How to Clean and Care for Your Mattress (and Get Better Sleep)

When it comes to getting better sleep, it all starts with your mattress. And finding the one that is right for you is an investment – not just in money, but time and effort. You want to make sure that you protect your investment (not to mention be able to cash in on all of the benefits that come along with having a clean, comfortable, and supportive place to lay your head each night) by keeping your mattress in tip-top shape. Follow these simple (but super effective) mattress care pointers to improve your sleep and ensure that you'll have an awesome sleep haven for years to come.

One of the best (and easiest) ways to protect your mattress is by investing in a quality cover. When shopping for this integral part of your mattress maintenance routine, be sure to look for one that makes removal and cleaning simple and straight-forward. And also keep an eye out for covers that are made from hypo-allergenic materials in order to help protect you from dust mites and other allergens.

Whether we sleep solo or share our beds with a partner, most people tend to choose a side of the mattress to sleep on, and stick with it. This can cause uneven wear in your mattress, making the choice to switch sides of the bed every six months or so a smart move when it comes to caring for your mattress in the form of reducing normal wear and tear.

Once every other month, take the time to vacuum the surface of your mattress to remove dust mites and other allergens. If you’re using a mattress cover, this is a great time to take it off and run it through a gentle cycle in your washing machine while you’re vacuuming your mattress, allowing you to double up on your mattress care routine.

Most mattresses will eventually have some staining that you’ll have to contend with in order to keep your sleep haven as clean and comfortable as possible. When it comes to getting rid of mattress stains, your best bet is to use diluted dish soap on the stained area (be sure to use 1 part dish soap to 3 parts water) and then allow the cleaned area to air dry completely before remaking the bed. For really tough stains, use a cleaning solution that is made up of 3 tbsp of baking soda, 8 oz of hydrogen peroxide, and a drop or two of dish soap. Dab this solution on the stain (being sure not to drench your mattress in the process) and allow to air dry. If the stain sticks around after your mattress has dried, whisk together 3 tbsp of dry laundry detergent (do not use any detergent that contains oxygenated bleach or any type of anti-stain additives) with 1 tbsp of water to create a dry foam, and then spread this solution over the stain. Let this sit for 30 minutes, scrape away any residue that is left over, and vacuum the area thoroughly. Poof! No more stain!

Over time, sweat and body oils can leave your mattress smelling and feeling less than fresh. To get your mattress back to its previous glory, sprinkle it with baking soda and rub it in with a hard-bristled scrub brush that you keep for just this purpose. To add some extra sweet-smelling power, mix the baking soda with a few drops of essential oil (lavender oil is reputed to be an effective sleep aid, adding a bonus to this mattress care routine) before sprinkling it over your mattress and scrubbing it with your mattress cleaning brush. Let the baking soda mixture sit for 10 minutes after scrubbing and then vacuum your mattress to remove the baking soda, along with all of the odor-causing moisture and bacteria that it has absorbed and removed. Ensuring that you have a clean, comfy, and supportive place to sleep each night through creating and implementing a mattress care routine will help you to not only protect the investment that you’ve made in your mattress, but will also help you get the high-quality sleep that you need and deserve!