How to Clean a Mattress (Including Stains and Odours)

Your mattress is one of the most used surfaces in your home. The average person spends approximately 8 hours a night in contact with it — that's a third of their life. In that time, it absorbs sweat, skin oil, dead skin cells, and anything else that makes it past the sheets.

The result: a mattress that hasn't been cleaned accumulates a significant biological load over time. Dust mites, their waste products, skin cell debris, sweat residue, and in many cases, stains. Most people clean their sheets regularly and never clean the mattress beneath them.

This guide covers how to clean a mattress properly — general maintenance, stain removal by type, and odour treatment.

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How Often Should You Clean a Mattress?

Basic vacuum and air: Every 6 months minimum. Seasonally is ideal.

Spot treat any stains: Immediately when they occur. Fresh stains are far easier to remove than set ones.

Deep clean: Annually, or when there's a specific issue (staining, odour, post-illness).

Mattress protector: A quality, washable mattress protector dramatically reduces the frequency and intensity of professional mattress cleaning in Adelaide needed. Wash the protector monthly.

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Step 1: Strip the Bed and Wash Everything

Remove all bedding — sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover, and the mattress protector. Wash all of it, including the mattress protector, on the hottest cycle appropriate for the fabric. For allergy management, 60°C is the minimum temperature to kill dust mites.

While the laundry is running, clean the mattress.

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Step 2: Vacuum Thoroughly

Use your vacuum cleaner's upholstery attachment to vacuum the entire mattress surface.

Where to vacuum:

• The top surface — slow, overlapping passes
• All four sides
• The seams and edges where the top and sides meet (these trap significant debris)
• Any tufting or quilted buttons (use the crevice attachment for these)

Don't rush this step. A thorough vacuum removes a significant amount of dry debris — dead skin cells, dust, pet hair, and dry residue from previous staining — that would turn to paste if you introduced any moisture.

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Step 3: Deodorise with Baking Soda

Baking soda is an excellent mattress deodoriser. It absorbs odour molecules from the mattress surface and the layer just below it.

1. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the entire top surface of the mattress. The more the better — a full box isn't excessive for a queen mattress.

2. Gently rub the baking soda in with a brush or gloved hand — this helps it penetrate slightly into the mattress surface.

3. Leave for a minimum of 30 minutes. Ideally several hours. If you can leave it for a full day (if you have somewhere else to sleep), even better.

4. Vacuum up all the baking soda thoroughly — leaving baking soda in a mattress can damage some foam types over time.

For a particularly musty mattress: add 10–15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the baking soda before applying. Eucalyptus has antimicrobial properties and the scent deodorises.

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Step 4: Air the Mattress

If at all possible, move the mattress to a location where it gets direct sunlight and air circulation. Adelaide's sunny climate makes this genuinely effective — UV light kills dust mites and bacteria, and fresh air removes odours.

Leave in sunlight for several hours if possible.

If moving the mattress isn't practical, open the bedroom windows fully and use a fan to circulate air over the mattress surface for at least an hour.

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Stain Removal: By Type

Different stains require different treatments. Using the wrong approach can set a stain permanently.

Blood Stains

Blood contains proteins that coagulate when heated. The most critical rule: always use cold water on blood stains. Hot water permanently sets blood stains.

For fresh blood:

1. Blot immediately with a cold, damp cloth — don't rub.
2. Mix a solution of cold water and a small amount of dish soap.
3. Apply with a cloth and blot — not rub — until the stain lifts.
4. Rinse with cold water on a clean cloth.
5. Blot dry thoroughly.

For dried blood: Dried blood is harder to remove. 3% hydrogen peroxide (from a pharmacy) applied to the stain and left to fizz for several minutes breaks down the dried blood proteins. Blot, don't rub. Repeat as needed. The hydrogen peroxide should bleach the stain — check the mattress fabric first on an inconspicuous area as hydrogen peroxide can lighten some materials.

Urine Stains (Including Pet Urine)

Urine stains require immediate action for best results. The longer urine sits, the more thoroughly it soaks into foam and the more the odour becomes embedded.

For fresh urine:

1. Blot up as much moisture as possible immediately — press firmly with a stack of paper towels or a dry cloth. Don't rub.
2. Mix: 250ml cold water + 2 tablespoons white vinegar + 1 tablespoon dish soap + 1 teaspoon baking soda.
3. Apply the solution to the stain and leave for 10–15 minutes.
4. Blot up the solution.
5. Apply a generous layer of baking soda to the damp area.
6. Leave to dry completely (this is important — the baking soda absorbs moisture and odour as it dries).
7. Vacuum up the dried baking soda.

For old urine stains/odour: An enzyme-based cleaner (available from pet supply stores and some supermarkets — brands like BioZet Attack or Nature's Miracle) breaks down the uric acid compounds that create urine odour. Standard cleaners mask the smell temporarily; enzyme cleaners eliminate it.

Apply according to product instructions, ensure it reaches into the mattress to the depth of the stain, and allow to dry completely.

Sweat Stains (Yellow Discolouration)

The yellow staining that develops on mattresses over time is primarily from sweat and body oil. It's not immediately removable once it has set and yellowed, but it can be significantly lightened.

Method:

1. Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and cold water, with a few drops of dish soap.
2. Apply to the stained area with a cloth.
3. Leave for 30 minutes.
4. Blot up — don't rinse (rinsing adds moisture that needs to dry).
5. Apply baking soda to the damp area and leave until completely dry.
6. Vacuum.

This lightens the staining significantly but may not remove it entirely if it has been there for years.

Vomit Stains

1. Remove any solid material by scooping (not rubbing) — wear gloves.
2. Blot up moisture with paper towels.
3. Apply a solution of cold water, dish soap and white vinegar.
4. Leave to dwell, then blot.
5. Neutralise odour with a baking soda application.
6. For persistent odour, an enzyme cleaner is the most effective solution.

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Keeping a Mattress Clean: Ongoing Habits

Use a quality mattress protector. A waterproof, washable protector is the single best investment for mattress longevity and hygiene. It creates a barrier against sweat, spills, and allergens. Wash monthly.

Change bedding regularly. Weekly sheet changes reduce the buildup transferred to the mattress surface.

Let the bed air. Pull the covers back for 15–30 minutes after getting up. This allows moisture from overnight sweating to evaporate rather than being trapped under the bedding.

Treat stains immediately. The longer any stain sits, the more thoroughly it sets. A stain treated within minutes is dramatically easier to remove than one treated a week later.

Flip or rotate annually. Most modern mattresses are not designed to be flipped, but rotating 180 degrees ensures more even wear.

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For mattress cleaning as part of a whole-home deep clean, or for advice on professional mattress steam cleaning services in Adelaide, contact PF Cleaning Adelaide.

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Written by Victor Jacon — Master Cleaner & Home Detailing Specialist, Founder of PF Cleaning Adelaide.