Five ‘simple’ steps to follow for a sparkling clean mattress - ‘works very well’

For those who don’t know where to start when it comes to cleaning a mattress, Jonathan Warren, director at Time4Sleep has offered his advice on how to best to tackle the chore. He said: “A

thorough mattress clean could help tackle any allergy flare-ups you have been experiencing at bedtime and generally improve your health and sleep quality overall.

“It is also important to know when it’s time to invest in a new mattress and how to choose the right one for you and your body.”

Jonathan said: “Simply grab a vacuum, bicarbonate of soda, mattress cleaning spray and a damp cloth and you’re ready to go.

“Cleaning your mattress is as simple as gathering these four common household items. Bicarbonate of soda and mattress cleaning spray won’t stain your mattress and neutralises stubborn

odours.”

The next step is to strip the dirty bedding and wash it all in a warm water wash. Bedsheets are a breeding ground for bacteria and germs and it is recommended they are washed every week.

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Jonathan added: “Kill any nasty bacteria by washing your bedsheets at a high temperature.

“For polyester blends, wash using warm water. Cotton can be washed at much warmer temperatures without damage.”

There are several ways to try to remove stubborn stains from a mattress but the expert recommended bicarbonate of soda and a cleaning spray.

He explained: “For stains, it's best to invest in a mattress cleaning spray or a carpet cleaner and lightly spray over the affected area. 

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“Dab the stain from the outside in (so you don't accidentally make the stain bigger) and leave the spray to work its magic before wiping away with a wet cloth.”

The expert then recommended spreading bicarbonate of soda over the mattress and leaving it to do the work, for up to 24 hours.

With the summer this year hotter than ever, it is important that any leftover lingering moisture and stubborn odours are taken care of.

The sleep expert said: “Using a combination of cleaning solution and bicarbonate of soda works very well against a variety of common household stains.”

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Lastly, it is important to vacuum the bicarbonate of soda up as well as any other dust and dirt which may be left behind.

Jonathan noted: “Run the hoover along the mattress, this will pick up any dust or dirt that is clinging to the fabric fibres.

“Make sure to wash your bedding frequently, use a mattress protector and vacuum around your bed to help protect your mattress from building up unnecessary dirt and dust.”

As well as mattresses, it is extremely important to wash pillows too, every three months according to one expert.

Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNexDay, told Express.co.uk: “As the average person spends a third of their life in bed, your pillow naturally becomes home to bacteria, dead

skin cells and dust - all of which can cause acne flare-ups and more.

“You should, therefore, wash your pillows every three months in the washing machine, however, make sure to check their wash label to see what wash suits them best.”

To wash down pillows, the expert recommended placing them in the washing machine, checking the label to see what temperature they wash best at.

Martin said: “When washing them, make sure to use a mild washing powder and include an extra spin cycle at the end to get rid of as much moisture to prevent the build-up of mould.

“Feather pillows can be washed the same as down pillows. However, they should receive a gentle cycle setting due to being made of natural materials. Do, however, check the care label for

full instructions.” 

Memory foam pillows cannot be placed in the washing machine and so it is best to wash them by hand in a bath tub with water and a mild detergent.

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