What Is the Best Way to Clean a Child’s Mattress?

There are many things to consider when cleaning a mattress, but how much work they do is not one of them. If you do not regularly clean your child’s mattress, it will become filthy and require much more effort. Here are ways that may help make cleaning children’s mattresses easier in the future.

Ways to Clean a Child’s Mattress

Vacuum the Mattress Cover with a Handheld Vacuum

Do not use an upright vacuum if you have a child’s mattress. These vacuums are designed for carpets and can accumulate dust and dander on the cover. Handheld vacuums deliver a more thorough clean because they can go into all corners and crannies of your child’s mattress.

Also, dust mites cannot live without carbon dioxide, and if you vacuum at least once a month, you will remove much of their food source and kill them off before they make your little one itchy at night. Vacuum all parts of your child’s mattress, but ensure you do not end up disturbing any stains or lice eggs.

Spot Clean with a Sponge

If you have a small spill on the mattress, do not use your vacuum’s hose to clean the spot. It spreads the stain, but you should use a moist sponge to wipe and clean gently. The vacuum is for much larger spills that are allowed to sit for longer than 5 minutes.

With the spot-cleaning method, you must identify the stains you want to remove. You can either gently scrub out these stains or scrub them off with baking soda and water. To get rid of bacteria and mold, use a bleach-based cleaner or traditional cleaners like white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or Dawn dishwashing liquid, along with a scrub brush.

Dry Cleaning Method

This method involves taking the mattress outside, covering it in a plastic sheet, and then spraying it with water. A fan or heat gun will help speed up the drying process. Once it is dry, vacuum it clean and let it air out for approximately 6 hours before putting sheets on it again.

Steam Cleaning Method

This method is similar to the steam cleaning method we discussed earlier. Select a steam cleaner with a soft brush attachment to scrub away all the bacteria and stains atop your child’s mattress. This method is probably the best way to clean a child’s mattress. It removes all stains and bacteria, but it’s a bit more expensive than the others.

Apply Damp-Rid Solutions to Prevent the Dust Mites from Spreading

Dust mites circulate in areas with high humidity and heat, so parents are concerned that their child’s mattresses will get infested. To prevent this, you can add damp-Rid solutions to the mattress as a barrier against their entry.

Treat Mattress With Disinfectant Spray

After vacuuming the mattress, apply a disinfectant spray on all parts the vacuum cleaner hasn’t sprayed. Let the disinfectant set for about an hour to let it air dry. When using an aerosol spray on your mattress, this should be done outdoors so as not to breathe in toxic fumes. If you are using a cleaning product, check the guidelines on the product and follow them exactly to get desired results.

Soap Scum Scrubbing Method

Soap scum can be found around the edge of your children’s mattresses. It’s from oils, hair products, makeup, etc. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away soap scum build-up until it is gone gently.

Wash the Mattress With Natural Cleaner To Get Rid Of Dust Mites And Mosquitoes

To keep animals away from your child’s mattress, mix up a mixture of equal parts of coarse salt and baking soda in a bowl or hot water. Remove the mattress and submerge it in the mixture for six hours. Don’t forget to rinse the mattress with plain water after soaking it in salt and baking soda. This will eliminate any residual salt or baking soda in the mattress, making it clean and fresh smelling.

Use Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution To Get Rid Of Stains And Smells

To clean stains from your child’s mattress, mix up equal parts of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in a bowl or hot water. You can also use warm water instead if you don’t want to use vinegar.

Wet a cloth with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide solution, and wipe off all stains from your child’s mattress. If you are cleaning stains from your child’s mattress, clean all parts of the mattress, including the seams and corners.

As soon as you get rid of stains on your child’s mattress, let it air dry before joining your family on their bed. You can also place some plastic covers over the mattress to prevent dust mites and insects from invading the area.

Salt Sanitizing Method

This method is to be used in cleaning children’s mattresses if you have a cover on your mattress that you can take off. Start by spraying the mattress with water and then sprinkle a light layer of salt. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, and then scrub it with a salted scrub brush. Finally, vacuum the mattress clean.

Scented sachet

If you don’t want to use sprays and perfumes on your child’s mattress (due to allergies, perhaps?), then using sachets can help freshen up your home. You can buy them from a store or make your own using natural items in your kitchens, such as cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, dried lavender, or fresh rosemary sprigs. Leave the sachets and change the filling every few months for the best results.

Wash sheets regularly

If any stains are found on the sheets from bug juices, foodstuffs, or even bodily fluids and waste matter, then you should get rid of them right away. Wash the sheets weekly with detergents or bleach, depending on your water quality. Also, make sure to check if the sheets are torn in any way.

What Is the Best Way to Clean a Child’s Mattress? – Conclusion

You should ensure that your child has clean and comfortable sleeping conditions, but it is also very hard to ensure this when they live in your own home that is full of pets and other people who could potentially spread the dust mites or other allergens that cause the irritation or itchiness while they sleep.

That can ruin their skin and even hinder their ability to rest well at night. Your child’s mattress is a very important part of their life, so make sure you take the time to make it clean, comfortable, and properly protected. That will help them to sleep well at night.