Mattress care: tips to help extend the life of your mattress
A mattress is a long-term investment in healthy sleep and improved mental and physical health. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to properly care for it in order to prolong its service life. The following tips will help keep your mattress in good condition for a long time.
In most cases a new mattress is purchased separately from the bed. Therefore, it is worth making sure that the mattress will have proper support right away when you buy it.
This will help to maintain its integrity and prevent premature wear and tear.
It is worth checking the recommendations with the seller or read the warranty policy.
Memory mattresses and other specialized orthopedic models usually require a firm frame.
Mattress protection
A mattress cover should be used from the start.
A good, high-quality protector provides waterproof protection from splashes and other nasty accidents, and reduces the amount of dust, debris and dirt that gets on the bed.
The mattress cover serves as a barrier to skin grease and sweat, and prevents the accumulation of allergens such as mold and dust mites.
Flip-over lift.
Any type of mattress needs regular flips, regardless of material or size. Some manufacturers say it’s not necessary, but flipping promotes more even wear and tear, and not flipping leads to depressions.
To ensure that the mattress wears more evenly, manufacturers recommend that it be lifted and flipped regularly. Newly purchased mattresses should be flipped every two weeks for the first four months, and then every three months thereafter.
No jumping on the bed
Sure jumping on the bed is fun, but it’s best to refrain from it. This rule works regardless of age. Jumping can damage the mattress and the bed frame. They can also cause injury.
Regular washing of bed linen
When a person sleeps, the metabolic processes in his body are still going on: sweat is secreted, the skin is renewed, hair falls out, etc.
Eating in bed is also not conducive to increased cleanliness. Dirt on the bed not only causes discomfort, but it can also get into the deep layers of the mattress, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites.
According to most experts, ideally the bedding should be washed every week or every two weeks. Even with a mattress cover, it is important to keep your bedding clean. The mattress cover should also be washed occasionally according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Airing
Mattress careIt is a good idea to let the mattress “breathe” from time to time. Every month or two, when it is sunny and dry you should take the mattress off and air the bed for a few hours.
It’s best if the mattress gets direct access to sunlight while doing so.
This helps control humidity levels as well as reduce the dust mite population.
Proper regular cleaning
In order to maintain sleep hygiene, every type of mattress should be cleaned regularly. This should be done by following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Many manufacturers include information on stain removal and general cleaning in the instructions, but if there are none, you should know that:
Most mattresses can be vacuumed.
Aggressive chemical cleaners should be avoided, as they can compromise the integrity of the mattress.
Stains can be treated with a mildly concentrated soap solution, but you should let them dry completely before making the bed.
Depending on dust levels, allergies, or personal preference, you should vacuum your mattress every 1 to 3 months and treat stains as needed.
A few professional tips for proper mattress care:
- To deep clean a mattress, you will need certain tools: a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery nozzle, or dishwashing detergent or mild stain remover, laundry detergent, baking soda, cleaning cloths, and cold water.
- The first thing to do is to remove the bedspread and all the bedding. You need to wash the sheets, pillowcases and mattress covers and let them spin in the washing machine. Washing all the bedding in hot water will help get rid of dust mites. Depending on the type of pillows you have, they can also be washed (but it’s worth double checking the care label).
- Put an upholstery nozzle on a vacuum cleaner and go over the entire surface of the mattress, including the sides. Particular attention should be paid to seams and crevices where hidden dirt or dust can be found.
- If necessary, treat the mattress with a stain remover. The stain remover you choose will depend on the type of stain and the type of mattress. In the case of stains of biological nature, you need to take an enzymatic cleaner. The cleaner is sprayed on a clean white cloth, and then blot the soiled area with it. After that, you can dampen another clean piece of cloth with cold water and continue blotting until the stain disappears. The goal here is to use as little cleaner and water as possible. This method is ideal for removing stains of blood, sweat, vomit, urine and other similar nasties.
- Sprinkle the entire mattress with baking soda. If the owner does not have the opportunity to put the mattress in the sun and fresh air, baking soda is best. A layer of baking soda is applied to the entire surface of the mattress and left for several hours. The baking soda breaks down the acid and absorbs any remaining moisture or odor. The longer the baking soda is left on the mattress, the better it will work! While the mattress is sprinkled with baking soda, you should open all the windows in the room to allow air and sunlight inside. The sun’s ultraviolet rays really help kill any mold or bacteria on the mattress. Once the baking soda has worked, you need to vacuum it thoroughly.
- Flip the mattress over. When one side is clean, you need to flip the mattress over the other side and repeat the previous steps so that it is all equally fresh and clean.
- Put the protector on. When the mattress is completely dry, you should cover the fresh mattress with a mattress protector, which will make it easier to clean in the future and protect it from stains, dirt and other nasties
Even with the best care, a mattress will wear out over time, usually after eight to ten years. It may or may not show wear and tear (like protruding spirals or sagging edges).