How to Deep Clean a Mattress

Who else is ready to take spring cleaning to a whole new level? Open those windows, roll up those sleeves and get excited because we’re going to walk through how to deep clean a mattress. Most cleaning routines don’t typically involve the mattress, but this overlooked item gets more use on a daily basis than most of our furniture. If you haven’t been deep cleaning your mattress twice a year, it’s time to start. So, here’s how to deep clean a mattress.

Jessica Ek is the Senior Director of Digital Communications for the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), where she has worked since 2018. She is passionate about using her communications and writing skills to relay the institution’s expertise on cleaning practices to the public.

Sheets and mattress pads aren’t airtight when it comes to protecting mattresses from sweat, spills and dust. Think about it: Sheets and pillowcases go through the wash every couple of weeks (every two weeks is ideal). So, consider what’s hiding underneath the surface, inside and on top of the mattress, if you’ve never washed it. Yikes. 

Studies have shown bedding and mattresses could be the culprits behind some allergies, colds and illnesses. Amerisleep reports sheets that are one week old already have more bacteria on them than a bathroom doorknob. One study found certain feathered pillows produce prime conditions for fungi growth. Another study revealed simply turning from one side to the other in the night can launch stagnant dust and dirt particles into the air. Well…shoot.

The good news is we’re about to show you how to deep clean a mattress so you can fall asleep at night without worrying about bacteria, skin cells, pet dander, dust mites, fungus and more—oh, my!

If your mattress does not have any specific stains, smells or pests to tackle, this is the standard process for you.

• Step 1: Remove All of Your Bedding From the Mattress
  This includes any mattress pad or protector you might have. (If you don’t have a mattress pad, make that your next purchase. They can’t keep everything out, but they do offer some protection against mites and bacteria working their way in.)
• Step 2: Vacuum the Top and Sides of the Mattress
  To do this I recommend you use a freshly sanitized vacuum attachment that’s designed for upholstery. Move-in slow circles to pick up as much as possible.
• Step 3: Sprinkle the Mattress Top with a Layer of Baking Soda
  Let this sit for several hours. If you’re able, add some sunlight and let it sit for a full 24 hours. Baking soda deodorizes, removes moisture and breaks up dirt and grime. If this is the first time you’ve ever deep cleaned your mattress, Mattress Insider says it’s OK to use an entire one-pound box of baking soda.
• Step 4: Vacuum Again
  Using the same attachment, give the mattress a thorough once over with your vacuum cleaner to pick up all the baking soda.
• Step 5: Air Out the Bedroom
  Open the windows or turn on a fan to ensure the freshly deodorized mattress airs out thoroughly.
• Step 6: Clean the Bed Frame and Box Spring
  Wipe down metal and wood frames and vacuum fabric headboards.
• Step 7: Place Clean Bedding Back on the Bed
  Before doing so, be sure that it has been washed in hot water and dried on high heat, as advised by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Voila, you’re done! (Just keep in mind that it’s recommended to do this type of deep clean every six months.)

Stains make things a little trickier, but not much. You’re just adding another step or two to the general deep clean. Before sprinkling the mattress with baking soda to sit overnight (or a few hours), you can spot clean.

• Step 1: Blot Up Any Remaining Moisture with a Clean Cloth
  If the stain is still wet or fresh, use a clean cloth to dab up any moisture. Don’t rub, just blot.

• Step 2: Choose or Prepare a Stain Remover
  Make sure you pick a preparation that’s best-suited to your particular stain. For instance, bodily fluids require very different solutions to effectively diminish stains than wine or tea. (More on that below.)

• Step 3: Spray a Clean Cloth with the Solution
  Don’t apply the cleaner (or water) directly to the mattress, says Architectural Digest. You don’t want any excess moisture on your mattress.

• Step 4: Dab the Cloth onto the Stain to Soak it Up
  Again, don’t rub or move the cloth in circles. You just want to blot up and down. Rubbing only pushes the stain further into the fibers.

• Step 5: Wet a New Cloth with Water 
  Ring it out so it’s not damp or dripping. (Again, the less moisture the better.)

• Step 6: Dab the Wet Cloth onto the Stain
  This will help to soak up both the stain and the cleaner. Be thorough and don’t forget to use that blotting or dabbing motion. No rubbing allowed!

• Step 7: Let Dry Completely and Finish with the Baking Soda Method
  After you let the mattress dry, you’ll need to finish the job with the baking soda method described in the deep cleaning process above.

If you’re dealing with bodily fluid (pet accidents, period stains, flu catastrophe), enzymatic cleaners and cold water are your best friends. If you don’t have an enzymatic cleaner on hand, there are household items you can combine to create one on your own. Combining equal parts water and vinegar into a spray bottle works wonders on pungent stains, like pet urine.

Steam cleaning may come in handy for hard-to-remove stains from food, beverages or art supplies. Simply replace the second vacuuming step with steam cleaning. Be sure to use a steam cleaner designed for use on fabrics and porous surfaces. Water or steam above 70 degrees Fahrenheit is also hot enough to kill dust mites, which is obviously a huge bonus.

In general, hydrogen peroxide, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, laundry detergent and dish soap can be combined to create effective solutions for any number of stains. Always test your homemade (and store-bought!) cleaner on a small spot first, before dousing an entire section of your mattress in it. Looks good? Use it at your leisure.

Pro tip: No matter the source, the sooner you tackle the stain, the easier it will be to eradicate completely.

If there’s the lingering stench from an old spill, accident or pet, an enzymatic cleaner is best, as mentioned above. Vinegar and water should do the trick, but should you find yourself at a loss for what to try next, consider this concoction from Mattress Insider:

• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon laundry detergent
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 drop disinfectant

Afterwards, spot treat the area again with a large heap of baking soda and let it sit overnight if possible, before vacuuming up. If the smell is the result of sweat or body odor, mix cornstarch in with the baking soda. Mattress Insider says cornstarch is effective in drying up oils.

Pro tip: Tossing a few drops of your favorite essential oil into these mixtures or during the baking soda step is totally an option.

Some companies, like Stanley Steamer, do provide deep mattress cleaning services. If you’ve tried everything and aren’t sure why a smell sticks around or stubborn stains remain, it may be worth looking into a professional cleaning before kicking your mattress to the curb.

Since vacuuming plays such a big role in how to deep clean a mattress, it may be necessary to invest in one that really gets the job done. Consumer Reports states the Dyson V6 Mattress Handheld Vacuum is almost three times as effective in sucking up dust than a standard vacuum.

The next time you change your sheets, leave them off for a few hours to let your mattress air out. Again, if you can prop it up near a sunny, open window, this is ideal.

Mites, bacteria, fungi and mold love warm, moist spaces. Dropping your bedroom temperature a few degrees can kill off some of these tiny terrors.

Ever sit in bed with your laptop on your lap? Ever place your phone next to your pillow? Those electronics can also carry nasty germs and bacteria. Wipe these down with disinfectant wipes or sprays that contain at least 70 percent alcohol before hopping under the covers with them.

Specialty mattresses from companies like Sleep Number and Casper may have their own guide on how to deep clean a mattress. Be sure to check with your manufacturer so you don’t miss out on specific steps or warnings.

Pee can completely destroy a mattress. Trust me, I know: I was once confronted with a peed-on crib mattress so rank it had to be immediately removed from my home and replaced with a new one the same day because I didn’t know how to clean it properly and let it sit too long. That said, the expert from the American Cleaning Institute tells us that a nighttime accident doesn’t have to spell doom for the bed.

 “For a stain like urine, sweat, or blood, a stain remover with enzymes can help break up the stain to remove it more easily. Let the stain remover work, then follow the product directions to blot and lift the stain,” says Jessica, adding that “If that does not remove all of the stain, you can go through the process again or try an oxygen bleach if it is safe for the mattress material.” It’s also worth noting that, while it might be tempting to just invite your kid into your own bed and opt to deal with the pee accident in the AM, this is not advisable. The longer that urine sits, the more likely you are to end up with a hazmat suit-worthy situation like the one I experienced. Brew yourself some coffee and deal with the situation, stat.

We’re not trying to tip-off cold-hearted killers here, but blood stains on mattresses can occur for other (fairly obvious) reasons—you know, like when that special monthly visit from the bleeding vagina fairy catches you off guard. The expert’s recommendation for this type of stain is identical to the information given above for pee stains. In other words, enzymatic cleaners are your friend and time is of the essence, so act fast.

As previously mentioned, bodily fluids are best treated with an enzymatic cleaner, while other stains (wine, coffee, what have you) can be tackled with bleach (non-chlorine or regular, depending on the material). When it comes to how to deep clean a mattress, It’s also never a bad idea to soak up the stain with baking soda, regardless of the cleaning product you pick. That said, when it comes to the right product for your mattress, it’s always best to consult the manufacturer to find out which cleaning solutions the material can best tolerate.

Per the expert, a mattress should be deep cleaned one to two times per year. This means vacuuming to remove any loose dirt or dust and lightly spraying the mattress with a fabric freshener—preferably one designed to reduce allergens from pollen and dust mites. We have outlined the process above, but Jessica summarizes it succinctly: “vacuum and spray one side and wait until the mattress is dry; then, flip it over and vacuum and mist the other side. If there is an odor, apply baking soda and let it sit before vacuuming it up for a true deep clean.”

In general, the cost of deep cleaning a mattress shouldn’t cost anything more than the cleaning materials themselves (i.e., baking soda, enzymatic or other fabric cleaner and your trusty vacuum). However, Jessica does concede that there are situations where you might need to call in the big guns: “If your mattress is still dirty or has an odor, steam cleaning can also help and this is usually a good time to call in a professional.” As for what that will cost you—it depends on where you live and what particular cleaning service you pick, so do your research and take it from there.

This one is pretty straightforward: get a mattress pad and a waterproof or water-resistant mattress protector. Both products provide significant protection and they are a lot less expensive than a brand new mattress. When it comes to shopping for a mattress protector, Jessica recommends looking for ones that offer dust mite protection, and also notes that, in some cases, the best form of protection is to have some ground rules in place, like placing a ban on food and drink in bed. (Wine is my ride or die bedside friend, though, so you’ll find me shopping for a mattress protector…like now.)

In short, deep cleaning a mattress isn’t nearly as onerous a process as it might seem. If you have a bodily fluid stain, make sure to have an enzymatic cleaner on hand, and for other stains (i.e., the food and beverage-related type) opt for baking soda, gentle blotting and, if necessary, a bleach product that fits the manufacturer’s instructions for fabric care. The most important thing? Invest in a high-quality, water-resistant mattress protector that will keep allergies at bay and your mattress safe from accidental damage.