Cleaning and maintaining your mattress is the secret to your mattress lasting for its full expected lifetime. It is not hard to keep your mattress free of bacteria and smelling fresh. Before we begin with the ways you can clean and maintain your mattress, there are a few other points that should be covered. It is important to know when your mattress has seen its better days and should be thrown out. Generally, a mattress that you have owned for much longer than five years should most likely be replaced.

Mattress Tips

Prior to beginning the cleaning process, read the label on the mattress. Do not use laundry detergent, soap or any household detergents when you are cleaning. All of these could cause damage to your mattress.

Dry cleaning

If you want to avoid the many hours that it would take to thoroughly clean your mattress by hand, you can purchase a professional dry cleaner. This will save you both effort and time. Small amounts of liquid are used during the dry cleaning process. Bacteria, dust mites and fungi that make their homes in damp areas are not able to spread because of the lack of moisture. The fabrics are deoderized thanks to the use of professional shampoos. However, a professional dry cleaner is out of many people's price range. Fortunately, there are many other cleaning options that are available. You can hire a person that specializes in the professional cleaning of mattresses. You can also follow some of the other methods that are listed in this article. Your lungs, eyes and skin will not be harmed by the drying agent that is used during the process of dry cleaning. This is because mainly upholsteries are cleaned by dry cleaning. Dust mites and bacteria are killed almost immediately by dry cleaning. This will help lessen allergy symptoms that are being experienced by some people.

Mattress cleaning by hand

1. Baking soda

Heavy cleaning of your mattress will most likely not be necessary. This is because other parts of your home will usually have far greater levels of contamination than your mattress. To eliminate various types of stains, put two tablespoons of water and two tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl. Mix them together until you get a substance that resembles a paste. Take some of the paste and apply it to the stain. Allow one hour for the paste to work on the stain before you rinse it off. Be sure to use a minimal amount of water. White vinegar can be applied with a paper towel to areas where the paste has begun to stick to your mattress.

2. Oxygen bleach

Using warm water and oxygen bleach is an effective way to remove stains that are giving you problems. Oxygen molecules are activated by the water. This allows dirt and debris to be removed easier because the debris binds with the oxygen molecules. Allow the bleach time to work before rinsing it off the mattress.

Maintaining your mattress

Rotating your mattress roughly every four months is one of the primary ways to ensure that your mattress always remains fresh and clean (Some mattresses should not be turned, check with manufacturer). Parasites will often start to make their home in the upper regions of a mattress. The best way to prevent this from happening is to change and vacuum the cover to your mattress once every week. Many microscopic organisms like to reproduce in environments that have a nice amount of moisture. Therefore, it is imperative that you always keep your mattress dry. Try to place your bed in a part of your room where the sun can shine through the window and eliminate any moisture.

Simon Johnson is dedicated to the Perfect Nights Sleep at My Next Mattress