how to deep clean your mattress in 5 easy steps.

There’s clean sheets… and then there’s a clean mattress.

You know that crisp, just-washed bedding feeling? Just imagine that… but underneath too.

We spend around a third¹ of our lives lying on our mattresses (yes, it’s true). And during that time, our bodies are busy shedding skin cells and moisture, which is exactly the kind of thing dust mites love to feast on. So if your mattress hasn’t had a proper clean in a while (or ever), here’s how to fix things.

what you will need:

• Vacuum cleaner (with upholstery attachment)
• Clean cloth
• Bowl of lukewarm (or cold) water
• A little smol bio laundry detergent or smol washing up liquid
• Bicarbonate of soda 
• (Optional) handheld steam cleaner

5 smol steps to a cleaner mattress.

step 1: the first vacuum.

• Remove your bedding (duvet, pillows, sheets etc) and pop the covers in the wash. 
• Using the upholstery or crevice attachment, vacuum the surface of your mattress. 
• Pay special attention to the seams, edges and corners where dust likes to gather.

Doing this every time you rotate your mattress is a great habit to get into.

step 2: tackle stains.

Whether it’s tea, sweat, or something a bit more… mysterious, mattress stains happen. But they don’t have to stay.

• Mix a little smol bio or smol washing up liquid with some water.
• Dab (don’t rub!) with a clean cloth.
• For blood stains, use cold water only. Hot water sets protein stains (making them harder to shift).
• For memory foam mattresses use as little water as possible.
• Allow the stain to fully dry before making the bed. 

Top tip: less is more when it comes to water. A damp cloth is more than enough (mattresses don’t like getting soaked).

step 3: (optional) steam it.

Got a handheld steam cleaner? It’s helpful if you have allergies… and now’s its moment.

• Fill your steamer and let it heat up fully.
• Open windows to help with drying and ventilation.
• Hold the steamer just above the mattress surface (don’t press it in).
• Move slowly across the top, working in small sections.
• Don’t forget the sides and underside if you can access them.
• Let the mattress dry completely before remaking the bed (use a fan if needed).

If your mattress is memory foam, skip this step because steam and moisture can damage the material.

step 4: bicarb magic.

• Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over your mattress and gently press it in with your hands. 
• Leave it to do its thing for at least an hour (the longer you leave it, the better).
• Bicarb is brilliant at soaking up odours and generally freshening things up.

step 5: one last vacuum.

• Vacuum up the bicarb and admire your work. 
• Check all surfaces are fully dry before replacing your bedding.
• Turn down your sheets and leave the bed to air until it’s time to settle down.

keep your mattress fresh in between cleans.

Try these easy smol steps for ongoing freshness everyday:

• Air your bed daily by pulling back the covers for 30 mins minimum.
• Wash your bedding weekly (or at least fortnightly) smol bio, non-bio or fragrance-free all do the trick.
• Line dry when you can because sunshine helps kill bacteria naturally (and you’ll save energy)
• Flip or rotate your mattress seasonally, especially if you share a bed.
• Use a mattress protector (it’s like a washable shield for your bed).

¹ U.S. National Library of Medicine’s NCBI 2006