How to Clean and Freshen Your Mattress

You spend around a third of your life on your mattress, yet it is one of the most overlooked things in the house. Sweat, dead skin, dust mites and the odd spill all build up over time. The good news is that freshening a mattress takes no special kit and about an hour of mostly hands-off work. Here is the method.

What you will need

• A vacuum with an upholstery attachment
• Bicarbonate of soda
• A few drops of essential oil (optional)
• Washing-up liquid or an enzyme cleaner
• Clean cloths and a spray bottle of cold water

Step 1: Strip and vacuum

Take off all bedding and wash it on the hottest wash the labels allow. Then vacuum the whole mattress, including the sides and the seams where dust and skin collect. The upholstery tool lifts far more than you expect.

Step 2: Deodorise with bicarbonate of soda

Sieve a generous layer of bicarbonate of soda across the whole surface. For a fresh scent, mix in a few drops of lavender oil first. Leave it for at least an hour, or ideally several, as it draws out moisture and neutralises odours rather than masking them. Then vacuum it all off.

Step 3: Spot-clean stains

Never soak a mattress, as the padding takes days to dry and can grow mould. Blot, do not rub.

Sweat and yellowing

Mix a little washing-up liquid with cold water, dab the marks, then blot with a clean damp cloth.

Blood or urine

Use an enzyme cleaner, which breaks down the proteins. Cold water only, as heat sets these stains for good.

Keep dust mites down

Dust mites thrive in warm, damp bedding and are a common trigger for allergies.

• Air the room daily. Pull the covers back and open a window for 20 minutes.
• Wash bedding weekly at 60 degrees to kill mites.
• Let sunlight in, as it is naturally hostile to mites and damp.

Protect it for next time

• Use a washable mattress protector. It is the single best way to keep the mattress clean.
• Rotate it head to toe every few months so it wears evenly. Flip it too if it is double-sided.

How often to do it

Vacuum and deodorise every six months, wash bedding weekly, and deal with spills the moment they happen. That simple routine keeps a mattress fresh for years. If a full-house refresh is on the list, you can book a GlowSpark cleaner to handle the bedrooms and beyond.

A clean mattress means better sleep and cleaner air in the bedroom. Want the whole home done? Book a GlowSpark cleaner from £19 an hour, or from £16 for members.