critical step. A damp mattress can grow mould internally.
- Use a washable mattress protector from now on.It takes the load and washes easily, which removes most of the need to do this again.
Tips
- Rotate the mattress every few months, and flip it if it is double-sided. It distributes wear and keeps the shape far longer.
- Airing a mattress with the windows open for a few hours reduces the moisture that dust mites depend on.
- For blood or urine, cold water and an enzyme cleaner only — heat sets protein stains permanently.
Common mistakes
- Soaking the mattress — The filling holds water for days and can grow mould inside where it cannot be cleaned.
- Using hot water on protein stains — It cooks them into the fibres and makes them permanent.
- Skipping the protector afterwards — You will be doing this again within a year.
Questions people ask
How often should I clean a mattress?
A vacuum and deodorise every three to six months, and wash bedding weekly. A protector between you and the mattress does most of the work.
Does bicarbonate of soda actually help?
Yes, as a deodoriser and moisture absorber. It does not sanitise or kill dust mites — vacuuming and washing bedding hot does more for that.