How to Buy the Best Mattress

The ultimate guide to the best mattress types and brands.

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How to Vacuum a Mattress to Fight Dust Mites

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mattress and box springs from simmons
CC Flickr photo courtesy of castawayvintage.

Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live by eating human dead skin cells. They live all over the home in pillows, furniture, carpet and especially mattresses; since human body creates millions of dead skin cells during sleep to provide plenty of food. It is important to know how to clean a mattress since dust mites can cause health issues for people with allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma. Proper mattress cleaning can effectively fight dust mite infestation.

Using a Vacuum Cleaner on Your Mattress

Any homeowner can get a good mattress cleaning using a high quality vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Since dust mites multiply quickly, a thorough vacuuming should be done on a regular basis. Between the mattresses should be vacuumed as well as box springs, under the bed and anywhere the mattress makes contact with the wall. Homeowners whose bedrooms are carpeted most likely need more help with cleaning a mattress since dust mites hide in carpeting.

Using a Steam Cleaner on a Mattress

Steam cleaners, when used with specially designed cleansers, disinfect and deodorize a mattress in addition to killing dust mites. Vapor steam cleaners come in a variety of styles and price ranges and can be a big help with mattress cleaning to help control dust mite infestation. A good cleaner will heat the water to 298 degrees; which is the temperature that also kills any mold and mildew in the mattress. For households with allergy or asthma sufferers, it is especially important to learn how to clean a mattress in a thorough manner.

Hiring a Professional

Hiring professional cleaning services is the best way to get effective mattress cleaning. Employees of professional companies are knowledgeable about health issues that can arise from dust mites and other pollutants found in mattresses. They are trained to use the correct tools to thoroughly clean mattresses and other dust mite hiding places. The vacuums that are used by professionals are more powerful than the average homeowner has at home. Most have filtration systems two times the size of vacuums sold in department stores.

Professional steam cleaning is another way to solve the dilemma of how to clean a mattress well enough to kill dust mites. Most companies use non toxic and natural cleaning solutions that don’t leave a residue that could aggravate allergy symptoms. A professional steam cleaning provides a deep cleaning to your mattress. Professional cleaners also apply an antibacterial and fungicidal spray on the mattress for protection between cleanings.

Mattress Maintenance

Maintaining a mattress that has been cleaned is just as important as knowing how to properly clean a mattress. Bedding should be washed at once a week with water that is at least 130 degrees. Specially designed fitted sheets, called dust mite encasings are effective for dust mite control. Most department stores sell tannic acid which can be sprayed on the mattress to deactivate dust mite feces that can aggravate people with allergies. Since dust mites thrive in conditions where there is a 50 percent or more humidity level, running a dehumidifier is helpful to fight dust mites in between a mattress cleaning to keep the level under 30 percent.

Other Resources for Getting Rid of Dust Mites in a Mattress

How to get rid of things has a good page with solid tips on getting rid of dust mites in a mattress.

The Dust Mite Protection site has a list of tips on getting rid of dust mites in your mattress.

Net Wellness is a university based site with a lot of good advice on fighting dust mites in general.

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How to Clean Your Mattress of Stains

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CC Flickr photo courtesy of duchamp.

Wondering how to clean your mattress of stains? Here are a few tips to get you going.

Although no one certainly likes to talk about it, mattresses can get some ugly and smelly stains on them. If you’re a parent, then you likely can tell some tales about your child’s not-so-nice bed-wetting issues and other accidents, and attest to the fact that mattress cleaning is not the most likeable household chore. Nonetheless, it’s important to remove these stains as quickly as possible.

How to Clean a Mattress and Get Rid of Stains

The products used in the removal of stains depend upon the type of stain, and milder products should always be utilized first before trying stronger ones. First of all, if the warranty on your mattress covers stains, then you need not go through these steps at all. However, if the warranty does not offer this coverage or has expired, then get ready to do a little work.

The first method that you should try on any stain is called the dry suds method. You will need a ¼ cup of mild powdered laundry detergent, a cup of warm water, and an egg beater or other object to rapidly stir the mixture into sudsy foam. Once you have obtained lots of suds, lift some of the foam off the top with a damp sponge and begin to rub it into the stain. Continue rubbing until the stain disappears. You may re-apply additional foam, but be careful to keep the sponge as dry as possible so as not to soak the fabric. Once the stain is removed, wait for the area to dry completely before putting the sheets back on.

Mattress Cleaning and Some Stubborn Stains

If the stain is stubborn, and does not want to lift out of the fabric with the dry suds method, try using upholstery cleaner. Although upholstery cleaner is quite strong, it may be your only resort. Use it carefully. Try to find a biologically-based cleaner that uses enzymes to break down dirt and stains. Follow the instructions on the packaging, and then allow the mattress to dry thoroughly.

Some stains, such as blood, may require even stronger treatments. One of the best ways to remove blood stains from a mattress is the use of hydrogen peroxide. You may wish to test a tiny area of the mattress before beginning the process. Keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide is bleach, and if you don’t want the area that you are treating to turn white, then don’t use it. After applying the hydrogen peroxide, which should now be bubbling, pat the stain with a white towel, working from the outer edges inward. Keep doing so until the entire stain is removed.

Hydrogen peroxide can also be used for urine stains, or you can try white vinegar, which is a lot less caustic. After cleaning, you may also wish to cover the stained area with baking soda to help neutralize any odors. Rub the soda into the fabric so that it goes down as deep as possible.

And there you have it. If you’ve been wondering how to clean a mattress and rid it of those not-so-pleasant stains, hopefully these tips will be useful for you the next time you hear words like, “Mom, I had an accident.”

Other Great Mattress Stain Cleaning Resources

DIY Life has this page about methods of cleaning mattress stains, including blood and urine.

Stain Removal 101 mentions several methods of cleaning stains from a mattress, including using sunlight and a wet vac.

The Mattress Lady also covers several methods of how to clean mattress staining, including using citrus based cleaners.

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Disinfecting Mattresses

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CC Flickr photo courtesy of sarahbaker. Does your mattress need disinfecting like this one?

Is disinfecting mattresses even possible? Let’s see.

It’s important to keep your mattress clean. Just like you would not live with dirty sheets and comforters, you should not put up with an unsanitary mattress. Mattresses gather germs and foreign microorganisms quite rapidly, so it is recommended to give it a good cleaning at least once each month.

You might be thinking, “But, I don’t know how to clean a mattress!” Actually, keeping your mattress clean is quite simple, and there a number of natural methods that can be employed without having to use any strong chemicals that would force you to have to sleep on the sofa until the smell wears off.

Useful Mattress Disinfecting Tips

One of the first things you should do each month besides giving it a thorough vacuuming is to check your mattress for stains. Stains may be removed using a mixture of one part vinegar to one part water. Apply the solution to the stain, being careful not to soak the fabric (otherwise you could cause other problems, such as mildew). Let it sit for a few minutes, and then rub the area with a clean, damp cloth. If any part of the stain remains, repeat the process.

Secondly, utilize a dry steam cleaner to kill any germs, bacteria and dust mites that may be lurking in the fibers. If you’re thinking how to clean a mattress, steam cleaners are great tools, because they do not require the use of any chemicals or solvents, and are effective disinfectants. They also can be used in other locations around the house, so they are a great investment if you don’t already own one.

Don’t forget that there are also UV cleaners designed specifically for cleaning mattresses.

If you plan a thorough mattress cleaning but don’t have time to steam clean, you can use rubbing alcohol as a disinfectant as an alternative. Simply spritz the rubbing alcohol on the mattress and allow it to go to work. It dries quickly and helps to reduce any odors and bacteria.

Lastly, to keep your mattress smelling fresh, sprinkle some baking soda over it and rub it in. You may wish to vacuum off any extra residue as well. Baking soda has long been known as a natural freshener and is very useful if you have a bed-wetter in the house.

Additionally, if your household has been ransacked by cold or flu bugs, be sure to give your mattress a thorough cleaning at the same time that you clean your sheets and comforter. It’s better to “leave no stone unturned” rather than to risk reinfection.

A Clean Mattress is Important for Your Health

Keeping your mattress clean is quite simple and is certainly not time consuming. Just taking approximately 30 minutes once a month to remove stains, kill bacteria, and freshen the fibers is helpful to keep your mattress sanitary. Sure, there are professionals that offer mattress cleaning services, but why spend a lot of money when you can do it yourself with products that you already have around the house? Just a little vinegar, steam, rubbing alcohol and baking soda can make a big difference in the cleanliness of your sleeping environment, and you might even find yourself getting better rest at night as a result!

Advanced Planning Allows for a Truly Disinfected Mattress

There’s a brand of mattress cover called Crypton that is actually EPA registered as a fabric that can be completely disinfected. They make both mattress covers and pillow covers. The mattress covers are both spot cleanable and washable, and also have a proven allergen and moisture barrier. You can buy them in case quantities from the manufacturer, or you can buy them individually at Amazon. Crypton Aloba Full Mattress Pad. Or the Crypton Aloba King Pillow Cover.

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