Freshening up a mattress becomes a huge task that I often tend to put off. I’m sure there are many others like me. But once you do it, the whole process is straightforward and rewarding.
In this article, I’ll discuss the three best ways to deodorize and sanitize a mattress: baking soda, commercial products, and going the DIY route.
Before starting any step, keep in mind to:
- Remove any excess fillings or covers from the mattress
- Put the bedding in the washing machine while you work on the mattress
- Lightly vacuum the mattress and all its crevices to maximize the impact of the product you use.
Pro Tip: To completely sanitize your mattress, use a steam cleaner. Any bacteria or dust mites that may be present in your mattress will be killed by a vapor cleaning system.
All the techniques below work for all types of mattresses. Memory foam, in particular, can require a more rigorous approach or repeated treatment for a satisfying outcome.
Let’s start with the most hassle-free of the lot, baking soda.
Also Read: How To Remove Stains Out of a Memory Foam Mattress
How to Refresh a Mattress with Baking Soda
Baking soda is available in every household, and refreshing your mattress with it is also pretty easy. These reasons make this process my #1 choice.
For most mattresses, you only need 1 cup of baking soda. However, you might need more for larger beds. I like to mix something that smells nice, such as an essential oil you have in your home, in the baking soda before applying.
Take the baking soda and put it in a typical strainer. Now, you shake it slowly, moving it all over the mattress – aiming for an even spread. Leave the baking soda on for an hour, and then use a vacuum to remove it all.
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. It soaks up all odors from the mattress and gives it a fresh scent.
If you want to add some stain-removal power to your baking soda, you can mix it with vinegar to clean the mattress.
However, the cleaning potential of this solution will differ depending on what type and quality of mattress you’re using.
You can also use a dabbing approach here. Rinse a cloth in a mixture of baking soda and water, dabbing the stains repeatedly while keeping a concentrated dose of baking soda powder on the stain directly.
This will take some time, but the stain should clear up sooner than later.
Bonus tip: Baking soda also disinfects the surface while killing off dust mites and, in some cases, bedbugs, too, by dehydrating their bodies!
The next section is how to deodorize a mattress without baking soda.
Using a Commercial Mattress Deodorizer and Sanitizer to Fresh and Deodorize a Mattress
I’ve used several cleaners ranging from Simple Solution, which is great for pet stains, to Resolve’s liquid cleaner and spray. However, the best one that I recommend to everyone is Rocco & Roxie’s Pro Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator
Click here to see this product on Amazon
It’s a powerful mattress cleaner, and I prefer it over the others because:
- It’s eco-friendly
- Comparatively, this one is stronger than most others on the market
- Pocket-friendly
- It comes with a certification from the Carpet and Rug Institute
- Perfectly safe for pets and kids
All in all, this one is the best cleaner. Don’t be offended by the specific mention of “pet urine.” It’s multipurpose, and anything that can get rid of pet urine can eliminate all other types of stains and odors from a mattress or other fabrics.
Before using any stain remover, odor remover, deodorizer, or sanitizer, keep in mind that you should first test it.
It’s like trying a new cream on your wrist before applying it to your face. Next, put the cleaner on a small corner of the mattress or another similar fabric to see if the area becomes colored. Likely, it won’t.
Using the Stain & Odor Eliminator is easy.
First, you open the spray cap and spray on the stain. If you wish to clean the whole mattress evenly, spray it on the entire surface. For better results, take a clean towel and rub it throughout the surface once the liquid has settled in.
Give the product time to do its job and clean off with a wet towel.
Using a Mattress Refresh Spray DIY
I still recommend baking soda as it disinfects and brightens the fabric.
But if you don’t have baking soda and wish to use something other than a commercial cleaner/deodorizer, I have one last option for you.
Put together a few ingredients to make a powerful cleaner that can eliminate stains and freshen mattresses and other fabrics, rugs, and even hard surfaces. It will, however, lose its potency over time so keep that in mind.
For better results, vacuum and clean the surface with a wet towel first.
Also, once the solution is ready, you’ll need to put it in a spray bottle because spraying is much more efficient than pouring the solution.
- Make a solution by mixing 1 cup of vinegar (distilled white vinegar is the best) in 2 cups of (cooled) boiled water. You can decrease the water’s ratio if you need a more robust cleaner that evaporates faster (short-term use).
- Add some lemon drops to it.
- Add any suitable essential oil for fragrance, such as lavender or peppermint.
Spray this mixture evenly and lightly. Let the solution dry on its own. Repeat it a few times; depending on what kind of mattress it is, it will soon become fresh and clean!