Home - Garden
Why You Should Think Twice Before Using Bleach To Clean Your Mattress
By CLARA MUCCI
Mattresses can get dirty, and while it's tempting to use bleach to get rid of a stain or just to make your old bed "feel clean," it should never be used for this purpose.
Bleach contains chlorine, which is toxic and can cause irritation to the eyes, throat, and lungs. You also risk inhaling the lingering chemicals that absorbed into the mattress.
Aside from respiratory problems, bleach can also cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even chemical burns after prolonged contact with an absorbent mattress during sleep.
Bleach is too harsh and corrosive to use on the delicate fibers of a mattress. It can weaken and degrade the material, leading to holes, tears, and a shorter lifespan for the bed.
It also isn't effective for addressing some of the primary hygiene concerns of a mattress, such as dust mites and other allergens, and may even leave a random patch discoloration.
Before using cleaning agents on your mattress, try to vacuum it using an upholstery attachment. Use baking soda to tackle odors and moisture, then vacuum it up after 15 minutes.
If that's not enough, try plain soap and water, or if you need something with a disinfectant power, use water and hydrogen peroxide, which is less toxic than bleach.
For serious stains from bodily fluids like sweat or urine, you may want to try an enzyme cleaner, which breaks down germs without using toxic chemicals.