Taking routine care of your mattress

First, we must understand that routine care of a mattress is crucial for our health, sleep comfort, and the longevity of the mattress itself. Regular maintenance not only helps keep the mattress in good condition but also provides better support for the body and can contribute to improved sleep quality.

Here’s why it’s so important:

1. Health: A mattress can accumulate dust, mites, allergens, and other contaminants that can negatively impact health, especially for people suffering from allergies or asthma.
2. Sleep Comfort: A mattress that wears unevenly can lead to discomfort and disrupt sleep.
3. Mattress Longevity: Regular care significantly extends the life of a mattress. Neglected mattresses can quickly lose their supportive and comfort properties, meaning they might need to be replaced sooner.
4. Hygiene: A clean mattress equates to a hygienic sleeping environment.

It’s understandable that we often forget about our mattress and the responsibilities we have towards it to keep it in proper condition. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking care of it as the benefits are substantial. Spending one-third of our lives on a mattress, we are often not fully aware of the huge impact it has on our lives. In fact, the mattress is often responsible for the quality of sleep, back pain, infections, or allergies. And all this due to neglecting a few simple routine steps that require no special equipment or skills.

Routine care of your mattress: Simple steps that can save you money

Mattress Protector: Buy With Your Mattress, Don’t Wait

A high-quality mattress protector is crucial for shielding your mattress from spills, stains, and wear, thereby preventing damage and prolonging its life. It acts as an additional barrier between your bedding and the mattress itself. This prevents dirt from reaching the surface and interior of the mattress and also protects the top layer from abrasion due to friction and colour transfer from sheets. Typically fitted with a latex membrane, it provides an excellent barrier against sweat and any liquid mishaps. Maintaining it is straightforward—most protectors are machine washable—making upkeep remarkably simple. Indeed, a protector stops 90% of dust mites and dead skin from accumulating, making it a vital component of your bedding ensemble.

Rotate and Flip Your Mattress Regularly

The mattress should be rotated 180 degrees and flipped over (if possible) every 3-6 months to maintain its proper structure and resilience. This task isn’t always easy, especially with larger mattresses that can be quite heavy, but it’s a necessary one. We often have our sleeping habits and tend to position ourselves the same way each night. If you sleep with a partner, you may have different body weights—this can lead to uneven wear and sagging, which significantly affects the mattress’s longevity and sleeping comfort.

Vacuuming Your Mattress

Vacuuming your mattress is an essential task that should not be overlooked every time you change your bedding. Whether you use a mattress protector or not, always vacuum your mattress! Dead skin cells provide nourishment for bacteria, and when combined with moisture and mineral salts from our sweat, they create an ideal environment for entire colonies of potentially harmful bacteria to thrive. Every time you change your bedding, wash your mattress protector and thoroughly vacuum the mattress. It’s not uncommon to find mattresses that have never been vacuumed, and after a few years, you could collect up to 500g of dead skin cells from a mattress that doesn’t even appear to be very neglected. Regular vacuuming is important; it helps prevent the formation of large yellow stains and significantly improves the hygiene of your mattress.

Your Mattress Breaths: Air it Out

Allowing your mattress to breathe is a simple yet effective way to maintain its freshness and longevity. Periodically airing out your mattress involves stripping off all bedding and letting it sit uncovered for a few hours. Ideally, do this in a well-ventilated room with open windows to facilitate airflow. This process helps to:

Evaporate Moisture: Over time, mattresses can accumulate moisture from sweat and environmental humidity. Airing it out helps evaporate this moisture, preventing mould and mildew growth.

Eliminate Odours: Fresh air can help dispel any lingering odours trapped within the mattress fibers,

Reduce Allergen Build-Up: Exposing the mattress to sunlight, when possible, can also help reduce the presence of dust mites and other allergens, as sunlight has natural sanitising properties.

Regular Professional Cleaning of Your Mattress

Your mattress should be professionally cleaned once a year. This task should be carried out by a specialist, as only they can choose the appropriate method and chemical solution for the type of stains and, most importantly, the material of the mattress’s top layer and filling. Professional cleaning ensures that the mattress is thoroughly cleaned without causing damage, helping to maintain its hygiene, comfort, and longevity.

Many households invest in their own equipment for cleaning carpets and upholstery, but these devices often lack the suction and rinsing power needed to effectively reach the deeper layers of a mattress. They tend to produce too much water, which they cannot fully extract. As a result, a soaked mattress can take a long time to dry, often leading to the development of mold. Initially invisible, this mold can surface on the top layer of the mattress after a few months. Additionally, on more expensive mattresses, the top layer or filling might be made from delicate fibers, such as wool or viscose, and standard household cleaning chemicals could be too harsh, causing permanent damage like discoloration or yellowing.

This is why professional cleaning is recommended, as it ensures the right techniques and products are used to protect and maintain your mattress. 

Common Problems: Urine Accidents and Sweat Stains on Mattresses

These are the two most frequent issues we encounter when cleaning mattresses. Urine accidents can happen for a variety of reasons: perhaps your husband had a bit too much fun at a party, the grandkids stayed over for the night, or your mischievous cat decided it doesn’t like your new boyfriend. Regardless of the cause, these accidents can lead to unpleasant odours and stubborn stains that, if not treated promptly, can seep deep into the mattress, making them more difficult to remove. The moisture can also create a breeding ground for bacteria and mould, potentially impacting your health and the lifespan of your mattress.

Both cases share a common end result: a yellow stain. In the case of urine, an additional problem is the unpleasant odour caused by the presence of ammonia and the bacteria that develop in the urine. A urine stain forms immediately as a result of an accident, whereas a sweat stain develops over a longer period. This gradual staining occurs due to the combination of moisture and mineral salts present in sweat combined with dead skin, as well as the activity of bacteria multiplying over time. These differences in how the stains form highlight the need for both immediate and ongoing attention to keep your mattress clean and fresh.

Sweat or Urine stain: Don’t Panic!

It’s a stressful situation when you discover that such an accident has occurred. But first and foremost, don’t panic! Panicking won’t help and can often lead to mistakes, especially when we don’t fully understand the nature of the problem. The most important thing to start with is to properly assess the situation. Acting in haste can cause us to overlook key steps in the cleaning process or use the wrong methods, which might make the issue worse. Taking a moment to evaluate the severity of the stain and the type of damage will guide you in choosing the most effective cleaning approach, ensuring a better outcome.

Superficial or Severe?

When dealing with a stain on your mattress, it’s crucial to determine whether the issue is superficial or severe. Superficial stains are those that remain on the surface of the mattress, typically caused by minor accidents that are quickly addressed. These stains are easier to clean and usually don’t penetrate deeply into the mattress layers. You can try to tackle this on your own.

On the other hand, severe stains occur when urine seeps deeper into the mattress, often because the accident wasn’t noticed right away or due to a significant amount of liquid. These stains not only affect the appearance but can also lead to lingering odours and the growth of bacteria or mould, making them much harder to remove. Here you should call professional mattress cleaner straight away.

Still Fresh or Already Dry?

When addressing a mattress stain, another key consideration is whether the stain is still fresh or has already dried. Fresh stains are much easier to handle as the moisture is still present, allowing you to blot up the excess liquid and treat the area before it has a chance to set. Quick action on a fresh stain can often prevent it from becoming a long-term problem, reducing the likelihood of odours and deep penetration into the mattress.

In contrast, dry stains present a bigger challenge. Once the liquid has dried, it can be more difficult to lift the stain and remove any associated odours. Dried stains might have already penetrated deeper into the mattress layers. Again determining the stage of the stain—whether fresh or dry—will guide you in choosing the appropriate cleaning strategy.

DIY Urine and Sweat Stain Removal Process

Every accident is different, and assessing the situation is crucial. If you decide to use home remedies to deal with the presence of urine in your mattress, it’s important to understand that this approach, often recommended online, is not a one-size-fits-all solution. When the problem is superficial and your mattress does not contain wool, cotton or viscose, I recommend following the steps outlined below. In other cases, this method may not be effective and could even make the situation worse—the affected area might spread, and the urine could penetrate deeper into the mattress, making it harder to remove. I would call professional to deal with the problem. 

The process I’m presenting here is based on materials you can usually find around the house, meaning you’re typically ready to take action straight away.

Materials Needed:

• Clean towels or paper towels
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Vacuum cleaner

Optional: mild detergent or enzyme-based cleaner and wet vac 

Step 1: Blot the Area
If the stain is still fresh, start by blotting up as much urine as possible. Use clean towels or paper towels to absorb the liquid. Press gently but firmly, and avoid rubbing, as this can push the urine deeper into the mattress. Continue blotting until no more liquid comes up.

Step 2: Apply a Vinegar Solution
In a spray bottle, mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray this solution generously over the stained area. The vinegar helps to neutralize the ammonia in the urine, eliminating odours and disinfecting the area. Allow the solution to sit for about 10-15 minutes.

Step 3: Blot Again
After allowing the vinegar solution to sit, blot the area again with clean towels to remove excess moisture.

Step 4: Apply Baking Soda
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the damp area. Baking soda will help absorb any remaining moisture and further neutralize the odour. For best results, leave the baking soda on the mattress for several hours, or ideally overnight.

Step 5: Vacuum the Mattress
Once the baking soda has had time to work, use a vacuum cleaner to thoroughly remove it from the mattress. Make sure to vacuum up all the baking soda to avoid any residue.

Step 6: Inspect and Repeat if Necessary
After vacuuming, check the mattress to see if the stain or odour persists. If so, you may need to repeat the process, especially if the stain was severe. 

Optional: Use an Enzyme-Based Cleaner
For particularly stubborn stains, consider using an enzyme-based cleaner designed to break down organic materials, such as urine. Follow the product instructions, and ensure the mattress is thoroughly dry before making the bed again.

Step 7: Allow the Mattress to Dry Completely
Ensure the mattress is completely dry before putting on sheets or a mattress protector. You can speed up the drying process by using a fan or opening windows to increase air circulation.