Who else is ready to take spring cleaning to a whole new level? Open those windows, roll up those sleeves and get excited because we are going to walk through how to clean a mattress.
Gather your mattress cleaning supplies. To deep clean a mattress, you'll need certain materials on hand. Gather up:
A vacuum with an upholstery attachment / mattress tool & crevice tool (Dyson V15 Detect is the best),
one or two boxes of baking soda,
a sifter if you have one.
Strip the bed and wash all the bedding
Remove sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers and let them take a spin in the washing machine while you work on cleaning the mattress. Washing all the bedding in hot water will help get rid of any dust mites. Depending on the type of pillows you have, you may be able to wash them as well. (Double-check the care label.)
Vacuum the mattress
Grab your vacuum cleaner's upholstery attachment and go over the entire surface of the mattress, including the sides. Pay special attention to seams and break out the crevice attachment to get any hidden dirt or dust.
Sprinkle baking soda all over the entire mattress
If you can't put your mattress out in the sun and fresh air, baking soda is the next best thing. Sprinkle a layer over the entire top of the mattress and leave for several hours (or better yet, apply before an overnight trip). Baking soda will break down acid and absorb any remaining moisture or odor. The longer you can leave baking soda on the mattress, the better it will work! As the mattress sits with the baking soda, open any windows in the room to let the light and sunshine in. The sun's UV rays will actually help kill any mold or bacteria on the mattress.
Vacuum again
Once the baking soda has worked its magic, thoroughly vacuum it up. (If you have a fabric headboard, now's a good time to vacuum that, as well! Might as well get a fresh start with everything bed-related.) After you vacuumed up all the baking soda on the mattress, you will find that most likely the filter in your Dyson V15 (or any other vacuum) is clogged with baking soda. Wash the filter with cold water and let it dry for at least 24 hours.
Make the bed
When the mattress is clean you can make the bed with your clean linens. Start with the fitted sheet, followed by the top sheet. Put the pillows back in their cases, and return all pillows, blankets, and decorations to the bed as well.
Feel the mattress all over before making the bed to check for moisture. If you encase a damp mattress in linens and blankets, it won’t dry out and you'll have mold growth.