Since we are all trying to stretch our budgets, it’s always good to find an old thing at home and reuse it. Speaking of which, do you have used mattresses somewhere in the basement? Instead of letting it collect dust or even bedbugs, it’s better if you learn how to clean a used mattress. Either you can use it again, or sell it if it is still in good condition.
Just so you know, old mattresses could be a breeding ground for bacteria, dirt, and dust mites. And if you do not clean it properly, you are jeopardizing your health.
The question now is, what is the best way to clean a used mattress? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Tips for Cleaning a Used Mattress
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can make sure that the used mattress is free from any harmful bacteria.
Vacuum Your Mattress
First of all, you must vacuum your mattress. It’s best to use an attachment where it could reach all the corners. This is to make sure that you can remove dust and other debris.
Look for Stains and Remove It
Isn’t it annoying to lie down on a mattress wherein you know that there are stains underneath? Even if you cover it with a nice bedsheet, you’d still feel uncomfortable. Here are some of the solutions.
Create Your Homemade Cleaning Solution
While there are many stain removers available, remember that you can easily do one at home. All you need are equal parts of water, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide.
From here, you can mix all the ingredients and place it in a spray bottle. Be generous enough to spray your solution onto your mattress.
Wait for 20 minutes before blotting your mattress with a clean cloth. Remember to take away all the moisture. Failure to do so might encourage mold growth.
Now, get your baking soda and spread a layer on your mattress. Leave it for 12 to 24 hours, and it should remove all the unnecessary odor.
Once the waiting time is over, you can vacuum the baking soda from your mattress.
Sanitize Your Used Mattress
Apart from making your mattress free from stains and odor, you must also sanitize it. You can use different methods, depending on where you are comfortable with.
You can use a handheld steamer, an antibacterial spray, or a liquid cleaner. And speaking of an antibacterial spray here’s one that we found the be highly effective.
Clean Smart Daily Surface Cleaner and Disinfectant
Check the latest price on Amazon.
The Clean Smart Disinfectant Spray is one of the crowd favorites, and we are not surprised. It’s effective, and yet it’s safe for spraying eating surfaces. That means, if you use it on your mattress, your kids will stay safe. Take note that this does not leave harsh fumes or residue behind.
One of its customers has a medically fragile child with severe lung issues. But by using this brand, it seems that they do not encounter any problem. And that’s the ultimate test for being safe.
Make Your Mattress Smell Great
Earlier, we mentioned that you can use baking soda to remove foul odors. But if you want to add an amazing smell, you can use essential oils. A couple of drops onto your baking soda should do you good. Similar to what we instructed, leave it for hours and vacuum it after.
We made a list of the best essential oils available, and you can check it right now.
Is Bleaching a Mattress Safe?
Other people are also concerned if they can bleach their old mattresses. The answer is yes. However, you need to follow a strict process. If you overdo the bleaching, it might cause the mattress to harden. If that happens, it’s harder to achieve quality sleep. Here’s a safe way to bleach your mattress.
Don’t forget your protective gear, specifically your gloves. And ensure that the room is well ventilated. Next, you can mix the bleach with water and dish soap. Spray it onto your mattress and scrub on problematic areas. Blot it dry and, if possible, take it outside so the sun can do the drying.
Remember, you must do the cleaning on both sides of your mattress, not just on the side you are about to use. That’s extremely unhygienic.
Get a Mattress Protector
Apart from deep cleaning your used mattress, we recommend investing in a high-quality mattress protector. Yes, these things exist, and you can prolong the lives of your mattress. Again, we did our research and found the right one for your needs.
PlushDeluxe Premium Bamboo Mattress Protector
Check the latest price on Amazon.
What’s great about this brand is that it’s ultra-soft, which ensures that your sleep will be relaxing. Plus, it uses breathable materials ideal for warm nights. Best of all, it’s 100% waterproof and hypoallergenic. We bet you can’t get anything better than this. It can also fit most, if not all, mattresses. And they provide a 10-year warranty, leaving you without worries about damages.
Don’t take our word for it though. The customers have spoken. They guaranteed that it’s leakproof and nothing short of outstanding.
Keeping Your Old Mattress
Now, let’s talk about keeping your old mattress.
One of the worst things that could happen is to have bedbugs. To prevent that from happening, experts suggest that you encase your mattress before keeping it in storage. Of course, the bedbugs won’t go in. Also, if in case there are existing bedbugs, trapping them means they cannot feed on anything, thereby killing the annoying pests. There’s your additional tip from our team.
Before we end this post, here’s a nice video on how you can deep clean a mattress.
Conclusion
Cleaning a used mattress is a step you should never miss. It isn’t about looking neat, but it can affect your overall health. Hopefully, this post was able to help you find the right techniques on how to disinfect a used mattress. Learning this can also save you a ton of money.
