Mattress Care: 6 Steps for Healthier Sleep

Everyone knows that spring cleaning comes with the sun, which is why we polish the windows and let daylight into our homes. However, few think that such freshness should visit your bed at night, and proper mattress care – cleaning and airing – can help you enjoy every new morning.

A comfortable mattress allows you to sleep and rest well, so it needs as much attention as other areas in your home. The Lithuanian mattress "Lonas" technologist Ričardas Tarosas shares tips on how to clean and ventilate your mattress to ensure its hygiene and longevity. According to the expert, achieving this requires just a few simple steps that will benefit both the mattress and its owner.

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Change the Mattress Position

Even the best mattress can become uneven or uncomfortable, so it is recommended to flip it at least 3-4 times a year, changing the sleeping side. If the mattress is one-sided by design, it is recommended to rotate it, i.e., swap the head and foot ends.

“Mattresses are made from soft and elastic materials, so according to the laws of physics, areas of the mattress that bear the greatest load tend to deform over time. Flipping the mattress helps change the load zones and prevents deformation,” says R. Tarosas.

Clean the Mattress Occasionally When Changing the Bedding

You can clean the mattress from dust by using a powerful vacuum cleaner. Just vacuum slowly to remove more dust from the mattress. Folk wisdom also suggests sprinkling baking soda on the mattress and vacuuming again after an hour or more.

On the other hand, wet cleaning of the mattress is not recommended, as polyurethane foam tends to absorb liquids. If you want to remove stains from the mattress cover, you can do so with a damp cloth. Just remember – the surface must be well dried to prevent moisture from accumulating in the mattress, which can later lead to unwanted mold growth.

Air the Mattress and Ensure Ventilation

At least once a year, air out the mattress. Simply lay it horizontally on the balcony or, by opening a window, lean it against the wall away from direct sunlight. Leave the mattress like this for 2-3 hours. By the way, if it accidentally turns yellow, don’t worry – brief sun exposure does not affect the technical properties of the mattress.

“In general, it is very important to ensure good ventilation for the mattress, so it should be laid on slats. If the bed base on which you place the mattress is made of particle board, I would recommend drilling holes about 30 mm in diameter in a checkerboard pattern on the board, which will serve as a ventilation function for the bed base,” warns the expert from Lithuanian mattresses.

According to him, on particle board, spring mattresses can be placed, but it is no longer recommended for latex or polyurethane foam mattresses. Also, it is important to follow all manufacturer recommendations that extend the mattress’s lifespan.

Use a Mattress Cover

An additional mattress cover will help maintain cleanliness. Moreover, it will be much easier to clean – simply wash it in the washing machine every couple of months. “If you don’t have a cover yet, I recommend getting one. A mattress cover will protect the mattress from wear and dirt for a longer period. Nowadays, even linen-fiber covers are made, which improve the quality of the mattress and provide a natural sense of freshness,” says R. Tarosas, a representative of "Lonas".

Do Not Let Uninvited Guests – Dust Mites – Move In

Although synthetic materials like polyurethane foam, latex, and spring blocks, which make up most of the mattress, are not a suitable environment for dust mites, over time, as the mattress is used, the wear and particles from human skin can change the environment. In this case, airing and vacuuming the mattress will prevent unwanted guests, whose waste products often irritate human skin and lungs. Thus, cleaning the mattress not only improves sleep quality and extends the mattress’s hygiene but also reduces the likelihood of dust mites and bedbugs living in your bed.

Is It Time for a Renewal?

Unfortunately, sometimes all the mentioned measures no longer help, and it might be time to say goodbye to your old mattress. “Over time, the physical properties of the materials used in the mattress change. All soft materials are affected by pressure and gradually deform, so depending on the durability of the materials used in mattress production, we recommend replacing it with a new one every 7-10 years,” says the mattress quality controller.

To understand whether your mattress is no longer suitable for your sleep, pay attention to how you feel. If you often wake up tired, cannot find a comfortable sleeping position, or have back or side pain after sleeping, it is definitely time to consider purchasing a new quality mattress.