by Eric Hod | Design Manager, Hudson’s Furniture
A Step-by-Step Guide for Stains, Smells, & Allergens
On average, we spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping, which means regularly cleaning our mattresses is super important. However, according to Dyson’s Global Dust Study, more than 75% of people never vacuum their mattresses, even though a mattress quietly accumulates sweat, dead skin cells, pet hair and dander, dust mites, bacteria, pollen, and other particles over time that work their way through your sheets and deep into the material.
Because we cover our mattresses with sheets, it’s easy to assume washing our bedding is sufficient. But despite what our eyes can see, dirt and allergens still migrate through the fabric and into the mattress, where they build up. Luckily, cleaning a mattress properly is simpler than we realize and doesn’t require any specialized equipment.
This guide shares with you all the tools you’ll need to get the job done correctly, how to tackle specific stains, how to clean your mattress without damaging it, and tips for keeping your mattress fresh for years to come!
At a Glance
Strip all bedding and wash it with laundry detergent in hot water. Then vacuum the full mattress surface thoroughly moving side to side, then top to bottom. Sprinkle baking soda across the entire surface and let your mattress sit undisturbed for 2 to 4 hours. Then vacuum the mattress again. Finally, spot treat any visible stains. Use fans to facilitate air dry and allow to dry fully before remaking the bed with freshly washed sheets. Use a waterproof mattress protector to maintain cleanliness and plan a full deep clean every six months to keep your mattresses fresh and supportive for years.
Jump to what you want to know:
- What you need to clean a mattress
- How to clean a mattress step by step
- How to clean a memory foam mattress
- How to remove specific mattress stains
- How to get rid of mattress odors
- How to reduce allergens and dust mites
- How often should you clean your mattress?
- Why you should invest in a mattress protector
- Frequently asked questions
What You Need to Clean a Mattress
Basic supplies:
- Vacuum with an upholstery attachment
- Baking soda (a full box for a queen or king)
- Clean white cloths or microfiber towels
- Spray bottle
- Cold water
- Mild dish soap or enzyme cleaner (a spray that uses natural enzymes to break down biological stains and odors at the source)
For stain-specific cleaning, you may also need:
- White vinegar
- Hydrogen peroxide (for innerspring, hybrid, and latex mattresses only)
- Enzyme cleaner for urine or biological stains (look for products labeled “enzymatic” or “enzyme-based” near laundry or pet care supplies)
Do not use bleach, harsh chemical sprays, or steam cleaners on a mattress. Bleach breaks down foam and upholstery fibers. Steam cleaners push more moisture into the material than the mattress can release quickly, creating conditions for mold and mildew to develop deep inside.
How to Clean a Mattress Step by Step
This process works for traditional innerspring, hybrid, and latex mattresses. If you have a memory foam mattress, read through this section first, then review the memory foam section below before you begin.
Step 1: Strip the bed & wash everything
Remove all sheets, pillowcases, mattress covers, and protectors. Wash them with your regular laundry detergent in hot water at 130°F or higher. According to the American Lung Association, washing at that temperature is one of the most effective ways to kill dust mites. While the laundry runs, focus on the mattress.
Step 2: Vacuum the entire surface
Attach the upholstery tool to your vacuum and work across the full top surface in slow, overlapping passes, moving side to side. Then go back over the entire surface a second time, this time moving from top to bottom. Vacuuming in both directions lifts significantly more dust, skin cells, and debris than a single pass alone. Finish by vacuuming all four sides, giving extra attention to seams and crevices where particles collect.
Step 3: Deodorize with baking soda
Sprinkle a thin, even layer of baking soda across the full top surface. Baking soda draws out moisture and neutralizes odors from sweat, body oils, and everyday buildup rather than masking them. Let it sit undisturbed for 2 to 4 hours. Keep the room still during this time. Turn ceiling and floor fans off and keep the windows closed, ensuring the baking soda is not disturbed and no outside allergens settle on the freshly cleaned surface.
Step 4: Vacuum again
Vacuum up all of the baking soda using the same upholstery attachment. Work slowly and cover the entire surface, focusing again on cracks and crevices. Baking soda left behind feels gritty under the sheets.
Step 5: Spot treat any stains
With the surface clean and dry, address any visible stains. The right solution depends on the type of stain. See the chart below for specific guidance. Remember to blot stains rather than rub. Rubbing pushes stains deeper into the mattress fibers. For best results, work from the outer edge of the stain inward, using a white cloth to avoid transferring dye onto the mattress. After treating each stain, press a clean, dry towel firmly over the area to draw out as much moisture as possible.
Step 6: Air dry fully, then redress the bed
Do not put sheets back on until the mattress is completely dry. Point one or more fans directly at your mattress’s surface. Any area treated with liquid must be completely dry before making the bed. This will prevent the creation of mold and mildew, which can be very difficult to remove. If you treated multiple stains or large areas, plan for the mattress to need several hours to dry fully.
While the mattress is still drying, go ahead and rotate it head to foot. Once it is fully dry, if you have a double-sided mattress, flip it over and repeat Steps 2 through 4 on the other side. Never flip a mattress that is still damp. Both rotating and flipping regularly help distribute wear across the mattress more evenly, so no single area breaks down ahead of the rest.
How to Clean a Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam absorbs liquid quickly and releases it slowly, so keeping it as dry as possible is the main concern. Too much moisture can get trapped deep inside the foam, and once that happens, mold and mildew can grow long before you notice anything on the surface.
The cleaning steps are the same as above, with a few important restrictions.
Do not use these on memory foam:
- Steam cleaners: heat and moisture degrade the foam structure
- Hydrogen peroxide: it discolors and damages memory foam
- Stiff brushes or abrasive cloths
Memory foam cleaning steps:
- Remove all bedding and wash it with detergent on a hot cycle.
- Vacuum the full surface, sides, and seams using the upholstery attachment. Work in slow, overlapping passes moving side to side, then repeat, moving top to bottom.
- Sprinkle baking soda across the full surface. Let it sit for 6 to 8 hours to absorb odors and moisture, then vacuum it up thoroughly.
- For visible stains, apply mild dish soap diluted in water or an enzyme-based cleaner, which is a spray that uses natural enzymes to break down biological material like urine, sweat, or pet odor at the source rather than masking it. Do not use hydrogen peroxide on memory foam. Lightly mist the stained area rather than soaking it. Blot with a clean white cloth, then press a dry towel firmly over the spot to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Point fans directly at the surface and let the mattress air out completely. Redress the bed only after the mattress is fully dry.
How to Remove Specific Mattress Stains
Using the wrong solution on a stain can make it permanent. On memory foam, it can damage the foam itself. Use this chart to match the right approach to the stain.
How to Get Rid of Mattress Odors
For light, general odors, baking soda is a sufficient medium for neutralizing smells and absorbing moisture. Being slightly basic, baking soda counterbalances the pungent, lingering odors caused by acidic compounds. But not every mattress smell is caused by acid. Pet urine, excessive sweat buildup, and musty or mildew smells each come from a different source, which means each one needs a different approach to actually treat it. The sections below explain what is behind each smell and why the suggested method works.
Pet Odors
Pet urine and dander leave behind biological material, proteins and bacteria, that bond with mattress fibers. Baking soda can mask the smell, but it has no ability to break down biological material, which is why pet odors come back even after cleaning. Enzyme cleaners are built for exactly this. They contain natural enzymes that break down the specific proteins and bacteria causing the smell, eliminating the odor at its source.
Look for products labeled “enzymatic” or “enzyme-based,” usually found near pet care or laundry supplies. Apply directly to the affected area and let it sit for 15 minutes. Blot as thoroughly as possible with a dry towel, pressing firmly to pull out as much moisture as you can. Point a fan at the area and allow it to dry completely before putting sheets back on.
Sweat & Body Odors
Sweat and body odor smells are acidic. Baking soda handles mild, surface-level cases well because it counterbalances that acidity. When those smells have built up in the fibers over time, though, the acidity goes deeper than baking soda can reach. White vinegar is particularly effective at breaking apart the stubborn compounds that cause old sweat smells to linger, cutting through what baking soda alone cannot.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Mist the surface lightly from a distance, aiming for an even coat rather than soaking the material. Let it sit for a few minutes, then blot with a dry towel and point a fan at the surface until it is fully dry.
Musty or Mildew Smells
A musty or mildew smell is not a surface odor. It means moisture has worked its way inside the mattress and sat there long enough for mold or mildew to begin forming deep within the material. Unlike pet odors or sweat, this is not a chemical problem that a spray or powder can neutralize. Baking soda, vinegar, and enzyme cleaners all work on the surface of the mattress. None of them can reach what is happening inside it.
If the smell is faint and appeared recently, point fans directly at the surface for several hours to draw out as much moisture as possible. That is worth trying for very mild cases. If the smell is strong, keeps coming back after cleaning, or the mattress fabric shows any discoloration, mold or mildew has taken hold inside the material, and no cleaning approach will fix it. Replacing the mattress is the right call.
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on shed skin cells and thrive in warm, humid environments. Every mattress has them. Allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes are not caused by the mites themselves. They are caused by the proteins in dust mite waste.
How to Reduce Allergens & Dust Mites
Dust mites cannot be fully eliminated, but regular cleaning, such as vacuuming your mattress, keeps their numbers low enough to make a real difference for most people. The American Lung Association specifically recommends vacuuming with a HEPA filter as one of the most effective ways to lower allergen levels in bedding.
Steps that actually help:
- Wash bedding weekly with detergent in hot water at 130°F or higher
- Vacuum the mattress at least monthly with a HEPA-filter vacuum
- Use a quality waterproof mattress protector (covered in the next section)
- Keep bedroom humidity below 50%, since dust mites thrive above that level
- Run fans or an air purifier regularly to maintain indoor airflow and reduce moisture
- Use allergen-encasing covers on both the mattress and pillows
Allergy or asthma symptoms that flare at night or first thing in the morning are often a sign the mattress needs more frequent attention. Cleaning every 2 to 3 months instead of every 6 tends to help.
How Often Should You Clean Your Mattress?
Cleaning frequency depends on the household. A home with pets, young children, or allergy sufferers needs more frequent attention than a guest bedroom with light use. Use this chart as a starting point.
For most households, a full deep clean twice a year combined with monthly vacuuming and weekly hot-water laundry keeps a mattress in good condition. A quality mattress protector gives you a bit more flexibility on timing, since it catches most of the daily buildup before it ever reaches the mattress.
Why You Should Invest in a Mattress Protector
A cleaning routine deals with buildup after the fact. A mattress protector prevents it. Sweat, spills, skin cells, and allergens never reach the mattress material in the first place, which means cleaner sleep, less frequent deep cleans, and a mattress that holds up longer.
What to look for in a mattress protector:
- A waterproof barrier that is also breathable, so it does not trap heat
- Hypoallergenic material that blocks dust mites and allergens
- Machine-washable construction that holds up with regular washing
- A secure, fitted design that stays in place overnight
- The correct depth for your mattress, especially on thicker models
A waterproof protector is a good call for any household with young children, pets that sleep in the bed, or anyone who tends to sleep warm. Once it is on, day-to-day mattress maintenance becomes much simpler.
Browse mattress protectors at Hudson’s Furniture + Mattress to find the right fit for your mattress size and sleep style.
Pick Your Right Mattress At Hudson’s
Regular mattress maintenance is less about effort and more about consistency. If incorporated into your weekly, monthly, and yearly cleaning routines, mattress hygiene can ensure your bed remains a place of rest and relaxation, while investing in a high-quality mattress protector ensures your hard work lasts.
Cleaning, of course, only works when the mattress itself is still worth maintaining. Sagging, persistent body impressions, and morning soreness that survives a thorough clean are worth paying attention to. Our guide, Does Your Mattress Need to Be Replaced?, covers every sign to look for and helps you decide what makes sense for your situation.
Whether you are looking for a mattress protector to extend the life of what you have, or you have decided it is time for something new, Hudson’s Furniture + Mattress is a great place to start. Browse our full mattress selection online, or stop into one of our Florida showrooms and speak with a sleep specialist who can help you find the right fit.
FAQs
How often should you clean a mattress?
A full deep clean every six months is the standard recommendation for most households. For homes with allergies, pets, or young children, every two to three months is more effective. Monthly vacuuming and weekly hot-water laundry maintain hygiene between deep cleans.
Can you use baking soda to clean a mattress?
Yes. Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralizes odors rather than masking them. Sprinkle it evenly across the surface and let it sit undisturbed for 2 to 4 hours with fans off, then vacuum thoroughly. It is safe for all mattress types and requires no special equipment.
How do you get stains out of a mattress?
Match the solution to the stain type. General stains respond to cold water and mild dish soap. Urine stains respond to an enzyme cleaner or a white vinegar and water mixture followed by baking soda. Blood stains require cold water only since hot water sets them, plus hydrogen peroxide on non-memory-foam mattresses. Always blot rather than scrub and treat stains as quickly as possible.
Can you clean a memory foam mattress the same way as a regular mattress?
No. Memory foam needs less liquid and cannot come into contact with hydrogen peroxide, which discolors and damages the foam. Use a mild soap solution or enzyme cleaner applied sparingly, blot thoroughly, and let the mattress dry completely before putting sheets back on. Steam cleaners are also off-limits on memory foam.
What is the best way to get rid of mattress odors?
Baking soda is the most effective everyday option. For pet odors, apply an enzyme cleaner before the baking soda step. Sweat-related smells often respond to a light mist of diluted white vinegar followed by baking soda. A musty smell usually indicates trapped moisture and may require more than surface cleaning can provide.
Does a mattress protector actually make a difference?
Yes. A quality waterproof protector keeps moisture, spills, and allergens from reaching the mattress at all. Stains are prevented before they start, allergens have less to cling to, and the mattress simply lasts longer. It is one of the most practical ways to protect something you sleep on every night.
Can you steam clean a mattress?
No. Steam cleaners introduce moisture that can take days to dry inside the mattress, which creates conditions for mold and mildew before you would notice anything wrong. Steam can also degrade memory foam. Vacuuming, baking soda, and spot cleaning are safer and more effective for all mattress types.
How do you dry a mattress after cleaning it?
Point one or more fans directly at the surface to circulate air and speed up drying. Indirect sunlight helps if the mattress can be positioned near a window without being in direct sun. Do not put sheets back on until the mattress is fully dry, including any areas where liquid was applied. A damp mattress under clean sheets creates mold and odor problems quickly.
When should you replace a mattress instead of cleaning it?
Cleaning works when the mattress is still structurally sound. Visible sagging, persistent body impressions, morning soreness that does not improve, or odors that cleaning cannot resolve are signs the mattress may have reached the end of its useful life. Our guide, Does Your Mattress Need to Be Replaced? covers every signal worth knowing.
