How often should you be cleaning your mattress and how do you do it?

Unless you’re one of those responsible adults, you probably aren’t washing your bedsheets as frequently as you should.

What about your mattress?

Let’s be real – if you can’t be bothered to chuck your pillowcases in the laundry every few days, the need to clean your mattress has likely slipped your mind.

Even if you do think ‘wait, should I clean this?’, it’s tricky to know where to start. You can’t just bung a mattress in a washing machine and hope for the best.

So how often should you be cleaning your mattress? And how on earth do you do it, beyond just covering the entirety of your bed in squirts of Febreeze?

Neil Robinson, Chief Sleep Officer (yes, that is his real job title) at Sealy UK advises giving your mattress a proper wash every six months or so.

This is to get rid of all the dirt and dead skin that accumulates, even underneath bed sheets, and to prevent dust mites.

If you suffer from allergies, however, it might be worth cleaning your mattress more frequently to get rid of any triggers.

There’s a super simple way to clean your mattress. First, strip it of all its sheets and pillows, then give it a good vacuum on all sides to remove any dirt, hair, or crumbs (we see you people who like to eat biscuits in bed).

Once that’s done, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all over the mattress. Leave to air for a few hours then vacuum it all away, making sure to get every last grain. This helps to get rid of any bacteria and damp and make your mattress feel fresh again.

You can also find special mattress cleaning sprays which work in a similar way. If you have light stains on your bed you can use an enzyme cleaner to get rid of them.

After that you can hit your mattress with your Febreeze or other linen sprays to give it a nice scent. Don’t absolutely douse the area – you don’t want your mattress to get too wet.

It’s important to note that this method only works for those every-six-months cleans. If your mattress is absolutely filthy, seriously stained, or has dust mites, a vacuum job won’t cut it.

In these extreme cases, it’s time to call in a professional. They’ll have high power cleaning products to tackle the serious stuff.

Once you’ve cleaned your mattress, take steps to make sure it stays clean. That includes regularly washing all your bedding, buying a mattress protector, and letting your bed air.

‘While you may have been told that making your bed every morning is the key to a successful day, this could actually do more harm than good,’ says Neil. ‘Dust mites love warm, moist environments, meaning when you make your bed in the morning you’re actually creating the perfect environment for them to thrive.

‘Throw back the covers and remove the pillows from your bed for at least 20 minutes every morning, to allow moisture to evaporate and get the air circulating, which will help to prevent dust mites.’

There, now you have a reason to be lazy and leave your bed unmade.

Neil also recommends banishing pets from the bedroom to clear their fur from the area, but we simply can’t get on board with that suggestion. Is a lack of dust really worth missing out on cuddles with your cat every morning?

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