How To Clean & Care For Your Mattress
Cleaning your mattress regularly is important to ensure it remains hygienic, fresh and cosy so you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep. It’s also smart to look after any new mattress that you buy, to make sure it remains in the best shape possible for many years to come. But to keep your mattress looking and feeling as good as new, you’ll need to know exactly how to clean and care for it.
In this ‘how to’ guide, we’ll be sharing our expertise on looking after your new mattress and cleaning your old one to make sure it stays fresh.
How To Look After A New Mattress
One of the best ways to ensure your mattress stays clean and in top condition is to properly look after it from the start. Taking great care of your mattress, whether it’s foam, pocket sprung or a hybrid, will reward you in the long run as you enjoy many nights of blissful sleep on a lush, clean mattress.
Use a mattress protector
Mattress protectors have a range of benefits from plumping up your mattress to offering an extra layer of protection from dirt. Any potential spills or food marks will be prevented from impacting your mattress by your protector, leaving your mattress free from dirt. They’re also far easier to clean than your entire mattress, as most mattress protectors are machine washable.
Wash your bedding regularly
By keeping your bed sheets fresh, you can ensure that your mattress stays fresh too. If your sheets are left for too long, bacteria can form and, as a result, be transferred to your mattress. Regularly washed sheets will keep your sleeping space clean and fresh.
Keep a cool bedroom
Regularly opening your windows and keeping the temperature in your room relatively cool will keep your mattress much fresher. This is because bacteria and other unwanted nasties thrive in warmer environments, so by keeping the environment cool, you can reduce the chances of these unwelcome guests taking up residence in your lovely clean mattress.
Be careful with your snacks
Everyone loves breakfast in bed but if you are going to snack amongst your sheets, make sure you’re careful of any crumbs or spills that could make their way onto your mattress.
How To Clean Your Mattress
Over time mattresses naturally pick up dirt and bacteria, so you’ll need to freshen them up once in a while - every six months to be more specific. Our simple yet effective advice is to always check the label on your mattress and follow the laundry advice accordingly. As every mattress is unique, it’s important you stick to the provided instructions to keep it in the best possible condition. For example, our Cool Gel Foam Hybrid Mattress has easy-to-follow instructions stating that for best results, wash the removable zip cover at 30 degrees. Always be sure to wash your mattress cover at the recommended temperature to be on the safe side.
If you’ve removed your label, don’t worry. You can find the washing instructions for any DUSK mattress in our Product Care dropdown menu.
How often should you clean your mattress?
Cleaning your mattress isn’t something you’ll need to do every few months but it is recommended that you deep clean your mattress at least twice a year. This will prevent any bacteria that has collected from worsening and any odours from being left too long.
You should also take this opportunity to flip your mattress too, as this helps keep the filling evenly distributed and should be done every six months. If you’re using a double mattress and tend to sleep on one side, it’s important to flip your mattress to even out the wear. Similarly, if you share a mattress with your partner, this can increase the rate at which your double, king size or super king size mattress will wear.
Why do you need to clean your mattress?
Cleaning your mattress is an important part of maintaining a hygienic bedroom. Over time, your mattress can host all sorts of dirt. If left for long periods of time, this can worsen and even start to affect your allergies, as a build-up of dust can cause difficulty breathing. Bi-annual cleaning of your mattress can prevent any unwanted dirt from reaching health-affecting levels.
Do you need a new mattress?
If you’re questioning whether or not you need a new mattress, a deep clean may just solve the issue. However, if your mattress is over eight years old, regardless of its cleanliness, it’s recommended that you trade it in for a newer one. If you’re shopping for a new mattress but aren’t sure which style to go for, take a look at our Mattress Buying Guide.
After many years, it’s unlikely that your mattress is still robust and although you may not notice the difference day-to-day, once you lay on a brand new mattress, you’ll almost certainly feel the difference. You’ll be desperate to enjoy a much cosier bed!
If you’ve got an old mattress you’re looking to trade-in for a new DUSK replacement, we can remove your old bed or mattress for a fuss-free swap, as part of our Bed and Mattress Recycling Service.
We will then divert your old bed or mattress away from UK landfills to ensure that all materials are recycled.
Have you got any useful mattress cleaning tips? Let us know over on Facebook and Instagram, or take a look at our blog for more home inspiration.