How to Clean Mattress

Difficulty Medium

Time 30 min active + drying

How Often Every 3-6 months

What You'll Need

Baking soda 1 full box
Vacuum with upholstery attachment 1
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) Spray bottle
Dish soap 1 tsp
Essential oil (lavender, optional) Few drops
Clean cloths 2-3

Step-by-Step Method

Strip the bed completely

Remove all bedding, pillows, and mattress pad. Wash everything in hot water (at least 130°F) to kill dust mites. If your mattress has a removable cover, wash it too.

5 min

Vacuum the entire mattress

Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum the entire top surface, sides, and any seams or crevices. Go slowly and make overlapping passes. This removes dust mites, dead skin cells, and surface debris.

10 min

Mattresses accumulate an average of 2 million dust mites. Vacuuming is the single most effective way to reduce them.

Spot-treat stains

For general stains: mix 2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon dish soap. Apply to the stain with a cloth, dab (do not rub), and blot with a clean damp cloth. For blood stains: use cold hydrogen peroxide only (heat and soap can set blood stains).

5-10 min

Do not soak the mattress. Use as little liquid as possible and blot, do not pour.

Baking soda treatment

Sprinkle an entire box of baking soda evenly over the mattress surface. For extra freshness, mix 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil into the baking soda before sprinkling. Let sit for at least 2 hours (overnight is ideal).

2-8 hours

Open the bedroom windows if possible. Sunlight and fresh air provide additional deodorizing and dust mite reduction.

Vacuum the baking soda

Thoroughly vacuum all the baking soda from the mattress. Go slowly to get it all, especially from seams and edges.

10 min

Flip or rotate

If your mattress is double-sided, flip it. If single-sided (most modern mattresses), rotate it 180 degrees so the head becomes the foot. This distributes wear evenly and extends mattress life.

2 min

Rotate every 3 months. Flip (if applicable) every 6 months.

🚫 What NOT to Do

Do not soak or saturate the mattress with liquid (moisture inside foam or springs causes mold)
Do not use steam cleaners on memory foam mattresses (moisture damages foam structure)
Do not put the mattress in direct sunlight for extended periods (degrades foam and adhesives)
Never use bleach on a mattress

💡 Pro Tips from The Freak

Use a waterproof mattress protector at all times. It is far easier to wash a protector than deep clean a mattress.
If your mattress has a persistent odor after cleaning, the source may be deep moisture (possible mold). In that case, professional mattress cleaning or replacement may be needed.
For urine stains and odors: enzyme-based cleaners (like Nature's Miracle) are far more effective than baking soda alone because they break down the uric acid crystals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my mattress?

Deep clean every 3-6 months. Vacuum monthly. Wash bedding weekly in hot water. Use a mattress protector at all times. These four habits keep your mattress clean and extend its lifespan by several years.

Can I steam clean a mattress?

Only innerspring mattresses with cotton or natural fiber tops. Never steam clean memory foam, latex, or hybrid foam mattresses. Steam introduces moisture that cannot escape the dense foam, leading to mold growth inside the mattress where you cannot see it.

Sources & Methodology

Dust mite statistics from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Hot water washing at 130°F kills dust mites per Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America guidelines. Enzyme-based cleaners for uric acid stains are the biochemistry-based approach used by professional carpet and upholstery cleaners.

Last reviewed: March 20, 2026