Whether we realize it or not, our mattress is an investment that should be taken care of properly. It requires regular maintenance to make it possible for you to have a comfortable and relaxing experience. However, cleaning it seems to be a very daunting process. You may picture a scene where you are left with a very messy and wet mattress, frustrating, isn’t it? But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be this way because you can actually clean your mattress by simply vacuuming it. If you have not heard of the correct process of doing it, then here are a series of steps that you can follow.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Vacuum a Mattress
Vacuuming a mattress is easy, but the results depend greatly on how we execute the steps. Here is a couple of useful information about vacuuming your mattress.
Frequency of Vacuuming a Mattress
First things first, you have to know that vacuuming is not supposed or necessarily done on a daily basis. In fact, you can actually do it every three to six months. However, those who have allergies or are sensitive to dust, dirt, and mites may need to have more frequent vacuuming sessions which can be done at least once a month.
Step 1: Prepare everything you need
The first step to getting your mattress cleaned is by preparing everything you need. Plain vacuuming can clean the area but will not really give it a good cleaning. So to make sure you maximize your vacuum cleaning, you should have other cleaning items with you. You can start with an enzyme cleaner or dish soap, a laundry detergent, baking soda, and cold water. You will want to have dry, white cloths to clean the area effectively as colored clothes sometimes leave stains in mattresses when mixed with cleaning agents.
Step 2: Strip the bed and Clean Other Accessories
Once you have everything ready, prepare your bed by taking all of the pillows and sheets from it. Strip off the sheets and pillow cases until the mattress is bare. When cleaning your mattress, it is important that you clean all the sheets and pillow cases too. If you are dealing with mites, you can soak and wash those in hot water. Wash them so you have clean sheets and linens ready for your mattress soon.
Step 3: Start vacuuming and spot-cleaning the mattress
To start the process, you will have to start vacuuming the area while making sure that you cover its entire surface. At this point, you have to give more attention to the seams and crevices as this is where the dust and dirt usually build up and settle. Inspect your mattress’ overall integrity and try to look for stains if there are any. Once you detect the presence of stains, you can then proceed to doing some spot-cleaning.
Note: To effectively clean stains, you can easily reach for a stain remover or an enzyme-based cleaner. Make sure to maintain a blotting action so as not to aggravate the existing stain. For stains like blood, urine, vomit, sweat, and other biological stains, you can opt to get a dishwashing paste and combine it with water or equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and cold water. Apply this onto a clean cloth and blot the stains until it is lifted. Proceed to blot it out with another clean cloth until it is removed.
Step 4: Dust the Mattress Surface with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a popular kitchen staple not only for cooking but also for cleaning. This ingredient has been used for cleaning over the years, and when it comes to cleaning your mattress, this works effectively well. It is recommended to have mattresses exposed and disinfected with fresh air and under the sun. If you have no way to do those two, you can opt to get the baking soda to do the work for you. You can start by dusting a layer of baking soda on the entire area of your mattress’ surface. It is recommended that you leave this for a number of hours, or overnight for the best results. This is done to allow the baking soda to absorb moisture and odor while breaking down the acid that may be present on the surface. If you want the best results, you can have this sit on an area where it is exposed to sunlight as this takes care of mold and mildew that may have been developing in your mattress.
Step 5: Repeat the Vacuuming Process
Once you have left the mattress with baking soda for some time, you can then proceed to vacuum the area again. Make sure to check your vacuum’s bag and see that it has been emptied before use. Carefully run through every area on the mattress’ surface, again, paying more attention to crevices and seams. By doing this process, you remove the baking soda along with the remnants of stains, dirt, and debris that may have settled in for a long time. If you are using your vacuum to clean furniture, fixtures, floors, and other areas in your home, it is recommended that you get a vacuum that is high quality and heavy-duty like Dyson vacuum models.
Step 6: Do the Same Process on the Other Side
Now that you have cleaned, treated, and vacuumed one side of the mattress, it is only right that you complete it by doing the exact thing on the other side. Depending on the amount of dirt, mold, or stain in the other side of the mattress, simply repeat the steps one to five until you are left with two sides that is clean, fresh, and free of nasty odors. As you do this, you can also apply the recommended flipping intervals and frequency for mattresses. It is ideal for you to flip your mattress at least every three months, especially for mattresses with spring as it aids in maintaining a clean and well-shaped mattress.
Step 7: Dry and Drape the Mattress
Once you are done with the vacuuming process, you can then proceed to let the mattress dry properly. This is essential as a mattress that is not fully-dried or wet is vulnerable to mold and mildew growth. Hence, it is vital that you keep this in mind for every cleaning session that you have. If you want to have a mattress protector applied, then do so. From there, you can then drape your mattress with a fitted sheet to keep most of the mattress’ areas clean and protected from dirt, dust, mold, and other elements that can damage it.
Conclusion
Mattresses are essential to keeping our body protected, warm, and well-cushioned as we rest at night or during naps. This is something that we use almost every day, hence, we should be able to take care of it properly. If you want to start preserving your mattress’ integrity and life for a long time, you can start by incorporating mattress vacuuming sessions in your routine. Do this for at least once a month to make sure that you remain comfortable and protected from allergens, bacteria, dirt, mold, mildew, and other substances that can sit and linger in your mattress.
