6 Cleaning Tips and Tricks for Beds and Mattresses

You spend nearly 1/3rd of your life asleep. Yet how often do you think about cleaning your bed? And really cleaning it - not just washing the sheets and calling it good. As an article from HGTV says, if we take care of our beds, they'll repay the favor in turn. If you're like most people, chances are you don't think about cleaning your bed - or your mattress - on a regular basis. However, there are plenty of reasons you should do this. Before diving into tips for cleaning your bed and your mattress, let's first take a look at why you'd want to.

Dust mite allergies

Dust mites feed on dead skin cells. Seeing as our skin spends so much time in contact with our bed, that makes our beds and mattresses the perfect feeding ground for eager dust mites. Some people are allergic to dust mites, and even if you aren't, it's possible to develop an allergy after prolonged exposure. No matter what mattress you own - a Tempur Pedic, Serta, Sherwood, or Beauty Rest - you'll eventually accumulate a nice little colony of dust mites to call your own. However, regular cleaning of both your bed and mattress will get rid of the dust mites, keeping your allergies at bay and creating a cleaner overall area in which to sleep.

Food build up

Do you eat in bed? Do you remember all those late-night snacks and boxes of greasy pizza you ate while laying in bed watching TV? All of the residue from that food is soaked up in your mattress. That's a bit disgusting when you think about how many years' worth of late-night food that might be. A mattress cover, like one you can buy from the Best Mattress Store, helps prevent the buildup of food and liquid in your mattress. But even if you have a cover, you'll want to clean that on a regular basis as well to ensure that you're not letting unnecessary food residue sit in your mattress.

Dirty mattresses don't smell good

Have you ever walked into a bedroom and been greeted by a musty, stale smell? There's a high chance that smell is caused by a dirty mattress. Since mattresses retain so much waste, they can give off a less-than-pleasant odor. Regular cleaning and maintenance will help your mattress smell fresh. Now that we've gone over the whys of cleaning your mattress and bed, let's take a look at some tips for accomplishing that task.

Seasonal rotations

This might seem odd to some who aren't used to regular bed maintenance, but experts actually recommend this tactic. It not only helps your mattress stay clean, but it also makes it last longer. When the seasons change, so should the position of your mattress. Unless your mattress manufacturer recommends differently in their information booklet, spin your mattress clockwise when spring gives way to summer, summer to fall, and fall to winter. This ensures an even wear of the mattress.

Don't be afraid to wield the vacuum

You vacuum every other part of your bedroom - so why not the mattress as well? Even just vacuuming your sheets, blankets, and pillows will do wonders to improve the cleanliness of your bed.

Know how to clean stains

If your late-night pizza and Netflix binges result in stains on your sheets and mattress, you need to know how to properly clean them. CleanMySpace.com recommends using the following process to remove stains from your mattress:

• Create a paste of baking soda, salt, and water
• Rub it on the stain and let sit for 30 mins
• Brush the remainder off and use a wet, cool cloth to clean any excess paste

The above process is most effective in removing protein stains, which happen to be the common stain found on mattresses.

Wash bedding with hot water

If you're not washing your bedding regularly, with water in excess of 130 degrees Fahrenheit, you're not doing anything to kill the dust mite population living in your sheets. It's recommended that you wash sheets and pillowcases weekly, and blankets and comforters on a six-week rotation. That's a bit more to add to the laundry list, but doing so will go a long way in ensuring that you're sleeping in a clean environment.

Get rid of down

If you have a favorite down pillow, this tip is going to be a bit difficult for you to read: you need to get rid of any and all down items. Allergies can be triggered by down, and just as with the rest of your bedding, down is a haven for dust mites. If you replace all your down products with materials made from synthetic fibers, you reduce the areas in which dust mites can live. You can easily find other pillows and comforters made from synthetic fibers that are just as comfortable as your down versions.

Don't ever sleep on a wet mattress

If your kids managed to spill a drink - or many drinks - on your mattress, you need to let it properly dry before sleeping on it. Air drying can take quite a while, so it's recommended that you use a fan to aid in the drying of your mattress. A wet dry vac can also make quick work of the drying process. At the end of the day, it may seem cumbersome to do all of this to your mattress and bed. However, this maintenance is essential if you wish to have a clean, healthy sleeping space. If you have any questions about mattress maintenance, contact your local mattress experts today. (Image source)