Q. The mattress in my guest room is a pillowtop bed that can’t be flipped. What’s the best way to clean it before my guests arrive for the holidays? A. Even if your mattress is unflippable, there are simple steps you can take to help keep it clean and fresh. First, remove any pads or covers and clean them according to the directions. Then vacuum the mattress with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Switch to the crevice tool for deep cleaning of seams, where dirt, dust, and undesirables collect. A normal vacuum is fine, says John Galeotafiore, who led our recent vacuum tests, but if you’re a stickler, try the Dyson V6 Mattress Handheld Vacuum, $250. Although it’s a bit pricey, this Dyson sucked up three times more material from a mattress than a highly rated canister vacuum. Don’t forget to spot-treat any stains. A carpet cleaner or enzyme-based pet-odor remover can do the job on bodily fluids. Then deodorize the mattress by sprinkling a box of baking soda over it.
For best results, leave it on for 24 hours. Last, vacuum the mattress once again and put on clean sheets. For more information, read "How to Clean a Mattress (and Why). Also check our mattress buying guide and ratings and vacuum cleaner buying guide and ratings. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the December 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Don’t use too much water when you are trying to clean a pillow top mattress – if you saturate an area, it will be difficult for it to dry. Apply a small amount of water with a clean sponge or cloth. Pillow top mattresses are the ultimate in comfort, helping you to enjoy a good night’s rest each and every night. However, while these mattresses are great for happiness, well-being, and relaxation, they do provide a few little challenges when it comes to cleaning. Fortunately, maintaining a fresh and hygienic bed doesn’t have to be as tricky as you may think. Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean a pillow top mattress:
When comparing the cleaning requirements of a regular mattress and a pillow top mattress, there really isn’t that much difference in the techniques used or the effort needed to remove stains – the main issue with pillow top mattresses is that they tend to need cleaning on a much more regular basis. The reason for this is that the soft pillow layer that sits on the surface of the mattress is very porous and absorbent, which means that any stains can quickly and easily sink deep within the fibres. If you enjoy breakfast in bed, a glass of water during the night, or if your potty-training toddlers sneak into bed with you in the early hours of the morning, you’re providing numerous opportunities for spilled liquids to soak into the mattress. A secondary challenge faced when cleaning pillow top mattresses is that they take a little longer to dry out, so you’ll need to plan when you’re going to clean the mattress very carefully – no one wants a damp mattress when they’re crawling into bed at the end of a long and tiring day.
For a clean pillow top mattress, follow the handy advice and tips below. By following these easy steps, you should be able to successfully remove stains, bacteria, and odours from your mattress without stress or hassle: The best advice when it comes to cleaning pillow top mattresses is to tackle the stain as soon as possible after it’s happened. As we’ve discussed, the main issue with these sorts of mattresses is that they are very absorbent, and the longer a liquid is left on the mattress, the further down it can sink. Stains are always easier to tackle when they’re on the surface, rather than embedded into the fibres, so always try to treat the stain while it is still in the pillow top area, and try to avoid letting the stain soak down into the mattress itself. Cleaning a pillow top doesn’t need to be as difficult as it seems, so there’s no excuse to put it off – the quicker the better.The soft padding of a pillow-top mattress helps ensure a good night's rest, but it also provides a highly absorbent surface for stains.
Urine, blood or spilled liquids quickly soak into the cushioned top. Acting promptly can minimize the depth of the stain, but only proper cleaning will remove it completely. Pillow-top mattresses require similar stain removal methods as a regular mattress, but it can take longer for the thicker padding to dry properly. Blot up the stain with with a clean rag if it's still wet. Removing the liquid promptly prevents it from soaking into the pillow-top padding. Vacuum the mattress surface with the upholstery attachment to remove any dirt on the surface prior to stain removal. Dilute an upholstery shampoo with water per the package instructions. Apply the shampoo sparingly to the stain, working it into the fabric with a soft brush. Avoid applying too much and keep the padding in the pillow top as dry as possible. Moisten a sponge with white vinegar. Blot the stain with the vinegar to remove the shampoo residue and to help neutralize any odors, such as from urine stains. Air-dry the mattress quickly and thoroughly.
Set the mattress outdoors in sunshine or aim a fan at the wet spot to hasten drying. If moisture penetrated deeply into the pillow top, use a wet-dry vacuum to suck out the excess moisture. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain if an odor remains. Leave the soda in place for eight hours, then vacuum it from the mattress. Things You Will Need Rags Vacuum Upholstery shampoo Scrub brush Sponge Vinegar Fan (optional) Wet-dry vacuum (optional) Baking soda Tip References Michigan State University: Matress Care and CleaningOhio State University: Quick and Easy Stain Removal Photo Credits Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media Suggest a CorrectionSeeing as how we spend almost 1/3 of our entire life lying horizontally on a mattress – one would think it would stand alone atop of our list of regular cleaning duties..but lets face it, we rarely think about cleaning the mattress. The problem is, once you strip away all the sheets, you’re left with a mattress that has a cover that you can’t remove – it’s not like there’s a zipper and you can simply unzip the cover and throw it into the washing machine – no, the sad truth is – once we pull all the sheets off, we tend to turn a blind eye to whatever nastiness might live atop the mattress itself.
Mattresses can harbor spills, stains, dirt, dust, dust mites and worse – so, maintaining a clean mattress is important for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that your partially clothed body is lying on top of it with only a sheet separating you. This is an important step because it removes the dust, dead skin cells and other debris that lands on your mattress and which accumulates, en masse, over time. Consider doing this every time you rotate your mattress; Now, the important part here is to use a clean upholstery attachment, because remember that your vacuum sucks up all kinds of nasties and you don’t want to be depositing those on your mattress. We have a post and video on how to clean your cleaning tools, which teaches you how to do this. Remember to vacuum the mattress as well as the foundation, if you can manage it. You can fancify your mattress vacuuming by adding another step, and that is deodorizing. I guess with all that sweat, dust and other fun stuff your mattress handles, it can start to develop it’s own unique aroma.
To combat this, simply sift baking soda over your mattress, leave for thirty minutes and then vacuum up with that upholstery attachment. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer so it will definitely help neutralize any odours. Note however, that it won’t really clean any stains in this ‘dry’ cleaning method. If you like essential oils, add five drops to the baking soda pre-sift and you’ll get to enjoy that lovely scent for a few nights thereafter. Stains come in 3 varieties (protein, tannin and grease), but only one usually ends up on your mattress – and that would be a protein stain – and the reason we’re only going to cover protein stains here is because blood, sweat, vomit, urine and other bodily liquids are what we usually have to contend with on a mattress. As with any stain, it’s best to tend to it as soon as possible to avoid the stain setting in. Liquid stains need to be blotted up first with a cool, wet cloth and then excess moisture blotted up with a dry cloth.
Remember to use a a pressing motion, rather than a circular motion to lift the stain to avoid further rubbing the stain in. Also remember that heat sets protein stains so only use cold water when handling these. Fresh protein stains can usually be removed with a mixture of salt, baking soda and water. Create a paste, rub it on the area and brush off 30 minutes later. Then, use some cool water on a damp cloth to remove the excess and allow to dry. If that doesn’t work, upgrade your solution and try my favourite homemade stain remover, consisting of 2 parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap. Gently apply the stain remover to the area, gently brush in with a cleaning toothbrush and wipe up five minutes later with a cool, damp cloth. This should also help with any unsightly discolouration. Some people love using enzyme cleaners to remove protein stains, and you are welcome to try this, they are highly effective. Just remember to use as little liquid as possible and to ensure your mattress is completely dried before using it again to avoid growing your very own mold spores.
Placing fans in the room can speed up the process. Some folks swear by deep cleaning or steam cleaning their mattresses. Now, what I know is that mattresses don’t do well with moisture so I don’t use these methods, although I have access to both a deep cleaner and a steam cleaner. I also know that there are professional service providers who do this and those with allergies or very difficult mattress stains can consider using a professional rather than hacking it on their own. These folks are trained and have access to great extraction equipment. I’d trust them over me, particularly when it comes to my most beloved and crucial sleeping tool. Turn and/or flip your mattress so it will wear evenly, do this at the turn of every season and rotate clockwise. My husband and I have about 100 lbs difference between us, so rotating the mattress means we prolong the life of the mattress and even out the wear. It takes a grand total of 45 seconds to do. No water on your mattress – mattresses really don’t like water, and memory foam mattresses can’t actually handle liquids at all.
With memory foam or Tempurpedic mattresses, liquid gets trapped in the cellular structure and has nowhere to go. On that note, never, ever get your memory foam mattress wet. If you need to spot clean, be super stingy with the liquid and blot like a mad man or woman. Use fans to dry the mattress so if that mattress gets wet, use fans to assist in dry time and if you have access to a wet dry vac, use that to help extract moisture. Don’t think about sleeping on mattresses until they are completely dry. We’ve been asked about how to deal with bedbugs. This is a serious issue and should not be a DIY project. Act fast and call a professional. Have them treat your mattress, room and any other affected areas of the house immediately. If you get – them you want them gone, and these guys know how to do it. Now you may recall at the beginning of this video that I mentioned something about a tip which would save your mattress from spills and stains and the like – well, its not really a huge secret but a mattress protector is one of the best investments for your mattress – there are a few different types, which I have linked below if you are interested in learning more.