Woolite Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner Stain Remover

Did you know most people spend one-third of their lives asleep in their beds? As such, your mattress will inevitably get quite dirty as it collects dirt, grime, and bodily fluids, even if they’re not visible to the naked eye.

Eventually, unsightly stains and offensive smells can prove to not only be unhygienic to sleep amongst but also potentially hazardous for your health. Fortunately, you can take steps to deep clean your mattress to continue to safely sleep on it in a more pleasant state.

Cleaning your mattress may seem like a tedious process, but it’s fortunately not that complicated. According to Alex Savy, a sleep science coach and founder of SleepingOcean (a sleep product review site in Toronto), dry baking soda is an easy tool that can help to deodorize a mattress.

You can also make a baking soda paste to spot-clean your mattress by mixing baking soda with a bit of water and a few drops of dishwashing soap, Savy says. The paste has to be thick and not overly wet so you can spread it over any stains, rub it in, and leave it for around 30 minutes. Next, remove the paste using a damp cloth and let the mattress dry.

“These steps are enough for general cleaning,” he says. “If the spots aren’t that stubborn, readers can dilute the dishwashing solution with water and use this mix to spot-clean the mattress.”

If the stains are more serious (like old urine or blood) Savy suggests mixing water with white vinegar (1:1) or baking soda with hydrogen peroxide (3 tbs + 1 cup) to give your mattress a deeper clean. Then transfer either of these mixtures into a spray bottle. Don’t overdo it on spraying the stain; it has to end up slightly damp and not soaked through before you let it dry, Savy says.

When it comes to giving your mattress a stronger deep clean, you’ll have to break out the big guns and use a steam cleaner, says Dean Davies, a professional mattress cleaning expert at Fantastic Services in London. The first step is to fill the steamer with water and turn it on until it reaches 212°F (no higher, as that, can damage the mattress surface). Before you steam clean your mattress, do a small patch test and wait 15 minutes before proceeding. 

“The push-and-pull technique is best while working the steamer across the mattress. Once the surface of the mattress has been thoroughly cleaned, it is time to leave it to dry,” he explains. “Leave the mattress for a couple of hours or more – the longer, the better – to ensure that there are no stray moisture spots before bedtime.” 

When deep cleaning your mattress, it can also be helpful to leave the mattresses in the sun for a few hours, Savy adds. 

“Sunrays act as a disinfectant and can reduce bacteria and fungus inside the mattress,” he explains. “Simply opening the windows and placing the mattress in the sunlight can be enough [to reap this benefit, but taking the] mattress outside will also help air it out.”

At the same time, Savy advises against doing this if humidity is high, and to make sure you place it on a clean surface such as a large plastic sheet or a blanket if you are trying this trick.  

Lastly, it’s also crucial to clean the bed frame, Savy says. If it’s upholstered, you can vacuum it (including all corners and the slats). If the frame is wooden or metal, you can clean it using a damp cloth.

When it comes to deep-cleaning a mattress, you’ll typically need to go beyond soap and water. There are various high-quality products on the market that will get the job done, including:

Resolve Multi-Fabric Cleaner and Upholstery Stain Remover

This concentrated formula is strong enough to lift dirt and stains from mattresses, receiving rave reviews for this use on Amazon. 

This cleaner has a strong chemical scent that might be an issue for people with sensitivities, Savy says. “It can deal with fresh stains but isn’t that effective when it comes to older spots (especially blood and urine),” he warns.

Woolite Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner Stain Remover

In Savy’s experience, this product, which contains alcohol, can deal with most stains, Savy says.  “It also has a relatively pleasant scent, making the cleaning process a bit less stressful,” he says.

ForceField Fabric Cleaner - Professional Strength

This is an excellent find for people who have old stains on their mattresses, as it can effectively remove urine stains and odor, vomit, old sweat stains, and even blood stains, Savy says. “The best part is that this solution isn’t likely to damage the mattress cover,” he says.

BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

This portable carpet cleaning tool uses suction and scrubbing action to remove stubborn spots, stains and dirt from various surfaces, including mattresses. It comes with deep and tough stain tools and two bottles of cleaning formula.

Hoover Spotless Portable Carpet & Upholstery Spot Cleaner

This cleaner is powerful enough to deal with stubborn stains, Savy says. At the same time, the hose attachment is safe for the fabric and won’t damage it. “It’s also worth mentioning that the Hoover cleaner isn’t very heavy, making it easy to move,” he says.

Memory foam can be tougher to clean, as it’s made of denser material that can take a while to dry. As such, you may want to wait until you’re dealing with serious stains or odors. You can use the above solutions, but less is more, in this case, Savy says.

“When cleaning a memory foam mattress, avoiding aggressive solutions is crucial, [so] it’s better to dilute vinegar or hydrogen peroxide a bit more,” Savy says. "It’s also essential not to make the stain too damp."

Memory foam mattresses also tend to be less breathable than other types, leading to increased moisture accumulation, so it’s also crucial to avoid soaking the stain too much, he adds. Finally, memory foam mattresses may require more time to dry. Make sure your mattress is completely dry before replacing your bedding and mattress cover.