Here's How Often You Need To Clean Your Mattress
Even if you're keen on cleaning and are always on point when it's time to wash your bedding, there might be one vital area of the bedroom that skips your routine altogether. Your mattress is an important investment that can help to ensure you get the proper sleep your body needs. However, unlike your pillows and sheets, it might not get the regular cleaning it requires.
Just like your bedding, your mattress collects dirt, dust, food crumbs — we're not judging — and skin flakes throughout its use. WebMD also noted that "[t]he average adult sweats 26 gallons a year in bed," which could make your mattress a breeding ground for allergens, bacteria, fungus, and dust mites. Now, before you shudder in disgust and start dragging your bed to the curb, most of these issues can be avoided with routine cleaning of your mattress. By knowing when and how to properly wash your bed, you can help to increase the lifespan of your investment, ensure that it is free of dirt and bacteria, and continues to smell fresh. But how do you wash your mattress, and how often should it be cleaned?
Ways to clean your mattress and how often you should do it
Although cleaning your mattress is not as easy as running it through your washing machine, there are some simple steps to take to help keep it spotless. If a spill does happen and reaches your mattress, you should make sure to spot clean the area right away. This will hopefully stop any stains from setting and make sure that the problem doesn't soak too deeply into your mattress. For regular liquid spills, use a little bit of cleaner, then dab gently with a cold wet cloth, per Sleep Foundation. In the case of accidents that involve bodily fluids, it is recommended that you clean with an enzyme cleaner while being careful not to overly saturate the area. You want to make sure that the spot you clean can fully dry because if not, this could lead to the formation of bacteria.
For regular mattress cleaning, Consumer Reports suggested that you should vacuum your bed every month and give your mattress a good wash every six months. Even a simple process of sprinkling baking soda all over the surface of your mattress, letting it sit for up to 24 hours, then vacuuming it off thoroughly could lead to a fresher and more germ-free bed. A steady routine of cleaning your mattress along with weekly washing of your bedding can significantly help to reduce allergens and other dirt and help you to rest easy.