How to Clean a Mattress

Even with clean sheets, mattresses absorb moisture and collect dust and dust mites. You can't wash a mattress like bedding, but you can remove surface dust, freshen it and deal with stains. That's especially worthwhile for anyone with allergies or asthma.

Take off everything – sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover and mattress protector – and wash them according to the care labels. Many bedding items can be washed at 60°C, which is often recommended to help reduce dust mites. Air the bare mattress for a few hours with the window open if you can.

Use the upholstery attachment and go slowly over the whole surface, then the sides. Pay attention to seams, buttons and the edges, where dust gathers. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is best if anyone in the house has allergies.

Sprinkle a thin, even layer of bicarbonate of soda over the mattress and leave it for a few hours – the longer the better, ideally in a sunny room. It helps absorb moisture and odours. Then vacuum it all up thoroughly.

The golden rule is: never soak a mattress. Water that gets deep into the filling takes ages to dry and can lead to mould and smells. Instead, dampen a clean cloth with cold water and a little mild detergent, and dab at the stain. Blot with a dry cloth and repeat. Use cold water for anything biological – hot water can set it.

Check the manufacturer's care label first, especially for memory foam, which can be damaged by too much moisture. Some stains, particularly old ones, won't come out completely.

While the bed is stripped, rotate the mattress head to foot. Some mattresses are designed to be flipped too – others, including many pillow-top and memory foam mattresses, are one-sided. The manufacturer's guidance tells you which.

A washable, breathable mattress protector is the best way to keep a mattress clean. It catches spills and sweat before they reach the mattress, and you can wash it every few weeks. Anti-allergy protectors are available for people with dust mite allergies.

While you're working on the mattress, look at pillows and duvets too. Many synthetic pillows and duvets can be machine washed – check the label – and benefit from a wash every few months. Larger duvets may not fit in a domestic machine; launderettes and dry cleaners have bigger drums.

Feather and down pillows and duvets need gentle washing and thorough drying, as damp feathers can smell. Tumble drying on low with a couple of clean tennis balls helps break up clumps. If pillows stay lumpy or flat after washing, it's probably time to replace them.

Children's mattresses face the most accidents – drinks, illness and the occasional night-time leak. A waterproof but breathable protector is a must. If an accident does reach the mattress, blot up as much as you can straight away, dab with a cloth dampened with cold water and a little mild detergent, and let it dry fully before making the bed.

For persistent smells or stains, professional mattress cleaning is worth considering, or a replacement if the mattress is old.

Many carpet and upholstery cleaners also clean mattresses using low-moisture extraction and specialist tools, which lifts more from deep in the fabric than vacuuming can. It's useful for children's beds, guest rooms, rented properties and after illness. See our carpet and upholstery cleaning page for what's usually offered.