Can a mattress be steam cleaned? Here is what you should know about this process.
The mattress is one piece of furniture that gets frequent use.
This requires some form of maintenance by way of periodic cleaning and frequent changing of sheets among other things. The cleaning method used on mattresses depends on the objective.
Mattress Steam Cleaning Guide
There are several approaches to cleaning mattresses.
Here, the goal may be to remove stains, destroy pests like bed bugs and their eggs or just routine cleaning. Steam cleaning for the most part is often considered as a deep cleaning technique.
However, it must be properly executed for its benefits to be obvious. With that said, let’s get to business.
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Are you Up to the Task?
Not everyone will want to handle their steam cleaning needs.
In other words, this cleaning procedure can be deemed quite difficult or stressful for some persons. Under such circumstances, calling for professional cleanup may be considered the best bet.
Professional cleaners are able to perform a thorough cleanup and will often carry out satisfactory services. However, DIY enthusiasts will often prefer a more hands-on approach to cleaning.
If you fall into this category, you’ll mostly want to get the job done by steam-cleaning your mattress yourself.
For this to be possible, you’ll need to have the right tools and supplies. These will include a steam cleaner, vacuum with hose attachment, sufficient water, neutral cleaner (baking soda or laundry detergent will serve this purpose), vinegar, and dry towel.
While having the necessary supplies is important, it’s not enough as you also need to have the know-how. In other words, you’ll need to understand how to execute the job.
This article is written to address such need. Read on for such information and more.
Can You Steam Clean a Mattress? – Pros and Cons
Before proceeding with mattress steam cleaning, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of the procedure.
This cleaning technique is quite popular due to certain perceived benefits that include breakdown of tough stains and dirt on upholstered furniture.
As a deep cleaning technique, mattress steam cleaning helps with the killing of bacteria and dust mites. This is possible through the high temperature steam released into the mattress.
As an environmentally friendly technique, no it tends to have no adverse effect as it only consist of water and heat.
Are there disadvantages associated with mattress steam cleaning? Well, it depends on who you ask. For some people, the moisture released into a mattress can promote growth of mildew and mold which could worsen allergy conditions due to dirty mattresses.
However, mattress cleaning services boast about their highly efficient drying techniques that help remove any moisture left in the mattress. In a nutshell, mattress steam cleaning has real benefits when done right.
As long as the mattress is properly dried, it should cause no problems.
How to Steam Clean a Mattress
Ordinarily, the procedure involved in mattress steam cleaning wouldn’t interest persons with a preference for hiring a professional cleaner.
The opposite applies to those planning on performing a DIY procedure. The information here provides all the basic tips needed to do a good job.
Recall we earlier mentioned the cleaning tools & supplies needed to include as steam cleaner, vacuum with hose attachment, enough water, neutral cleaner, dry towels, and vinegar.
With these supplies provided, you’ll need to commence the cleaning process as follows;
Deodorize your mattress and have it vacuumed, next, identify any stains and spot treat same. This is followed by steaming the mattress surface and letting it dry.
Here, it’s obvious that the process isn’t as complex as it sounds.
Let’s highlight each of these steps to show you why.
i. Deodorize and Vacuum your Mattress
With continued use, mattresses eventually start to give off odors that may arise from sweat and urine. Thankfully, such odors and dirt don’t go so deep into the mattress.
This makes deodorizing and vacuuming much easier. For this to be effective, you’ll need to use a common deodorizer (baking soda).
To begin, strip your mattress of any covers such as blankets, sheets, and pads etc. Also take off the pillows. With your mattress bare, have baking soda sprinkled across the mattress surface.
Allow to sit for about an hour before vacuuming up the area. An appropriate vacuum attachment needs to be used for best results.
Having completed the vacuuming process, you’re now ready to proceed to the next step which has to do with finding and spot treating stains.
ii. Identify and Spot Treat Stains
During the course of deodorizing and vacuuming your mattress, you may have come across all sorts of stains.
These may arise from food, urine, sweat, or coffee etc. Irrespective of stain causes, certain cleaners can be used for spot treatment.
Examples of such stain cleaners include white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and enzymatic cleaners among others.
You may also wish to use a simple solution of water and detergent for this cleanup. Dab the area with sponge soaked in detergent solution and follow up by sprinkling some white vinegar on the stains.
Have the area dabbed until results are visible.
This preparatory stage to mattress steam cleaning shouldn’t be difficult to execute. Having completed this stage, you’re ready to have your mattress steam-cleaned.
iii. Steam Mattress Surface
Your steam cleaner needs to be readied for the steaming process to begin.
All steam cleaners have their basic use manual or instructions. Follow these in making the steamer ready. Of course you’ll need to fill the water tank.
Now hold the steamer above the mattress at the recommended distance and slowly move across the surface. It’s important not to soak or wet your mattress while steaming.
Only hold the steam cleaner long enough to slightly moisten the mattress before moving to other areas.
A thorough steam cleanup of your mattress may require including the sides. This process can be time-consuming but rewarding. If you wish to flip the mattress to steam clean the other side, you’ll have to wait until the top is dry.
iv. Let it Dry Properly
Proper drying after mattress steam cleanup is as crucial as cleaning itself. Having completed the cleanup, you’ll need to allow the mattress to dry for at least three hours.
This should be sufficient time to complete the drying process as long as steaming was done right with no excess soaking or wetting.
Mattress steam cleaning involves all of the procedures discussed above. This cleanup needs to be properly executed to have the best possible result.