If you have a dirty mattress, you may not want to spend the money to get it professionally cleaned, especially if you didn’t pay a lot for it. So here are 3 tips for cleaning your dirty mattress if you are doing it yourself.
Tip #1: Vacuum your mattress before you clean it. You may not have ever thought about vacuuming your mattress, but this is the best way to get rid of dust mites and other dirt which can cause stains if you use a liquid cleaner to clean your mattress. Use the wand attachment on the vacuum cleaner, and make sure to get both sides.
Tip #2: Next, it is time to get rid of identified and unidentified mattress stains. For general types of stains, spray on a mild citrus type cleanser and let it set for about five minutes before wiping off with a terrycloth towel. You can also use mild, clear dish detergent, diluted with a little white vinegar.
For blood, use hydrogen peroxide followed by meat tenderizer and then cool water. Never use hot water because it will set in the proteins from the blood. If you don’t have these things handy, a paste of salt and water or baking soda will work the same way.
For cigarette odor, use two tablespoons of clear dishwashing detergent to two tablespoons of cold water. Mix them together in a bowl and apply sparingly to the entire mattress. Do this one section at a time, then using a damp, clean cloth to wipe the moisture off. Let the mattress dry before using.
Tip #3: Now that the stains are gone or minimized as much as possible, sponge the mattress down with rubbing alcohol or an enzyme based cleaner. Follow up with a clean damp towel to finish the job. If you can, air the mattress outside in the sun to make sure the mattress is completely dry and germ free. Then spray it down lightly with Lysol or some sort of other type of disinfectant. Finally make sure that you have clean linens before you make the bed and wash your linens at least once a week thereafter.
If all this sounds like a little too much trouble or effort why not check out our mattress cleaning service and contact us today for a quote.
