How to Clean Mattress Stains and Dust Mites
Vacuum slowly, blot out stains and deodorize with baking soda. The rule is to use as little water as possible.
What you need
Supplies
- 1 cup baking soda
- Mild detergent or fabric stain remover
- Cold water
Tools
- Vacuum with upholstery tool
- Sieve
- 3 white towels
- Spray bottle
- Fan
How to do it
- 01
Strip the bed and vacuum
Remove all covers and pads and put them in the wash. Vacuum the top, sides and seams of the mattress slowly, 3–4 seconds per stroke, so dust deep in the fibers comes out too.
- 02
Blot the stains
Mix a little mild detergent into cold water, dampen a white towel and dab the stain from the outside in. Rubbing spreads the stain and roughens the fabric.
- 03
Remove the detergent
Dab again with a towel dampened in clean water to lift the detergent, then press a dry towel down firmly to absorb the moisture. The key is keeping water out of the mattress core.
- 04
Sprinkle baking soda
Sift baking soda evenly over the whole mattress and leave it for at least an hour. It absorbs sweat odors and moisture. Wait until any spot-cleaned areas are completely dry first.
- 05
Vacuum again and dry
Vacuum up all the baking soda, open the windows and run a fan until everything is fully dry. Only put the bedding back on when it is completely dry, or mold can grow.
Be careful
- Hydrogen peroxide and oxygen-based stain removers can bleach fabric. Test low on the side first.
- Holding a steam cleaner in one spot for long traps moisture in the foam and springs. Keep it moving, briefly and widely.
- A hair dryer held close on hot can melt or shrink the fabric.
Malkkeum tips
- One waterproof mattress protector saves dozens of stain cleanups.
- Rotate the mattress head to foot every three months to prevent sagging on one side. Flip it too if it is double-sided.
- Pull back the covers for 30 minutes after getting up so the night's moisture can escape.
What dust mites love
House dust mites feed on dead skin and thrive in warm, humid places. A mattress gets body heat and sweat every night, which makes it one of their favorite homes. Simply vacuuming out dust and skin flakes, drying out moisture and washing covers often makes a big difference.
If yellow stains are old
Old sweat stains are body oils that have oxidized and turned yellow. If mild detergent does not lift them, use a fabric stain remover as directed and dab in several short rounds. Pouring on a lot at once makes the stain spread into a ring.
FAQ
Does sunlight kill dust mites? Sun and airflow reduce moisture, making life hard for mites. If moving the mattress outside is impractical, opening the windows and drying it with a fan is effective too.
