How to clean a mattress?
Question:I am wanting to clean a mattress that has been in storage for a little while. It is stain free, and everything... Just a little dusty and dingy looking.. But other than that it still looks and feels brand new. I don't have a steam cleaner or shampooer. Just my hands, wash cloths, and green scrubby pads.. I have antibacterial dish soap, and hand soap... Bleach and Color safe bleach... Lysol Spray, Febreeze, a vacuum cleaner and that is about it... I don't want to do anything that smells too strong. I am pregnant. But I need to get it cleaned and refreshed. We have company coming to stay for a few weeks.
Answers:
I would vacuum it if you have the attachments. Put the hose on it and the soft brush thing and vacuum away.
Or you can use 1cup of vinegar and a gallon of water and mix. Then use that to get the dust off. Vinegar is safe for you and the baby, and the nice thing is the smell fades as it dries.
Or you can put a mattress pad on the bed. I've purchaced some at Wallmart for like $6.00. What the guests can't see won't hurt them.
Sprinkle it with baking soda, let it sit for a few minutes and then vaccuum it. There was an artical in good housekeeping magazine about stuffed animals that had mold growing on them and this was there suggestion for them, so I thought it would work for the mattress...good luck!
Mattress stores have cleaning sprays, or you can just clean it with a damp washcloth and lite soap. Give it a good scrub and let it dry.
Every once in awhile I spray them down with Lysol and vacuum. You need a really good, powerful vacuum. Our Kirby works very well. If it's dusty I'd vacuum, then Lysol, then vacuum again. Also use a quality mattress pad.
take it out in the yard and beat it for a while use a bat or something then vacuum it and after you vacuum the whole thing over spray it with fabreexe and let it air out
i said to take it outside because then the dust you will beat out wont be in your house you don't want to clean up one mess by making another
The lysol spray is the best bet.
Truly the best way to clean it is using a steamer. Just cleaning with a rag and blotting it to dry will tend to wick dirt on the outside into the interior padding, and without suction its hard to get it out. Many grocers rent steamers, I would not advise using your own vacuum unless it is a wet/dry type. If you do have a wet/dry (shop-vac) or other way to suction the liquid I would recommend a mild mixture of the color safe bleach to wash it followed by water to rinse out residual detergent... Also it never hurts to ask a friend if they have a steamer you can borrow.
Vacum it to get all the dust off. If you can sit it outside to air out in the sun that will help. Then sprinkle it with baby powder before making it up.
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