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How To Get Smell Out Of a Mattress: A Complete Guide

By: Christina Davies
Updated on: August 26, 2024
FAST FACTS

  • Maintaining a clean and fresh mattress is essential for a healthy sleep environment and prolonging its lifespan.
  • Sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, and allergens can accumulate in your mattress, leading to unpleasant odors and potential health issues.
  • Dry methods like vacuuming and baking soda help absorb odors and remove debris from the mattress’s surface.
  • Liquid methods, including water, vinegar, or essential oil solutions, can effectively neutralize odors and refresh your mattress.
  • Regularly washing your bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and comforters, is crucial to prevent odor and allergen buildup.
  • Using a waterproof mattress protector can help keep your mattress clean and odor-free.
  • Keep your room well-ventilated, clean your box spring or foundation, and practice good personal hygiene to maintain a fresh mattress.

Is your mattress starting to smell less than fresh? Has it lost its pleasant aroma over time? No worries! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to effectively freshen and deodorize your mattress, leaving it smelling clean and inviting. Whether you’re dealing with sweat, allergens, foul odors, or general mustiness, these tips and tricks will help you revive your mattress and prolong its lifespan.

While washing your bedding regularly may be part of your cleaning routine, it’s easy to overlook the importance of freshening and deodorizing your mattress. While you sleep, your body naturally gets rid of dead skin cells and sweats a little. Over time, these can build up in your mattress. This build-up creates an unpleasant odor and a breeding ground for dust mites and allergens.

By following the advice in this guide, you can quickly make your mattress feel fresh and smell nice, which helps create a clean and healthy place to sleep.

Why Freshening and Deodorizing is Important

Before we dive into the methods for freshening and deodorizing your mattress, let’s understand why it’s crucial to maintain a clean bed. Sweat, body oils, and dead skin cells can permeate your bedding and mattress, accumulating allergens and dust mites.

These allergens can trigger respiratory issues, such as allergies and asthma, and may cause skin irritation and unpleasant odors. By regularly freshening and deodorizing your mattress, you can minimize the presence of allergens and enjoy a cleaner and healthier sleep environment.

Dry Methods for Freshening Your Mattress

Dry methods are an effective way to freshen your mattress without introducing excess moisture. These deep-cleaning methods help absorb odors and remove dust and debris from the surface of your mattress.

Vacuuming Your Mattress

Regular vacuuming is vital for maintaining a clean mattress. Start by using the upholstery brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to clean the surface, sides, and areas beneath the seams of your mattress.

Ensure you clean both sides of the mattress by propping it against a wall. Vacuuming removes dust, dead skin cells, and other particles that accumulate over time, helping to freshen your mattress and reduce allergens.

Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great natural deodorizer. To freshen up your mattress, just sprinkle some baking soda all over it. You can use a flour sifter for even spreading. Leave it there for at least 30 minutes, but if you can, keep it on for up to 24 hours for the best results.

While it’s sitting, open your windows to let in some fresh air and light, which will help the mattress dry out. Finally, use your vacuum cleaner’s upholstery attachment to carefully suck up all the baking soda from the mattress’s surface.

Cornstarch for Absorbing Body Oil

Cornstarch is another natural absorbent that can be used to freshen your mattress. Mix cornstarch with baking soda and sprinkle the mixture over your mattress surface. Allow the mixture to sit for a day to absorb body oils and other odors. Afterward, use the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner to remove the cornstarch-baking soda mixture from your mattress.

Liquid Methods for Deodorizing Your Mattress

Liquid methods involve the use of various solutions to deodorize and refresh the sweat smell from your mattress. These methods can effectively neutralize odors and leave your mattress smelling clean and fresh.

Water with Vinegar

Vinegar is a good way to remove bad smells naturally. Mix the same amount of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Give your mattress a light spray with this mixture, but don’t make it too wet. Let the mattress dry in the air completely before you sleep on it again.

To ensure thorough deodorization, prop up your mattress against a wall and spray the solution on the other side as well. To further eliminate odors, sprinkle baking soda over the mattress once it’s dry and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.

Laundry Detergent Solution

A gentle laundry detergent solution can help remove urine stains and odors from your mattress. Make a mixture of laundry detergent and baking soda to create a paste. Put this paste on the parts of your mattress that have stains or smells.

Let the mixture sit for a while, then wipe it away with a towel or a utensil like a knife or spoon. For particularly stubborn stains, you can mix a splash of laundry detergent with water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Gently mist the affected area, being careful not to saturate the mattress. Dab away any extra moisture using paper towels and let the mattress dry in the open air until it’s completely dry.

Essential Oils for a Fresh Scent

Essential oils don’t just make things smell nice. They can also fight odors. To use them, blend 15 to 20 drops of your favorite oil with baking soda, then scatter this mixture on your mattress. Allow the essential oil and baking soda to sit for some time to freshen the mattress. Popular essential oils for a soothing effect include eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and lemon. 

You can create a cleaning spray by mixing hydrogen peroxide with baking soda and adding a few drops of vital oil into a spray bottle. Mist the mattress surface with the solution and let it air dry before covering it with your bedding.

Tips for Washing Your Bedding

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In addition to freshening and deodorizing your mattress, it’s essential to maintain clean bedding to prevent the accumulation of odors and allergens. Follow these tips to keep your mattress smell, your sheets, pillows, and comforters fresh and hygienic.

Washing Sheets and Pillowcases

Regularly washing your sheets and pillowcases is an essential part of mattress maintenance. Aim to wash them at least once a week to remove sweat, dead skin cells, and other debris. Use hot water unless the care label specifies otherwise, as higher temperatures help kill germs and allergens. If you have a mattress protector, wash it along with your sheets to ensure thorough cleanliness.

Cleaning Pillows and Comforters

Pillows and comforters also require regular cleaning to maintain freshness. While some pillows are machine washable, others may require spot cleaning or professional cleaning. Check the care label for specific instructions. To keep your pillows fresh between washes, fluff them daily and expose them to sunlight occasionally. Sunlight helps dry up moisture and kill germs. Comforters should be washed every three to four months, following the care label instructions.

Waterproof Mattress Protectors for Added Freshness

Using a mattress protector is a great way to keep your mattress safe from stains, spills, and things that can cause allergies. A waterproof mattress protector creates a barrier that prevents sweat, dust mites, and other allergens from penetrating your mattress. This helps your mattress stay fresh and clean for a longer time. Choose a high-quality mattress protector that’s machine washable for easy maintenance.

Additional Steps to Maintain Mattress Freshness

In addition to freshening and deodorizing your mattress, there are other steps you can take to prolong its freshness and cleanliness. Here are some additional tips for maintaining a fresh mattress.

Use a Mattress Protector

Using a mattress protector is crucial for maintaining a clean and fresh mattress. It acts as a barrier against stains, spills, and allergens, preventing them from seeping into the mattress. A waterproof mattress protector is especially effective in keeping your mattress dry and odor-free. Moreover, a mattress protector makes your mattress last longer by keeping it safe from getting worn out.

Keeping Your Room Well-Ventilated

A well-ventilated room helps prevent the build-up of moisture and odors in your mattress. Keep your windows open from time to time to let fresh air in and allow sunlight into the room. Natural light helps kill bacteria and mold, keeping your mattress fresh. Additionally, consider using a ceiling fan or an air purifier to improve air circulation and filter out allergens.

Using a Bed Skirt or Dust Ruffle

A bed skirt or dust ruffle adds a decorative touch to your bed and helps prevent debris and dust from accumulating under the bed. It acts as a barrier, keeping the area beneath your bed clean and reducing the amount of dust that can settle on your mattress. Choose a bed skirt that complements your bedding and wash it regularly to maintain its freshness.

Cleaning Your Box Spring or Foundation

Don’t forget to clean your box spring, bed foundation, or platform bed along with your mattress. Vacuum the surface of your box spring or foundation to remove dust and allergens that may have accumulated over time. If you have a bed skirt, remove it and wash it whenever you clean your bedding. Regularly cleaning your bed base helps prevent the transfer of dust and germs to your mattress, ensuring its freshness.

Practicing Good Personal Hygiene

Maintaining good personal hygiene can go a long way in keeping your mattress fresh. Showering before bed removes sweat and body oils, reducing the amount of debris and urine smell that transfers to your mattress. Don’t eat or drink in bed to stop spills and crumbs that can cause bad smells and stains. By practicing good personal hygiene, you can minimize the amount of dirt and bacteria that come into contact with your mattress.

FAQs about How to get Smell out of a Mattress

Can you machine wash mattress pads?

Yes, most mattress pads can be machine-washed. However, checking the care label instructions before washing your mattress manufacturer is important. To avoid harming the mattress pad, use a gentle cycle and mild detergent. Then, either dry it on low heat or let it air dry. We recommend washing your mattress pad every other month to keep it clean and fresh.

Can you remove mold and mildew from a mattress?

Unfortunately, removing mold and mildew that has grown inside a mattress is impossible. If your mattress emits a stale odor even after cleaning, mold and mildew are likely present inside. In such cases, it’s best to replace your mattress quickly to prevent health issues. Moldy mattresses cannot be donated, so consider contacting junk removal services to dispose of them properly.

How do you get the smell out of a new mattress?

To remove the smell from a new mattress:

  • Air it out for a few hours or days.
  • If the odor persists, sprinkle baking soda over the mattress and let it sit overnight.
  • Vacuum the baking soda the next day.

You can make the baking soda smell nice by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil. To prevent odors from setting in, use a waterproof mattress protector, as it keeps the mattress fresh and odor-free.

How do you spot clean mattress stains?

To spot clean mattress stains:

  • Mix equal amounts of baking soda, salt, and white vinegar to create a paste.
  • Spread the paste on the stained part of the mattress and leave it for about 30 minutes.
  • Dampen a microfiber cloth and gently press, not rub, to remove the paste and the stain.
  • Let the mattress completely air dry before you make the bed.

How do dust mites affect your health?

Dust mites can trigger allergic reactions in individuals who are sensitive to them. Symptoms may include watery eyes, runny nose, itchy throat, skin rashes, or difficulty breathing. You can’t completely remove dust mites, but you can keep your bedroom cleaner by vacuuming and washing your bedding regularly. This will help reduce dust mites and make allergies better.

Is it safe to use chemicals on my mattress?

Always check the manufacturer’s instructions before using any chemical cleaners on your mattress. Some materials may be sensitive to certain products.

Do bed bugs smell?

Yes, bed bugs can release alarm pheromones when they are disturbed, resulting in an unpleasant odor. Their droppings can also contribute to odor-causing bacteria due to a foul smell. Bed bugs are tiny and can be seen without any special tools. They look reddish-brown. If you think you have bed bugs in your home, it’s crucial to get rid of them right away.

Conclusion

A fresh and deodorized mattress not only enhances the overall cleanliness of your bedroom but also promotes a healthier sleep environment. By following the tips and techniques in this guide, you can effectively freshen and deodorize a mattress on your mattress, removing odors, allergens, and dust mites. Regular vacuuming, using baking soda, and employing liquid methods with vinegar or essential oils are all effective ways to maintain a clean and fresh mattress.

Additionally, washing your bedding regularly and using a mattress protector further contribute to the freshness and longevity of your mattress. By following these easy steps, you can have a clean and comfy bed for a good night’s sleep.

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