Let’s be totally honest here. When it comes to your mattress, accidents will happen. Stains are inevitable. Your mattress is exposed to all kinds of things — oil from your skin, hair products, drool, sweat, and more. Add allergens from mites and dust and things are even worse. No matter what the stain is from, it’s important to get it out as soon as possible. No one likes sleeping or lounging on a soiled mattress. Not removing the stain right away can cause bacteria to grow, leading to a bad smell. So, how to clean your mattress?

Most stains can be removed using a few everyday ingredients that you probably already have around the house. The following tips can help you take on any stain, whether your mattress is memory foam, latex, organic or pocket sprung.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

In the future, buying a mattress protector is a simple and effective way to prevent stains from occurring. Nowadays, you can not only buy mattress protectors that are waterproof but can also breathe, therefore allowing for a more comfortable and cooler sleep.

But if you haven’t used a mattress protector and you find yourself in front of a stained mattress situation, here are some tips that could help.

Stain Removal Basics

Removing the most common stains on your mattress doesn’t involve complicated rocket science. There are just a few basics to remember when lifting the stain:

• Always dab to lift liquid. Avoid aggressive scrubbing.
• Use a sponge or cloth. Paper towels tend to shred apart.
• Never drench or soak the mattress. This will lead to bacteria growth and/or mould.
• Cool-wash sheets and bed lines. Hot water sets in stains.
• Vacuum to lift excess dirt. Use your vacuum’s upholstery tool to vacuum any loose debris from the mattress.
• Air out your mattress. Sunshine and fresh air are two of the best ways to get rid of odours. So, if it’s sunny out, take your mattress outside and let it air dry in the sunshine for a couple of hours.

Removing Most Common Stains on Your Mattress

Here is an overview of how to remove just about any stain from your mattress.

Urine

If you’ve got kids, you’ve likely dealt with bedwetting accidents. Unfortunately, sometimes the stain doesn’t get noticed until the morning. As soon as you notice the stain, do the following:

1. Immediately remove the entire bedding and begin pressing and blotting the mattress area to absorb the wetness.
2. Next, take 8 ounces (227 ml) of hydrogen peroxide, a drop of liquid dish soap and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Put all the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well and spray.
3. Allow the cleaning solution to settle into the mattress for about 15 minutes. You should see a reaction from the cleaning solution working. Then, remove with a sponge, and allow it to dry.

If that doesn’t work, you can try a cleaning solution containing equal parts of white vinegar and water.

1. Spray on the area and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
2. Blot it with a cloth, and then sprinkle baking soda to sop up any odour.
3. Use a vacuum to remove the powder.

Cat and Dog Pee

We all love our pets, but sometimes our feline and canine friends leave behind some unwanted urine.

1. Take a rag to blot up the pet pee, and then make a solution of one to one vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spritz the solution over the soiled area and blot up the area again.
2. Next, sprinkle baking soda over the stain.
3. In another spray bottle, add about a quarter of a cup of hydrogen peroxide, and mix in a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. Drizzle this mixture over the soiled area on top of the baking soda.
4. Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, and then, blot it again.
5. When the mattress is dry, vacuum up the powdery mix.

Sweat

Over time, sweat can cause mattresses to become discoloured. When your mattress is sweat-stained, it’ll turn yellowish. Moisture from your body can also leave your mattress smelling musty. So, here’s what to do if your mattress is stained with sweat:

1. Spray the stain with equal parts of water, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid dish soap.
2. Don’t saturate the mattress. Spray just enough to wet the stain.
3. Let the mixture soak for about 20 minutes.
4. Take a clean rag and blot the area dry.
5. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain. Let the baking soda sit on the stain for 24 hours.
6. After the baking soda has absorbed the moisture, vacuum the mattress.

Blood

Wondering how to remove menstrual stains from your bedsheets? The important thing is to work fast. Always use cold water when removing blood from a mattress. Do not use warm or hot water. Cold water will help to dissolve blood proteins.

1. Prep the stain. Before you start, take a rag and soak as much liquid from the mattress as possible. Blotting is important. Don’t rub the stain, as it will work the blood deeper into the mattress.
2. Next, fill a spray bottle with cold water. Don’t wet the mattress a lot. Just spritz it. Then, use a rag to blot at the stain.

Usually, cold water is enough to get out blood stains. However, if that doesn’t work, you can try the following:

1. Mix ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon each of table salt and dish soap. When you combine these ingredients, it will form a paste-like mixture.
2. Rub this mixture into the stain. Let it sit on the stain until dry.
3. Once the area is dry, scrape up the paste and then vacuum the mattress.

Tip: If the stain doesn’t come out the first time with the peroxide mixture, you can apply it multiple times.

Vomit

This is another unfortunate accident but can be remedied quickly. First, strip sheets and blankets from the bed, and toss them into the wash.

1. Next, make a cleaning solution containing equal parts of white vinegar and water into a spray bottle.
2. Spray the soiled area of the mattress, and blot with a clean towel.
3. Repeat this step until the stain has been removed.
4. Afterward, sprinkle some baking soda to absorb any lingering odours.
5. An hour later, vacuum the powder away.

What If the Stain Won’t Come Out?

Some stubborn, old stains just won’t budge — no matter how hard you try to remove them. Pet stains can be especially hard to remove. It might be a good idea to hire professional cleaners to try to take the stains out. However, that sometimes doesn’t work either. Your mattress should be fresh and ultra-comfortable— especially since you probably spend an average of eight hours a night on it.

To find the best mattress that you’ve ever slept on, check out our selection online. We carry a large variety of mattresses for every budget from top brands.

Gerry, Your Sleep Expert