Your mattress is your ultimate companion through the night. However, although its principal function is to give you a good night’s sleep, accidents can happen at any time, resulting in spillage on the mattress.
You may have spilled food on your bed while watching TV, or the baby puked or peed before you could take him to the bathroom.
Mattress stains are difficult to remove because any substance quickly gets lodged into the dense fibers. It results in the stain sticking firmly to the mattress, increasing the chances of germs festering. In addition, the mattress could start reeking, and over time, you may have to consider replacing the mattress entirely.
While the use of laundry soaps and detergents seems like a plausible option, they can be sensitive to the skin. Soap residue can cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Rather, using natural substances like vinegar and baking soda is far healthier when cleaning a mattress.
Why is it Important to Clean Your Mattress Regularly?
Since you spend the entire night on your mattress, it must remain clean and hygienic. Many people don’t even realize that breathing issues, eye irritation, or skin allergies are caused by dust, mites, and germs trapped inside the mattress.
Moreover, if your mattress remains moist from sweat or spilled food, the chances of mold and mildew increase exponentially. Regularly cleaning your mattress keeps it fresh and the fibers last longer. Since mattresses are expensive, you will increase the life of your mattress by cleaning it at regular intervals.
Below are some easy ways to clean your mattress and remove stains using baking soda. You can use it to clean all kinds of foam, latex, or spring mattress.
Why is Baking Soda Excellent for Cleaning Mattresses?
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a kind of salt available in crystalline or powdered form. It has excellent deodorizing properties. In addition, they can break down the acid more gently than commercial detergents. They do not leave behind any residue, and nor is it harsh on the skin. Baking soda is also a very affordable option as a cleaning agent.
You don’t have to use expensive detergents and fabric softeners that harm the top cover of your mattress. Nor do you have to worry about rashes and allergies. Baking soda can draw out most of the moisture from the deepest layers of a mattress. So the chances of mold and mildew growing in your mattress also reduce considerably.
General Mattress Cleaning With Baking Soda
Cleaning your mattress from time to time is healthy and hygienic. Over time, a mattress absorbs sweat, dead skin cells, sebum, and oils and gathers dust and mites. They become the breeding ground of microscopic germs, which results in a musty smell.
While airing your mattress resolves some problems, it still doesn’t eliminate the allergens and dirt embedded in it.
A simple solution to the problem is to spray some baking soda on it.
- Take sufficient baking soda on a sieve and lightly dust it on the mattress directly. Ensure the fan is switched off and the windows are closed to prevent the baking soda from getting blown away.
- Let it sit for three to four hours. Then vacuum the baking soda. It will have drawn out any nasty smells, oils, and allergens from the mattress.
- Toss the bedsheets and pillow covers into the washing machine. Your mattress will smell clean and fresh, and you will be ready to make your bed again.
Cleaning Food Stains From Mattress With Baking Soda
If you spill any food on your mattress, like coffee, ketchup, tea, fruit juices, cereals, or gravy, then the first thing you should do is blot the mattress.
- Take off the bed sheet and top covers. First, hold them below running water to rinse the excess. Then toss them into the washing machine with some laundry detergent.
- Next, grab some kitchen towels and blot the excess food from the mattress. Try not to rub it as it spreads the stain more and pushes the food particles deeper into the mattress.
- Make a cleaning solution by mixing one cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda. Mix well and spray the solution on the stain using a spray bottle.
- Let the solution sit for an hour.
- The baking soda will form a crust on the mattress. Vacuum it off.
- The stain will be gone or will have lightened considerably. Repeat the process if needed.
- Sprinkle some dry baking soda on the stain at the end. It will absorb any residual moisture and food odor, leaving your mattress clean and fresh.
Cleaning Blood Stains From Mattress With Baking Soda
Blood stains can be rinsed easily when fresh, but the longer they sit, the harder it becomes to eliminate them.
Remember never to use hot water on blood stains as it contains protein. And protein tends to thicken when exposed to heat.
- First, toss the bed sheets and bed covers in the washing machine.
- Instead, make a cleaning solution using two tablespoons of baking soda and four tablespoons of lime juice. You can add hydrogen peroxide to the solution if the stain sits too long.
- Make a paste and lightly spread it on the blood stain. Allow it to sit for an hour.
- The paste will form a crust on the mattress. Scrape it off using a spoon or spatula.
- You will notice the bottom part of the crust has turned reddish by absorbing the blood.
- You can repeat the process if needed. Wipe off any residue with a damp towel and let the mattress air dry for a few hours before making the bed again.
Cleaning Sweat, Vomit, and Urine Stains From Mattress With Baking Soda
Vomit, sweat, and urine are not just nasty because of the germs they spread but they can also smell bad. It can be impossible to get the odor out of the mattress if you do not get them out completely.
Unfortunately, you cannot rinse a mattress. But you can use eco-friendly substances like baking soda to clean and deodorize your mattress.
- First, blot the vomit or urine off the mattress. Use as many towels as you require and absorb as much as possible.
- Then make a solution using 3% hydrogen peroxide with three tablespoons of baking soda.
- Use a spray bottle to spray the solution on the stain generously.
- Allow the mixture to sit for half an hour, and use a soft thistle brush to scrape the crust away. Repeat the process as many times as necessary.
- Sprinkle some cold water and dab to clean away any residue.
- Lastly, sprinkle some dry baking soda on the stain. Let it sit for fifteen minutes. It will absorb all residual moisture and odor from the mattress. Vacuum the baking soda away.
- Finally, sprinkle a few drops of essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus on the mattress. Not only will it leave your mattress smelling fresh after cleaning those nasty bodily fluids, but it also has disinfecting properties.
- After air-drying your mattress, ventilate your room so you can make your bed again.
Points to Remember While Cleaning the Mattress With Baking Soda
Here are some points to remember every time you clean a mattress.
- Never over-saturate the mattress with the baking soda solution. You don’t want the mattress to get wetter than necessary since it will harm the fibers.
- Always blot the excess liquid or stain with a kitchen towel. Avoid paper towels as they may tear with the liquid.
- Do not use water-based baking soda solutions on Tempur-Pedic mattresses since excessive moisture can harm the fibers.
- Do not let any stain sit on the mattress for too long. Start blotting as soon as possible to prevent the stain from seeping inside the mattress.
- Always blot the stains instead of rubbing them. It will prevent the stain from spreading.
Conclusion
Having a cleaning routine for your mattress can make it last for years. Natural substances like baking soda, vinegar, or lime juice preserve the mattress fibers.
Chemical residue can eat away at the fibers of the mattress, which is why using natural substances is the best solution. It is also gentler on the skin, and you can use them at any time. They are great for babies or those with breathing problems or sensitive skin.
Using baking soda for regular cleaning or cleaning stains is one of the best things you can do for the longevity of your mattress.
