Considering how much time your baby spends sleeping, keeping the mattress clean is imperative. Between dust mites and inevitable leaky diapers, your baby’s crib mattress can become quite dirty over time. As susceptible as young immune systems are to germs already, regular cleaning of your baby’s mattress goes a long way to keeping them healthy. This simple chore can be done in an afternoon with minimal effort. Vacuum the mattress using the brush attachment to remove dirt, dust and debris. Flip the mattress and vacuum the other side. Add a powdered bleach-free laundry detergent to warm water to make it sudsy; 1 tbsp. per 5 cups of warm water should be enough. Dip a clean cloth or a sponge into the solution and gently scrub the mattress with it working from one side down to the other. Do not over-saturate the mattress because that will make it harder to get it dry later, which can promote mold. Lay down some towels to protect your floor and flip the mattress over to clean the other side.
Pay close attention to any stains. Treat any stains that the soapy water didn’t remove with lemon juice by slightly dampening the area. Set the mattress outside in the sunshine to dry. The sunshine is especially important if you are removing stains. The combination of lemon and sunlight works as a natural bleaching agent. If the weather isn’t cooperating, set the mattress in a cool dry place with good airflow. Placing a fan nearby can help the mattress dry faster. Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress once it is dry and allow it to remain for one to two hours on each side before vacuuming it up. The baking soda will help to absorb and eliminate any lingering odors. Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment Powdered bleach free laundry detergent Clean cloth or sponge Is it Safe to Reuse a Crib Mattress? How to Paint a Baby Crib How to Clean Used Newborn Baby Furniture Things You Should Buy New for a Second Baby How do I Clean a Baby's Playpen?
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Scrub: Combine 1/4 cup of baby-safe laundry detergent in a bucket with one gallon of warm water. Using a gentle scrubbing brush, scrub the mattress fabric with the detergent mixture. Do not pour water or detergent directly onto it. Scrub all sides and along seams carefully. Rinse: Using a clean, damp cloth, wipe down each surface of the crib mattress, rinsing and wringing the cloth frequently to remove all detergent and residue from the cloth. Properly rinsing is important, as leftover detergent can cause irritation and sickness in your baby. Disinfect: If there are stains from leaky diapers or if you're worried about germs and bacteria from any source, you'll want to disinfect the mattress surface. Using a spray bottle, lightly spray it with rubbing alcohol, paying extra attention to stains. There is no need to rinse after disinfecting, since alcohol will quickly evaporate on its own. Removing stains and odors: If any discoloration or odor remains after you have disinfected the crib mattress, you'll need to do additional work to properly clean it.
Mix equal parts water and lemon juice or vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray lightly on stains. Sprinkle baking soda on a wet or dry mattress and let sit for 20 minutes to remove odors. The baking soda can be vacuumed out after the mattress is dry. Drying: Remove excess water by pressing a dry towel into the surface of the mattress. Make sure the baby mattress is completely dry before placing it back in the crib to avoid the growth of illness-causing mold and mildew. Let the crib mattress air dry in the sun or a well-ventilated area. Pure Core Non-Toxic Crib Mattress with Organic Cotton Cover Pure Core Non-Toxic Mini Crib Mattress with Dry Organic Cover LA Baby Naturally Organic III Triple Zone 2-in-1 Crib Mattress with Organic Cotton Cover Stearns & Foster Baby Dynasty Sunrise 2-stage Organic Cotton Crib Mattress Sealy Nature Couture Soybean Serenity Crib Mattress LA Baby Organic Cotton Cradle Pad Share This Page - Your little one spends so much time sleeping that their sleep environment is very important.
We’ll show you how to clean a crib mattress and keep it safe from bacteria and germs. Keep your baby healthy even while she sleeps with tips on how to clean a crib mattress thoroughly and safely. Remove the crib mattress cover or any bedding. These can usually be thrown in the laundry and safely washed with detergent. Check for a care label on the mattress or find the manufacturer's site. This will help you figure out if it's okay to use cold/hot water or gentle detergents on the mattress. Vacuum the crib mattress to get rid of dust or dirt. Make sure to vacuum the sides and bottom as well as any crevices. Try an attachment to make this process more thorough. Scrub the mattress all over with warm water and a gentle detergent. Make sure you thoroughly wipe the detergent from the crib mattress to ensure that no residue is left. Spritz the mattress all over with a fabric refresher like Lysol® Disinfectant Spray. This will ensure that mold and bacteria don't have a chance to latch onto the damp mattress.