How to Clean a Used Bed

Co-authored by Elias Weston

Last Updated: May 26, 2021 References

The average person spends about a third of their life in bed. This means that most mattresses are full of dead skin cells and the dust mites that live off of them, not to mention stains that can occur from various bodily fluids over time. Whether you just purchased a used bed or want to clean up your current mattress, removing debris and deodorizing it can help prolong its life. Try to repeat the cleaning process every 6 months to keep your mattress in great shape!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Dust and Debris

1
Take off all sheets and bedding and wash everything in hot water, if possible. Remove the blankets, sheets, pillows, and pillow cases. Put anything that is machine washable in your washing machine and wash it all in hot water with your usual laundry detergent.^{[1]
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- If your mattress doesn’t have bedding on it, this step doesn’t apply. For example, if you just bought a used bed, the mattress will typically be bare. This applies more to a mattress that you personally have been using for at least 6 months.
2
Use a vacuum’s upholstery attachment to vacuum the whole mattress. The upholstery attachment is the nozzle with a brush that fits onto the end of the vacuum’s hose. Start with the mattress laying flat, then vacuum the whole top surface and the sides of the mattress with the brush nozzle attachment.^{[3]
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- Mattresses are full of dust, dead skin cells, and other dirt that accumulates over time. Always start cleaning a used mattress by vacuuming to get rid of this loose debris.
Tip: Make sure the upholstery attachment is clean before you use it to vacuum your mattress. If there is lint and other debris stuck in the brush, pull it all out with your fingers before you use it. That way, you won’t transfer any more dust and dirt to the mattress when you clean it.

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3
Switch to the vacuum’s crevice attachment to vacuum out cracks and creases. The crevice attachment is the long skinny tool with an angled slot at the tip. Use this to get into nooks and crannies on the mattress, such as underneath the edges of a pillow top or down in the cracks between the mattress’ quilting.^{[5]
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- These cracks and crevices are where the most dust and dirt tends to settle and accumulate, so make sure to get in as deep as you can.^{[6]
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4
Flip the mattress over and repeat the process for the other side. Turn the mattress over to reach the bottom side. Use the upholstery attachment to vacuum the whole bottom surface and use the crevice tool to vacuum out any cracks and creases on the bottom side.^{[7]
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- If the bed has a box spring, repeat the vacuuming process for the box spring as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Rid of Stains

1
Mix up a homemade stain cleaning solution to treat bodily fluid stains. Make a paste by combining equal parts baking soda, salt, and water or equal parts lemon juice and salt. Combine 2 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part liquid dish detergent or 1 tsp (4.9 mL) liquid dish detergent and 1 cup (236.5 mL) of warm water to make a liquid cleaner.
- All of these solutions can work to remove stains from bodily fluids like blood, sweat, and urine. They can also work for stains from things like wine or other foods.
- Just choose a solution based on the ingredients you have available around your home or try several different solutions and see which one works best.
2
Apply your homemade stain cleaning solution to the stains. Rub the cleaning solution into each stain, overlapping it by about ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm). Let it sit for 5-30 minutes, then blot or wipe it up with a damp cloth and let the mattress dry.^{[8]
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- If the stain is still there, you can reapply the cleaning solution and let it sit for longer or try a different cleaning solution.
3
Spray stains with a pet stain remover as an alternative to a homemade solution. Apply the cleaner to the stains according the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging. Blot it up with a damp cloth and let the mattress dry.^{[9]
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- Pet stain cleaners mainly work for removing protein-based, bodily fluid stains.
- You can buy pet stain cleaners at a pet supply shop or online.
4
Steam clean your mattress if you cannot get stains out with spot cleaning. Run a steam cleaner over your entire mattress using long, slow strokes. Wait at least 3-4 hours for your mattress to dry before you put any sheets and bedding on it.^{[10]
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- Open up windows and doors to get some airflow in the room and help speed up the drying process.
- It’s super important to let your mattress dry completely before you make the bed and use it. If you don’t, mold and mildew can develop and ruin your mattress.
- An added benefit of steam cleaning is that it will disinfect your whole mattress as well.
Tip: You can rent steam cleaners from certain department or home improvement stores, if you don’t already have a steam cleaner. You could also get your mattress professionally steam cleaned, if you prefer.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Disinfecting and Deodorizing a Mattress

1
Spray the mattress with a disinfecting spray that’s safe for fabric. Hold the bottle of disinfectant about 6 in (15 cm) away from the mattress and squeeze the trigger or press down the nozzle to spray. Work your way from one end of the mattress to the other, moving the bottle side to side across the mattress as you spray to cover the entire mattress evenly.^{[11]
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- You could also make a homemade disinfectant spray by combining equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
- Disinfecting sprays also help with neutralizing odors. Commercial disinfecting sprays even come in different scents like lemon or lavender, so you can choose your favorite smell.
2
Cover the entire surface of the mattress with baking soda for at least 1 hour. Lay the mattress with the top side facing up. Sprinkle baking soda generously all over the surface and let it sit for at least 1 hour to neutralize odors and soak up sweat and grime.^{[12]
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- Don’t worry about using too much baking soda. If you’re cleaning a used mattress that you just bought, or it’s the first time you’re cleaning a mattress you’ve been using for a while, go ahead and dump out a whole box of baking soda on the bed.
- For mild odors, letting the baking soda sit for 1 hour or so is often enough to neutralize them. If you have a particularly stinky mattress, 24 hours of sitting will yield the best results.
Tip: Squeeze up to 5 drops of lavender oil or another essential oil into the baking soda before you sprinkle it on the mattress to make your bed smell even better. Essential oils are very concentrated and potent, so don’t overdo it by using more than a few drops.
3
Vacuum up the baking soda with your vacuum’s hose attachment. Run the hose slowly over the whole mattress in overlapping strokes to suck up all the baking soda. Use the crevice tool to vacuum the baking soda out of any hard-to-reach spots.^{[14]
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- Repeat the process on the other side of the mattress when you're done for best results.^{[16]
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4
Air out your mattress outside in the sun, if possible. Fresh air and UV light are great natural odor killers and UV light can also kill bacteria. Take your mattress outside on a sunny day and leave it there for a few hours to deodorize it and get rid of any lingering bacteria on the surface.^{[17]
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- Naturally, this isn’t always possible or practical, especially if you live in an apartment in the city. However, if you have a yard or a large patio or balcony, take advantage of it to air out your mattress!

Expert Q&A

Question

How do clean stains from a used bed?

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.

Elias Weston

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

If you want to be certain you're really tackling any stains on the mattress, go with a store-bought enzyme cleaner. You won't be able to make it at home, but you'll know you're getting the best results.

Warnings

If a used mattress has mold and mildew, get rid of it and replace it. It’s not good to be breathing in mold spores while you sleep. If getting rid of the mattress isn’t an option, you can try scrubbing the mold out with bleach, white vinegar, or rubbing alcohol.^{[18]
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