How to Clean a Mattress (and Why)

First things first: If your mattress has a fresh stain, tackle it immediately after removing your bedding. Grab the appropriate stain remover, a couple of dry cloths, and treat the stain as if you were treating a carpet—blot, don’t rub the stain in. 

If the stain isn’t fresh or requires a deeper mattress cleaning, here are some steps you can take.

Strip the mattress of all sheets and bedding and toss those items in the wash. To remove tough stains, always use a CR Recommended laundry stain remover and follow the care instructions on your sheets.

Next, vacuum the entire mattress surface with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner, paying close attention to seams and crevices, where dirt, dust, and dead skin can collect. Switching to your vacuum’s crevice attachment can help get in deep. (Our tests have found that a normal vacuum provides capable cleaning, so you don’t need to invest hundreds of dollars into a mattress-specific vacuum cleaner.) If you have a pillowtop mattress, the same advice applies: Use the crevice tool to get into the folds of the surface and get around the seams as much as possible.

Once you’re finished vacuuming, check for dry stains and spot-treat them with an appropriate cleaner. An upholstery cleaner or enzyme-based odor remover can do the job on many bodily fluids or organic liquids, like wine. For other stains, such as dirt or grass, try a simple solution of 1 teaspoon mild dish detergent and 1 cup warm water.

Next, deodorize the mattress by sprinkling baking soda over the entire surface, and don’t be afraid to empty an entire 1-pound box. If you can place the mattress near a window, do so. Sunlight will add its sanitizing power. For best results, leave the baking soda there for 24 hours and catch some sleep on the couch—or go on that overnight trip you’ve been fantasizing about.

After the baking soda has had a chance to tackle odors, go over the mattress with a dry cloth and wipe off as much baking soda as you can. Then go over the mattress one last time using your vacuum’s upholstery attachment. Note that vacuuming fine powders, like baking soda, can damage some vacuums. Check the owner’s manual first, and wipe up as much baking soda as you can, manually, using your vacuum only for hard-to-reach crevices.

Sansoni also suggests using a light spray with a fabric refresher to help remove any lingering odors. For double-duty, choose one with a formula designed to reduce allergens from pollen and dust mites.

You can make your bed even more sleep-worthy with a comfortable, supportive pillow and soft, durable sheets. Here are two pillows and two sets of sheets that garner top ratings in CR’s tests. Also check out this toolkit for a good night’s sleep.