How to deep clean a mattress
To deep clean a mattress, strip off and wash all the bedding, then vacuum the whole mattress slowly with the upholstery tool, seams and edges included. Spot-clean stains with as little moisture as you can, sprinkle baking soda over the top, and leave it several hours. Vacuum it up, let the mattress air out with a window open, and remake the bed only once it's fully dry.
You sleep on it every night. Twice a year is a reasonable rhythm for the deep clean.
What do you need?
- A vacuum with an upholstery tool and a crevice tool
- Baking soda, a full box for a queen
- A fine sieve or shaker for spreading it
- Dish soap and cool water
- An enzyme cleaner for body-fluid stains
- White cloths for blotting
- A spray bottle
- A fan, or a window you can open
How do you deep clean a mattress, step by step?
- Strip the bed. Sheets, pillowcases, the mattress protector and the duvet cover all go in the wash, as hot as the labels allow.
- Vacuum slowly. Use the upholstery tool across the whole top in overlapping rows. Run the crevice tool along every seam, the piping and the edges, where dust and skin collect.
- Spot-clean stains. See the next section. Work with a cloth, not by pouring or spraying a lot of liquid on the mattress.
- Baking soda. Shake a thin, even layer over the whole top. Leave it at least a few hours; overnight is better if you can sleep elsewhere.
- Vacuum it up. Slowly, the same overlapping rows, then the seams again.
- Air it out. Open a window, run a fan, and give it some daylight if the room gets sun.
- Flip or rotate if your mattress is made for it. Check the maker's directions.
- Do the other side if it's a two-sided mattress.
- Remake the bed only when the mattress is completely dry.
How do you get stains out of a mattress?
Blot, never rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and roughs up the fabric.
- Sweat and yellowing: a few drops of dish soap in cool water. Dampen a cloth, blot, then blot with a clean damp cloth to rinse, and dry with a towel.
- Urine and other body fluids: an enzyme cleaner, applied and left as the label directs, then blotted. Enzyme cleaners break down the source of the smell.
- Blood: cool water, never hot, which sets it. Blot with cool water and a little dish soap.
- Food and drink: blot up what you can, then the dish soap and cool water.
Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, and use as little liquid as you can. A mattress that stays damp can mildew.
What about memory foam?
Foam holds moisture and dries slowly, so keep water to a minimum. Vacuum it, spot-clean with a cloth that's barely damp, freshen it with baking soda, and follow the maker's care directions. Never soak it.
What if you can't move the mattress?
You don't need to. In a Philadelphia rowhome or trinity with a narrow, winding stair, getting a queen mattress outside to air isn't happening. Everything above works with the mattress on the bed frame: lift one side to vacuum the edges, open the window, and run a fan.
How do you keep a mattress cleaner?
- Use a washable mattress protector, and wash it every month or two.
- Wash the sheets weekly.
- Vacuum the mattress every month or two, when you rotate it.
- Keep food and drinks off the bed.
- Let the bed air for a few minutes in the morning before you pull the covers up.
For the rest of the room, see our 10 bedroom cleaning hacks.
Want the bedroom deep cleaned?
Book Deep Cleaning online. If the mattress is a priority, ask about it when you book and put it in your booking notes.
FAQ
How do you deep clean a mattress at home? Strip and wash all the bedding, vacuum the whole mattress slowly with the upholstery tool, spot-clean any stains with as little moisture as possible, sprinkle baking soda over the top and leave it several hours, then vacuum it up and let the mattress air out before you remake the bed.
How do you get stains out of a mattress? Blot, never rub. For sweat or food, use a little dish soap in cool water on a cloth. For urine or other body fluids, use an enzyme cleaner as the label directs. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot, use as little liquid as you can, and let it dry fully.
How often should you clean a mattress? Vacuum it every month or two, or each time you rotate it, and give it a full deep clean every six months. Use a washable mattress protector to keep it cleaner in between.
Can you deep clean a memory foam mattress? Yes, but keep water to a minimum, because foam holds moisture and dries slowly. Vacuum it, spot-clean with a barely damp cloth, use baking soda to freshen it, and follow the maker's care directions.
Can I book a deep clean in Philadelphia? Yes. Book Deep Cleaning online, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day. If the mattress is a priority, ask about it when you book and put it in your booking notes.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
