Stains, dirt, dust
how to clean the mattress
If you haven't thought about getting a waterproof mattress protector in next-generation cotton (not the waxed ones from 30 years ago), you could end up with a yellowed or dirty mattress after just a few months. Let's see how to maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of the mattress and how to deal with extraordinary cleaning for stains and dirt of all kinds that ruin the mattress.
Pay attention to the washing labels!
Among the best-selling accessories we offer on our website are mattress covers (external mattress cover cases). It often happens, in fact, that the external fabric of the mattress cover needs to be replaced, not because it is dirty, stained, or worn, but because it becomes unusable after washing due to shrinkage, or because the cover's padding cannot be washed in water but must be dry-cleaned, as it is filled with memory foam, latex, or other foams, or because additives or bleaches that are absolutely not recommended and should be avoided were used. Often it is the laundries themselves that contact us, but once the damage is done, there is not much that can be done.
Miglior Materasso recommends:
What if they told you that you could protect the mattress right from the sheet? The Respira fitted sheet is fresh and waterproof, blocking liquids and sweat.
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Guide to reading fabric washing labels
We must consider that the most well-known mattress factories, Ennerev Simmons Dorelan Tempur, etc., do not sell the fabrics of their mattresses, trying to encourage the purchase of a new mattress, so the fabric will need to be replaced with a commercial cover (pass me the most appropriate term for an auto parts store!). If you think you need to replace the cover of your Memory Latex or spring mattress, take a look at the page of custom-made fabrics for mattresses.
Strip the mattress: Remove the bedding, duvets, and mattress cover. Heat kills dust mites in your bed, so it is good to check the manufacturer's labels to understand the maximum heat you can use to set the washing machine and dryer.
sanitize and clean the mattress
1. Beat the mattress with the vacuum cleaner
The number one ally in mattress cleaning, especially if the mattress cannot be stripped of its cover. Do you remember the wool mattresses folded in half on the bed every morning? Maintenance and cleaning back then were different, but more time was devoted to them than today. The mattress was cleaned every year with the help of a mattress maker and beaten outdoors once a week. Today, specific mattress vacuum cleaners are used that simulate the beating of a clothes beater (ATTENTION: multi-purpose vacuum cleaners could bring bacteria from the floor to your mattress and, not being specific, could damage the fabric and padding of the mattresses).
Even after washing the mattress cover, it is good to vacuum, in fact, even dead mites cause allergies! How to vacuum the mattress? Start from the top of the mattress and work downwards in narrow, overlapping paths, and then vacuum the sides of the mattress in the same way without flipping the mattress.
The Simmons Aspirac mite eater in addition to vacuuming dust and mites, disinfects the mattress with an LED lamp.
2. Deodorize the mattress: if this is the need, you might need to change the mattress cover, or the entire mattress. This procedure is recommended if the outer fabric is not removable, to perform a real mattress wash, because it is soaked in odors and moisture, but it can also be applied to the core of the mattress stripped of the fabric. Sprinkle well with baking soda and scrub with a brush so that it enters the mattress fabric or the central core if you have been able to remove the cover. If you also want to perfume the mattress, I recommend mixing the baking soda with a few drops of essential oil. Lavender is known to help with sleep, but sandalwood has an excellent fragrance. The baking soda must rest for 10 minutes, and then see point 3.
3. Vacuum again: with the baking soda wash you have helped the mattress eliminate moisture and other impurities. Vacuum a second time, removing the baking soda that will have attracted moisture and bad odors to itself.
4. Remove stains from the mattress
blood, urine, and other stains
The most difficult stains: blood, urine, and what we will limit ourselves to calling "other body fluids". If you can intervene immediately, treat the stains with cold water and a little dish soap or hydrogen peroxide (hot water sets this type of stain).
If you act immediately, the blood stain can be easily removed with simple hydrogen peroxide
Dried blood stains
Certainly it can happen that you are unable to intervene immediately and are forced to treat the blood stain when it is already dry, here is how to proceed to remove dried blood:
Remove old blood stains from the mattress:
The dried blood stain on the mattress can be treated by making a paste with 1/4 cup of coffee, hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 tablespoon of dish soap and table salt. Scrub this stain and let it rest until it dries before scraping off the residue. Remove the stain residues with a white cloth dipped in hydrogen peroxide, rotating the cloth towards the extension of the stain. By using a white cloth, you prevent the transfer of dye from the cloth to the mattress.
Dish soap is also useful for coffee stains, but not hydrogen peroxide.
Pee stains on the mattress:
The urine stains are very difficult, but not impossible to remove once dry, but this method has significantly contributed to saving several mattresses in my home.
First, dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in 25 cl of hydrogen peroxide then add one or two drops of liquid dish soap. Dab this solution on the urine stains. If the stain persists, wait for the mattress to dry then mix together 3 tablespoons of powdered detergent (that does not contain oxygen bleach) and 1 tablespoon of water to make a dry foam. Spread the mixture on the stain and let it rest for 30 minutes. Scrape off any residue and vacuum well.
Other body fluids (vomit, etc.):
Using a white cloth, dry the stain without water or stain removers, optionally add scented ammonia. Clean the area with a clean, damp cloth and sprinkle the stain with baking soda to neutralize the ammonia odor and extract persistent moisture. Once dry, vacuum the area completely.
Keep the mattress clean
Proposing the use of a waterproof mattress protector is misunderstood, because it is associated with children's and the elderly's nighttime leaks. But the waterproof mattress protector is mainly used as a barrier against liquids including sweat and other things. Imagine how many epithelial cells (food for mites) and moisture we could save our mattress!
Then forget about mattress waxes and the plastic, rigid, and hot covers from when we were children (and bedwetting was inevitable) today waterproof mattress protectors are not made of PVC (that is, insulating plastic) but of bottom-coated foam, breathable to air and waterproof to liquids and soft cotton on top (only quality mattress protectors have this feature, here is one)
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