How to Clean a Mattress: Step-by-Step Guide

You spend about a third of your life on your mattress. Sweat, skin cells and moisture build up — and that is what feeds dust mites. Cleaning the mattress two to four times a year is not fussiness: it extends its useful life and improves the air you breathe while sleeping. Here is the method, step by step.

1. Vacuum the entire surface

With the upholstery attachment, vacuum the top and the sides, paying attention to the seams and the corners — that is where dust gathers. This step alone already removes most of the allergens.

2. Deodorise with bicarbonate of soda

Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the whole mattress and leave it to work for at least 6 hours (a full afternoon is ideal). Bicarbonate absorbs odours and moisture. Then vacuum everything again.

3. Treat stains — by type

Never soak the mattress. Always work with little moisture and from the edge towards the centre of the stain.

• Urine: mix equal parts white vinegar and water, spray the area, leave for 15 minutes and dry with a cloth. Then cover with bicarbonate, leave to dry and vacuum.
• Sweat and yellowish stains: a paste of bicarbonate with a little hydrogen peroxide and a drop of detergent. Apply, leave to dry, brush and vacuum.
• Blood: cold water (never hot, it sets the stain) and a little neutral soap, with a slightly damp cloth.

4. Dry thoroughly before making the bed

Trapped moisture is what creates mould. Leave the mattress to air with the window open, or point a fan at it, until it is completely dry to the touch.

5. Prevent — it is easier than cleaning

A washable mattress protector prevents 90% of stains and goes into the machine in minutes. On which one to choose and what actually changes, I wrote a separate guide. Rotate the mattress head-to-foot every 3 months and air it whenever you change the bedding.

If the stain has a smell that will not come out, or if the mattress is already more than 8 years old, it is often not worth insisting on cleaning. — Ana Cristina, Dreamura Sleep Adviser

Cleaning is part of a wider sleep hygiene routine. And if you are unsure about replacing it, read how long a mattress lasts and which signs point to a change.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a mattress be cleaned?

Two to four times a year. Cleaning the mattress extends its useful life and improves the air you breathe while sleeping, because sweat, skin cells and moisture build up and feed dust mites.

How do you clean a mattress step by step?

Vacuum the top and the sides with the upholstery attachment, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda and leave it to work for at least 6 hours, vacuum again, treat stains with little moisture and let it dry completely before making the bed.

How do you remove a urine stain from a mattress?

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, spray the area, leave for 15 minutes and dry with a cloth. Then cover with bicarbonate, leave to dry and vacuum.

How do you remove a blood stain from a mattress?

Use cold water, never hot, because heat sets the stain, and a little neutral soap, with a slightly damp cloth.

Why is it important to dry the mattress thoroughly?

Trapped moisture is what creates mould. Leave the mattress to air with the window open, or point a fan at it, until it is completely dry to the touch.

When is it not worth insisting on cleaning?

If the stain has a smell that will not come out, or if the mattress is already more than 8 years old, it is often not worth insisting on cleaning.