You might be thinking, “Why would I want to get my mattress wet? Isn’t it a bad idea to use a steam cleaner on a mattress?” It can be a scary concept to imagine using water to sanitize your mattress, but you’d also be glad to know that steam cleaning isn’t the same thing that it used to be in the past.
With all of the revolutionary technological advances when it comes to cleaning tools, learning how to use a steam cleaner on a mattress is common amongst home owners around the world. With that being said, you should still use a steam cleaner with the utmost amount of care, but you would be surprised at the sheer amount of bacteria you could be sleeping on every night without one.
Tips and Tricks for Steam Cleaning a Mattress
Before you get started, it’s important to take these tips and tricks into account. All mattresses are different and you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting the deepest and safest clean for the material.
Checking the Owner’s Manual
The first thing you’ll want to do is read through the manual that is included with your mattress and if there isn’t one, you can always look it up online through the manufacturer’s website. Not all mattresses are created equally and some allow steam cleaning while others may not.
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Last update on 2023-08-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Preparing for Drying Time
It’s also important that you prepare yourself for a relatively long drying time before you can continue to sleep on your mattress. Even though steam cleaning uses far less water than if you were to scrub the mattress with a bucket of soap and water, you should still account for up to 5 hours of drying time. Typically this information will also be included in your owner’s manual.
Quarterly Cleaning
When it comes to figuring out when you should steam clean your mattress, it all depends on its use and your personal preference. If you enjoy eating on your mattress or if you allow your pets to sleep with you, cleaning it every 4 months can be a great way to keep it sanitized and free of allergens.
Though for home owners that only sleep on their mattress, you can get away with steam cleaning it once every 6 months, if not once a year. You won’t want to steam it too often as you might wear away at the materials within the mattress.
Vacuuming the Mattress
Another important thing to know is before you start any type of steam cleaning, you must vacuum your mattress first. There can be millions of hidden particles of dust, pet hair, human hair, and loose debris hidden within its fibers. The last thing you’ll want is to get all of these items wet, as it’ll make them impossible to clean out.
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Getting Started with Steam Cleaning Your Mattress
Below are the step-by-step instructions that you should follow to properly steam clean your mattress.
Step 1: Set Up the Mattress
The best way to get the dirt and grime out of all of the nooks and crannies of your mattress is to set it up against a wall. You’ll want to remove it from the box spring and your bed frame to make sure you’re not getting other parts of your bedroom set wet. Also, it helps to make the drying time much faster than if it were lying flat.
Depending on the design of your mattress, propping it against a wall makes it easier to clean both sides to get the most thorough clean possible.
Step 2: Set Up the Steam Cleaner
Since steam cleaners are the perfect tool for disinfecting surfaces without the need for chemical cleaning solutions, all you’re going to need is water (preferably distilled). Remove the water reservoir from the cleaner and fill it with water, replacing the reservoir once it is filled. You can then plug in the steam cleaner and wait for it to heat up in order to produce the perfect amount of steam.
Step 3: Choose the Burst Steam Setting
The majority of steam cleaners typically offer different steam settings, much like an iron would. It’s recommended that you choose the burst steam setting as it gives you more control over the amount of vapor that is poured into your mattress. Also, it significantly reduces the drying time.
With bursting the steam you can still get rid of stains and odors, just without having to deal with an excess amount of water.
Step 4: Use the Steam Cleaner on the Top, Bottom, and Sides
Now it’s time for you to start cleaning. You’re going to want to steam clean your mattress the same way that you would your floors, which is by gliding the cleaner along the entire surface of the mattress. Once you’ve completed the top, flip the mattress against the wall and clean the bottom.
It’s also important to pay attention to the sides, as these areas are where the most amounts of dirt and grime can hide. The more you time you put into cleaning all of the nooks and crannies, the less dirt you’ll be sleeping in.
Step 5: Dry the Mattress
The most in-depth part of the cleaning process is now done, and all you have to do is allow your mattress to completely dry. Even if it feels a little bit damp, you will not want to put sheets on it. Otherwise, the water will soak into the material and fester, creating mold.
If you’re working on a tight timeline and can’t allow up to 5 hours for regular drying, set up a room fan in front of the mattress and leave it on. Be sure to flip it after an hour or so to ensure that all traces of water are removed.
Learning how to use a steam cleaner on a mattress can give you a more peaceful rest at the end of the day. If you’ve begun to notice that your mattress is giving you allergies or itchy skin, it could be as a result of dirt and hidden allergens. With the combination of vacuuming and steam cleaning, you’ll have a safe and comfortable place to rest your head.
