Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Mattress

Your mattress sees a lot in its lifetime. But no matter how often you wash bedding, elements like sweat, dead skin cells, stains, and dust mites really pile up.

Since we spend about ⅓ of our lives in bed, learning how to deep clean your mattress will help you rest easier. Literally.

Use a Natural Mattress Cleaning Spray That Works

Since you'll be cleaning your sleeping surface, exercise caution when choosing a matress cleaner. You may be surprised how many contain potentially harmful chemicals!

Developed for all kinds of upholstered surfaces, our 99.96% Natural Stain Remover tackles hundreds of tough stains with all six plant enzymes. These speed up natural chemical reactions by breaking down stain and odor-causing particles. When these particles are broken down, the enzymes' work is done. Easy-peasy. 

How to Clean Mattress Stains

If you didn’t invest in a waterproof mattress protector – which we highly, highly recommend – you might be dealing with stains like coffee, food, urine, blood, or sweat. Whatever causes them, no one wants to clean mattress stains. That's why we've made this process as straightforward as possible. 

1. Remove Any Excess 

Treating a recent spill? If it’s thick enough, lift excess away using a spoon or spatula. Don’t apply any pressure or you’ll push the excess into your mattress (which will make it harder to clean). 

2. Blot the Stain

Using a clean, dry microfiber cloth, blot fresh stains until your cloth no longer picks up the stain color. If your stain is sticky or dark, use a slightly damp cloth before getting down to business. 

3. Spray & Set 

Following the directions on the bottle, apply the Stain Remover and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. However, the longer you leave it, the better it will work. So if you’re dealing with a particularly tough mark – and have another bed to sleep on – leave the solution on your mattress overnight. 

4. Use a Carpet Cleaning Machine 

We don’t recommend rinsing your mattress with water. We recommend using carpet cleaner on a mattress to remove our Stain Remover (and the stain). Be sure to follow all manufacturer instructions carefully.

5. Let It Dry

Using a clean, dry microfiber cloth, remove any excess moisture by blotting the surface of your mattress. Leave your mattress uncovered for several hours before making your bed.

How to Deep Clean a Mattress

If you want to clean your mattress naturally – and really get into all the nooks and crannies – don’t miss these expert steps: 

1. Vacuum 

Using your vacuum's handheld attachment, pick up any loose dust, hair, and debris on your mattress.

2. Use a Steam Cleaner

We recommend using a steam cleaner on mattresses. They use a minimal amount of water and still kill dust mites effectively (no products necessary!).

Most steam cleaners have a special triangle attachment. Attach a microfiber towel so the steam gently lifts everything into the towel. This method is so effective at removing dirt and messes that you can clean your entire mattress with it – maybe even without pretreating stains. 

Can You Shampoo a Mattress with a Carpet Shampooer? 

We don’t recommend shampooing a mattress. Remember: Water and mattresses don’t mix.  

3. Thoroughly Dry Before Replacing Linens

Make sure that your mattress is 100% dry before sleeping on it. If the weather is pleasant, open windows can help speed up the process. You may need to sleep on a guest bed or couch for a night! 

How to Prolong the Life of Your Mattress

A good mattress is a major investment – make it last as long as possible! 

Wash Bedding Regularly

To maintain quality and cleanliness, you’ll need to regularly remove dust mites, dead skin cells, and other grime. Wash your bedding every week and your mattress protector every 1-2 months. 

Rotate Your Mattress 

When the mattress protector is in the washing machine, rotate the mattress (180º) and suck up any debris with a handheld vacuum attachment. 

Invest in Quality Bedding

Sweat can cause major stains on mattresses, so it’s important to choose breathable linens. We’re big fans of how amazingly well eco-bamboo sheets wick moisture. 

Clean & Replace Pillows

We often forget about pillow maintenance but they absorb a substantial amount of dust, grime, and oil. This increases your chances of allergic and dermatological issues. Many experts recommend that you replace pillows every two years (though pillow protectors can extend their lifespan). Try to wash:

• Pillow cases each week 
• Pillow protectors every 3-4 weeks 
• Pillows every 3 months. Down-alternative pillows can be thrown in the washing machine but down feather pillows should be dry cleaned.

Get a Head-to-Toe Clean with Puracy Products

At Puracy, we’re firm believers that plant-based cleaning products are just as effective as their questionable chemical counterparts. That’s why our biodegradable formulas are free of ingredients like phosphates, sulfates, chlorine, synthetic fragrances, bleach, ammonia, and animal by-products. Effective, gentle, and guaranteed. That’s the Puracy promise.