Cleaning Mattress and Pillows

Cleaning Mattress and Pillows:

Vacuum your mattress when you rotate it. You should rotate your mattress every 3 months to prevent sagging. Since you’ll be moving it around anyway, you can use the upholstery attachment from your vacuum to remove dirt and allergens from in between the mattress and box spring and under the bed.

Use waterproof protective covers to protect against pet and kid stains. Think of this as an insurance policy to help your investments stay like new.

Improve and prevent allergy problems with hypoallergenic bedding. Allergens, bedbugs, dust mites, and molds can all take up residence in your mattress, making you susceptible to a host of health problems. Hypoallergenic bedding includes mattress and box spring covers, pillow covers, comforters, blankets, and sheets. Signs that you may need to use hypoallergenic bedding include allergy symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, difficulty breathing, congestion, and watery eyes; bedbugs on your mattress or bites on your body; and damp and musty bedding.

Easy Ways to Make Your Mattress Last

Mattresses typically last about 5–10 years before they need to be replaced. You can protect your investment and try to stretch that time a little further with these tips.

Let fresh air in. Be sure to open those light-blocking window treatments once in a while. When you wash your linens, open your windows, and let sunlight and fresh air come in. Doing this will air out the mattress and chase dust mites and bedbugs away.

Use a mattress cover. Mattresses aren’t cheap. To protect your investment, use a mattress cover to keep dead skin cells, sweat, pet stains, dust mites, and more from penetrating your mattress. Plus, mattress covers are much easier to clean than a big, absorbent mattress, so they help allergies and asthma problems immensely.

Don’t jump on the bed. Jumping on the bed may be fun, but it can cause damage to your mattress that can reduce its support and shorten its life span.

Store it correctly. If you need to store your mattress, cover it with a breathable cover made for storage, and store it flat in a climate-controlled storage unit. Also, be sure not to lay any heavy objects on top of your mattress. Basements are too damp for mattress storage, and garages are prone to humidity and temperature changes that may harm your mattress with prolonged exposure.

Wash your bed linens often enough. Wash your sheets every week to clean pet hair and dander, sweat, bacteria, and other yucky messes that, if left unchecked, can penetrate into your mattress.

Be sure to support your mattress properly. Traditional mattresses need box springs, while the newer foam mattresses work best on foundations. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for the support of your mattress since incorrect support can make the bed uncomfortable for you and shorten the life span of the mattress.

Rotate your mattress. You should rotate your mattress from top to bottom about every 3 months to avoid sagging spots and other issues.

Clean the mattress. Vacuum your mattress at least every 3 months when you rotate it to control dust mites and other allergens.

Don’t allow your dog to sleep under the bed. Letting your dog sleep under the bed may seem harmless enough, but the hair and dander left behind can aggravate allergies and asthma, and your pup can accidentally tear the lining of your mattress or box spring. Give your dog his own bed to sleep on instead.

Freshen your mattress with a DIY mattress cleaner. This easy DIY mattress cleaner freshens, deodorizes, and repels dust mites, which is one of the biggest causes of indoor allergies. Essential oils should not be used around cats and birds. Children and dogs may also be sensitive to some of the oils in this recipe. Consult your pediatrician and/or veterinarian before using this essential oil mixture in your home.
1 cup baking soda
10 drops essential oil (lavender, clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, basil, and lemongrass all naturally repel bugs, including dust mites and bedbugs)

• Combine the ingredients in a bowl, then use a baking sifter to dust the mixture evenly over your mattress.
• Let it sit for an hour before vacuuming it clean. Use this mattress cleaner every time you clean your mattress pad.

Disinfect with vodka. Mattresses can harbor loads of bacteria in the form of sweat, pet dander, dust mites, and more. You don’t have to stop sharing your bed with your favorite pooch; just clean it up! Fill a spray bottle with vodka or hydrogen peroxide, and add 10–15 drops of your favorite essential oil. Lavender is a great essential oil to use in the bedroom since it has a calming effect, can help you sleep, and is safe for use around children and dogs. (Please note that lavender essential oil is not safe for use around cats and birds.) Shake to combine, then spray your mattress liberally. Allow to air-dry before making your bed. This trick also works great on pillows and bedding between washes.

Use vinegar and baking soda to clean and deodorize vomit stains. Mix 1/2 cup each of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the stain, and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat these steps until the stain is gone, then sprinkle the area with baking soda to deodorize. Let it sit for 1–2 hours, and vacuum it clean. Make sure the mattress is completely dry before you make the bed.

Zap bloodstains on your mattress with a homemade hydrogen peroxide paste. Be sure to use a white cloth to wipe or blot—colored cloths may stain the mattress. Please note, when mixing hydrogen peroxide with other ingredients, plan to use the solution right away, and discard any remaining mixture.
1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide

• Mix the ingredients together, then apply the thick paste to the stain.
• Let it sit until completely dry, then wipe away the residue with a damp cloth. If the stain isn’t completely gone, take a white rag, and blot with hydrogen peroxide until the stain lifts away.

Clean and freshen pet beds in a snap with baking soda. Sprinkle your pet’s bed liberally with baking soda. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then vacuum it clean. Warning: be careful using essential oils to clean pet beds and supplies, since some pets may be sensitive to certain oils. Never use essential oils around cats and birds.

Remove urine and sweat stains with a homemade disinfecting spray. For soaking urine stains, first absorb as much liquid as you can with paper towels. Please note, when mixing hydrogen peroxide with other ingredients, plan to use the solution right away, and discard any remaining mixture.
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
3 tablespoons baking soda
1 teaspoon natural dish soap
Spray bottle

• Stir the ingredients together gently in a bowl until the baking soda dissolves.
• Put the mixture in a spray bottle, and spray the stain liberally.
• Let it sit for at least 1–2 hours to dry. Direct a fan toward the mattress to speed up the drying process. Prevent future stains with a waterproof mattress cover.

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