It can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep in the summer when it gets hot and there’s lots of pollen around – but one way to help is to ensure your mattress is clean.
Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, has shared that cleaning a mattress is often an overlooked household chore but needs to be done regularly to prevent the build-up of bacteria.
She said: “Your mattress needs a little TLC because it can harbour dust mites, dead skin, dirt, bodily fluids, and other debris, it is important to give your mattress a regular clean, particularly if you suffer from allergies or allow your pet onto the bed.”
A thorough cleaning should be done every season according to Lysney, but she also highly recommends giving it a quick clean every month to help make sure you are getting a comfortable night’s rest.
Lynsey said: “Cleaning your mattress may come across as a big cleaning job but it is far easier than you may think.
How to clean a mattress
It is incredibly simple to clean a mattress and the task can be broken down into three tasks, which are to hoover it, clean up any stains and then dry clean the mattress using a carpet cleaner, but there is an alternative measure you can take if you do not own one.
To begin, strip the bed of everything and use the upholstery attachment of a vacuum to thoroughly go over the mattress and get into the crevices.
Lynsey said: “Start by vacuuming your mattress, use the upholstery attachment and go over the entire surface, including the sides, make sure you pay attention to the seams as this is where hidden dirt may hide and dust will settle.”
Next, examine the mattress and spot clean any stains using a simple homemade solution of hydrogen peroxide, washing up liquid and water. Simply fill an empty spray bottle with 20ml of hydrogen peroxide, a few drops of washing-up liquid and water then screw on the lid tight.
Lynsey said: “Shake really well and then liberally spray the stained area. If the stains are bad, leave the product on for a while to work.”
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best natural ways to clean away organic matter such as blood, urine and sweat making it perfect to make use on mattresses, plus has a natural bleaching effect to lighten a mattress while also killing bacteria.
Washing up liquid is used to make it easier for the hydrogen peroxide to penetrate the fabric to easily lift away dirt from the mattress.
For the final step, use a carpet cleaner with an upholstery tool to clean the mattress, but if you do not have one or own a memory foam mattress then is best to simply use baking soda.
All you have to do is sprinkle a layer of baking soda on top of the mattress, leave it to set for several hours and then use a vacuum to clean up the residue.
Lynsey said: “The bicarbonate of soda will break down the acid and absorb any remaining moisture and odour. The longer you can leave the bicarbonate of soda the better.
“Keep the room well-aired during this process, open the windows, and let the sunlight and fresh air through. The sun’s UV rays will act as a natural disinfectant.”
Make up your bed and use a fabric refresher of your choice as a final touch, this will help keep your mattress fresh and hygienic so you can get a good sleep throughout the summer.
