Can you steam clean your mattress? Most people don’t think about cleaning their mattresses unless there is a major stain or bad smell. Considering the mattress cannot fit in the washing machine, how can you eliminate the stain or smell? The answer is to clean the mattress with a steamer. Can I clean my mattress with a steam cleaner? The answer is yes. Steam cleaning helps remove allergens and allows you to rest easier knowing your bed is clean. While steaming a mattress is an effective way of getting rid of mites, dust, dirt, smells, bedbugs, bacteria, and dead skin cells, you have to do it right. This post is not about mattress sale Toronto, but about sharing helpful information on how to steam clean a mattress at home.
Let's Identify How Clean Your Mattress Actually Is Now
As aforementioned, most people don’t spend much time worrying about how clean their mattress is. While the mattress may seem clean, you have to consider the fact that you spend about a third of your life in bed. Moreover, even with the bedsheets and mattress cover on, the mattress comes into direct contact with our bodies. It thus collects skin cells, sweat, bacteria, dust mites and odours over time. A study found that a typical mattress can harbour 100,000 to 10 million dust mites. This shows why it is important to clean your mattress now and then.
Should I steam clean my mattress? The answer is a resounding yes. The beauty of using mattress steam is that it destroys all the microorganisms on your mattress. Steam cleaning is especially important if you have breathing problems such as sleep apnea, asthma or allergies. A clean mattress will improve your health.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cleaning Mattress with Steamer
Steaming Your Mattress — Advantages
Is it worth it to steam clean a mattress? The answer depends on a couple of factors. The first is the care you take to keep your mattress clean. If you sleep on a hypoallergenic mattress or use a mattress protector, you will not need to clean your mattress often. Conversely, if you sweat at night, sleep with pets, eat in the bed or have kids, your mattress will need to be cleaned frequently to prevent stains and smells. Steam cleaning uses steam that can be as hot as 250 degrees F. This is great for killing everything from dust mites to bacteria. It also removes dirt and stains. Moreover, steam cleaning is environmentally friendly because it only uses heat and water.
Steaming Your Mattress — Disadvantages
Although steaming a mattress offers the best way to keep your mattress clean and free from all manner of dirt and microorganisms, the technique has one flaw. The main problem with using a mattress steamer is that it gets your mattress wet. Needless to say, a high moisture level in any upholstered furniture promotes mildew and mould growth. This worsens allergies caused by a dirty mattress.
When cleaning your mattress, it is paramount that you be mindful of the moisture that the mattress collects. You also need to make sure your mattress is completely dry before you put the sheets back on. All the issues surrounding the disadvantages of steam cleaning revolve around moisture. So long as you dry your mattress properly, the benefits of steam cleaning a mattress outshine all other mattress cleaning methods.
Steam Clean Your Mattress with a Simple Process
1. Prepare Your Mattress
Now that you understand the pros and cons of steam cleaning a mattress, it’s time to learn about the steps involved. The first step is connecting the steam cleaner to start heating the water. You also need to open the doors and windows to allow fresh air. If possible, clean the mattress from outside the house. The sheets and pillows must also be washed.
2. Deodorize Your Mattress with Soda First
The next step is to deodorize the mattress using baking soda. For this, you need to sprinkle baking soda on the mattress. Baking soda will remove odours from the mattress and any other fabric. If you are cleaning a twin-sized mattress, you will need at least 250ml of baking soda to spread evenly over the mattress. Adjust the quantity accordingly depending on the size of your mattress.
A king or queen-sized mattress may need a whole box of baking soda to deodorize. While commercial scented deodorizing powders are available, normal baking soda is the best because it doesn’t have harsh chemical additives. It also works great in removing bad smells.
You can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the baking soda prior to spreading it on your mattress. Doing this will add a light perfume scent to the mattress. Eucalyptus, lavender or peppermint will both deodorize and remove dust mites from your mattress. To help the baking soda penetrate deeper and remove the stains, you should add a few drops of white vinegar or any laundry detergent to the baking soda. Leave the baking soda on the mattress for about an hour. This will give the baking soda enough time to absorb the smells and oils from the mattress. You may want to leave the baking soda for longer if the mattress has more pungent odours, such as urine. If possible, leave the baking soda for 24 hours. That way, you will be able to eliminate the tougher smells..
3. And Vacuum Your Mattress Next
You then need to vacuum the mattress slowly and thoroughly. Although you can use a hand-held vacuum to get the job done, a vacuum with a hose and a brush attached offers better results. Use short strokes over the mattress to suction as much dead skin, hair, dust, pet dander and dust mites as possible. Areas in frequent contact with the skin need to be vacuumed for longer. This is more so when vacuuming the area where you lay your head and feet. Vacuuming for longer in these areas will remove dust mites and dead skin cells.
Vacuuming the mattress before steam cleaning is crucial because it removes more dirt and loose fibres. This allows the steam to get even deeper when you start steam cleaning the mattress.
4. Now Let's Move On To Spotting Treat Stains
With most of the dirt and baking soda removed, it is time to spot and treat stains. A solution of water and gentle detergent dabbed on a stain will offer great results. Alternatively, sprinkle some extra baking soda on the stain and dab at it using white vinegar. You can also utilize a commercial laundry stain remover with enzymes that break apart stain molecules. Use the stain remover on the stain for not less than 15 minutes. You then need a damp microfiber cloth to mop up the stain remover.
Whichever method you use, don’t over-soak the stain with too much liquid. This is because to avoid issues after cleaning, your mattress will need to dry completely after washing it.
5. And It's Time to Steam the Mattress
Steaming should be done in sections so as not to miss anything. You should avoid hovering in an area for too long. You also need to steam the mattress using steady movements. Keep in mind that steam cleaning should only make the mattress damp and not soaking wet. Make sure you keep an eye on the amount of steam being released.
When applying the steam to the top of the mattress, use long but slow strokes. The steamer should be held just above but not touching the mattress. Start from the top left corner of the mattress and progress slowly to the right and then down in even rows until you cover the whole mattress with hot steam.
Make sure you steam the underside and sides of the mattress. If your goal is to get rid of bugs, the steam should be at a temperature of not less than 70 degrees Celsius. Most steam cleaners can get up to 100 degrees Celsius.
6. Allow Your Mattress to Dry
Moisture is the main problem with steam cleaning. That is why you must give your mattress enough time to dry completely. Leave the mattress to dry for about three hours. If you were steaming inside, open the windows and set up a fan to speed up the drying process. If the weather is good, place the mattress under direct sunlight. Placing a dry paper towel on the mattress and pressing it down will help determine if the mattress has dried completely.
Additional Tips for Steam Cleaning a Mattress
- Buy the right accessories: If you have to clean the mattress often, consider investing in a mattress protector that adds an extra layer of protection between your body and the bed. The protector can be washed easily in a washing machine.
- Minimize moisture levels around the bed: Your bedroom should be cool and dry. This helps prevent bacteria and mildew growth.
- The sun is your friend: Direct sunlight can keep the mattress clean and healthy. Consider placing your mattress under direct sunlight now and then.
- Use distilled water in your bed steam cleaner.
- Not all mattresses can be steam cleaned.
- Steam no more than once every six months.
Do you need more steam cleaning mattress tips? At Queensway Mattress, we are happy to answer any questions you may have and share expert tips on how to care for your mattress. Give us a call to find out more about our products and services.