How to Clean a Mattress at Home (And When to Go Pro)

The average person spends about a third of their life in bed. Yet most mattresses go years — sometimes an entire lifetime — without being properly cleaned. Here's a complete guide to what you can do at home, and when it's time to call in a professional.

Why Cleaning Your Mattress Matters

A typical mattress contains:

• Dust mites — Up to 2 million can live in a single mattress, feeding on dead skin cells
• Body oils and sweat — The average person sweats about half a liter per night
• Dead skin cells — We shed about 30,000–40,000 cells per hour
• Bacteria and fungi — Warm, moist environments like mattresses are ideal breeding grounds
• Allergens — A major trigger for asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis

This isn't meant to alarm you — it's normal. But it does explain why regular cleaning matters, especially for anyone with allergies or respiratory issues.

What You Can Do at Home

Monthly: Vacuum

Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to go over the entire surface of the mattress — top, sides, and any crevices. This removes surface dust, skin cells, and some allergens. It won't deep-clean, but it's good maintenance.

For Fresh Stains: Spot Clean Immediately

1. Blot the stain immediately with a clean, dry cloth — don't rub
2. Mix cold water with a small amount of dish soap or enzyme cleaner
3. Apply sparingly with a cloth and blot — never soak the mattress
4. Rinse by blotting with cold water only
5. Allow to air dry completely before putting sheets back on

For Odors: Baking Soda Treatment

1. Strip all bedding
2. Sprinkle baking soda generously over the entire mattress surface
3. Let it sit for at least 2–4 hours (longer is better — some people leave it overnight)
4. Vacuum thoroughly

This is effective for mild odors and general freshening. It won't eliminate deep-seated smells or remove stains.

The Limits of DIY Mattress Cleaning

Home methods are good for surface maintenance, but they can't:

• Remove dust mites and their waste from inside the mattress
• Extract old, set-in stains (especially protein-based ones like blood or urine)
• Eliminate deep odors embedded in the foam layers
• Sanitize the interior of the mattress

When Professional Cleaning Is Worth It

Professional mattress cleaning uses hot water extraction — the same method used for carpets — to draw out deep contaminants without over-saturating the mattress. This is genuinely different from anything you can do at home.

Get your mattress professionally cleaned when:

• It's never been professionally cleaned (especially if it's more than 2 years old)
• There are visible stains that DIY methods haven't removed
• There's a persistent odor even after baking soda treatment
• Someone in your household has worsening allergy symptoms
• A child or pet has had accidents on the mattress

How Often Should You Get Professional Mattress Cleaning?

For most households: once per year. Every 6 months if you have pets, allergies, or young children. Atlanta's humidity makes this especially important — the warm, moist climate accelerates dust mite growth and can cause musty odors to develop faster than in drier climates.

Bottom Line

Vacuum monthly, spot-clean stains immediately, use baking soda for mild odors, and get a professional deep clean once a year. Your mattress is an investment — most good mattresses last 8–10 years with proper care. Regular cleaning protects that investment and, more importantly, the health of everyone sleeping on it.