From prolonging your mattress’ lifespan and maintaining its quality and comfort to preventing the accumulation of dust, dirt, dead skin cells, and other contaminants, there are many reasons why it’s important to regularly clean your mattress, but it can be challenging to do this without a vacuum cleaner. But while a vacuum cleaner is the easiest way to clean your mattress, there are other methods that you can use to keep your mattress in its best condition.
Here are some alternative ways to clean a mattress without using a vacuum cleaner!
How to Clean a Mattress Without Using a Vacuum
Soapy Water Solution
A soapy water solution is great for even the most stubborn stains, and you can make it easily by combining a liter of cold water and a teaspoon of gentle detergent, fabric cleaner, or liquid dish soap into a bowl. Mix these until it begins to foam before dipping a clean cloth or soft brush into the solution. Your cloth or brush must be damp and not soaking wet as you really don’t want to introduce your mattress to too much moisture.
Work the soapy mixture into the desired area in circular motions as much as needed before getting another slightly dampened cloth and using this to wipe away the residue. Bring the mattress outdoors and place it under direct sunlight to quickly dry it, making sure to lean it against a wall to encourage air circulation.
Whether you’re dealing with urine stains or want to give your mattress a thorough disinfection, this easy-to-make solution will leave your mattress feeling clean and fresh.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Aside from stain removal, this option is also effective for general cleaning and eliminating dust mites. After putting some white vinegar into a spray bottle, lightly mist the entire mattress before sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda until the desired area is covered. Get some clean towels and use these to cover the mattress entirely before leaving it for two to four hours.
Once the time has passed, remove the towels and leave the mattress to dry completely. Finally, get a soft brush or a clean cloth to remove the excess baking soda left behind before bringing it under direct sunlight to eliminate the remaining moisture. This will help revive your soiled mattress and remove unwanted stains and impurities.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've summarized below the top 3 common questions asked by our readers about cleaning a mattress.
How Do You Get Rid of Dust Mites on Mattress Without Vacuum?
To get rid of dust mites on a mattress without a vacuum, there are two ways that you can try:
- Regular Mattress Cleaning: Dust mites are known for feeding on dust and dead skin, which can both be found on your mattress. However, by eliminating this through regular cleaning, you can also reduce the chances of dust mites on your mattress.
- Sunlight Exposure: Another great way to eliminate dust mites is by placing your mattress under direct sunlight. Apart from removing excess moisture and eliminating bacteria and germs, sun exposure can also kill pests like dust mites and is just a great thing to add to your mattress cleaning routine.
What Is the Best Way to Spot Clean a Mattress?
The best way to spot clean a mattress is by preparing a cleaning solution of soapy water in a bowl by adding some liquid dish soap or detergent to it. You can read more about this in the previous section.
How Do You Get the Smell Out of a Mattress Without a Vacuum?
To get the smell out of your mattress without a vacuum, you can sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the affected area before leaving it to work for around 15 to 20 minutes. Then, carefully rub it in with a clean cloth or sponge to really penetrate any surface odors. Finally, use a clean and dry cloth to wipe away the excess baking soda.
Other Cleaning Tips
Clean Mattresses Regularly
The best way to clean a mattress without a vacuum is by ensuring that dirt, dust, and debris don’t accumulate, and this can be done through regular cleanings. While there’s no recommended frequency when it comes to this, it’s a good habit to have as it helps keep your mattress fresher and cleaner. When cleaning, make sure to include the sheets, blankets, and other fabrics and linens.
Never Leave Stains to Sit
To prevent stains from leaving a permanent mark on your mattress, you must address these immediately as they come. This will help make stain removal much easier, while also stopping the stain from absorbing more deeply into your mattress. Make sure to never rub stains too aggressively as this will only push it further in. For liquid stains, you can sprinkle some baking soda around the area to absorb as much of it as possible.
Protect Your Mattress
Prevention is one of the most helpful things you can do to keep your mattress at its best, and you can do this by investing in a high-quality mattress cover. A mattress cover or protector acts as an added layer of protection that’ll prevent the stains from doing more damage and penetrating your mattress.
Leave Mattress Under Direct Sunlight
There are many benefits to exposing your mattress and leaving it under direct sunlight every once in a while. Aside from the fact that it’ll help dry up any remaining moisture in between the fibers, it can also eliminate nasty odors and other contaminants like bacteria and pests. Just make sure that you set the mattress against a wall to promote air circulation.
Reach Out to Professionals
Perhaps the easiest way to keep your mattress clean without a vacuum cleaner is by calling in professional cleaners to handle it for you. Professional cleaners from household cleaning companies like Luce offer mattress cleaning services that’ll surely leave you feeling brand new.
