After finally being able to leave my bed after a long recovery from surgery, I set out to give my room a deep clean. One day as I was putting my sheets on my bed, I looked at my mattress and thought of all the things that could be trapped in my pillow top mattress. I began to search for an easy way to deodorize my mattress and I am here to share why and how you should clean your mattress with baking soda.

Why Should I Deodorize My Mattress?

Skin flakes. Bacteria. Sweat. Smells. These are all the things that are living in your mattress. Many of us, unless we are in college, do not use a mattress protector on our beds and these things can easily get through the fiber of our pillows and sheets. Even if you wash your sheets on a weekly basis, smells can still get through and ultimately, disturb your sleep.

But, My Mattress Doesn’t Smell? Do I Still Have To Clean It?

The answer is–yes. Although your mattress may not smell, think of all the bacteria that you are lifting into the air every time you sit on your bed? This can affect your skin, scalp, and even immune system if left unattended for a long period. Sinus and ear infections are also associated with dirty mattresses and can make conditions worse. Allergies, such as pollen and grass can follow you inside your home  through your clothes. If you rest on your bed, it is easy for allergens to rest within your mattress, increasing symptoms.

Why Should I Use Baking Soda To Clean My Mattress?

There are two simple ways to clean and deodorize your mattress and both deal with the miracle product of baking soda. Baking soda makes a powerful deodorizer for the following reasons:

• Baking soda gets rid of odor-causing bacteria for good and not just covering it up like most formulas
• Baking soda is safe to use for the most sensitive skin (even eczema prone and children!)
• Baking soda provides a long-lasting cost-effective solution

How Do I Clean My Mattress?

Depending on if you want a light weekly clean or a deep clean, there are two ways that you can clean your mattress.

• Sprinkle Baking Soda On Your Mattress
  • This is a simple task I do when I wash my sheets weekly. After stripping your bed to wash your sheets, evenly distribute baking soda over your mattress. Let this sit on your mattress until you wash and dry your sheets. Then, simply vacuum up the baking soda with an extension. You will have a fresh smelling mattress free of bacteria!

• Create a Baking Soda Water Paste
  • If your mattress top has faded and needs a little more TLC, creating a baking soda paste is the answer. In order to do this method, I recommend using gloves. All you have to do is combine water and baking soda in a bowl and stir until you have a paste. Depending on the size of your mattress, the amount will vary. You simply scoop up the paste in your hands and spread on your mattress. Once fully dry, you vacuum up the baking soda with an extension. There are different consistencies of paste that are better for certain things For example:
    • More Water than Baking Soda
      • This paste is best when you would like a light cleaning all over your mattress. Simply place paste in your hand and spread it evenly on your mattress, wait for it to dry, and vacuum it up.
    • Even Water and Baking Soda
      • This paste is best for a normal spot clean. If there is a particular area of your mattress that you would like to clean (spilled drinks, dirt stains, etc) this will aid in cleaning the spot.
    • More Baking Soda than Water
      • This is for your extreme messes as it is a concentrated solution of baking soda on a single spot. This is best for direct spot cleaning on your otherwise clean mattress. I use this consistency at the foot of my bed.

Do you have a question about baking soda? Do you have a question about cleaning your mattress? Do you want to share your mattress cleaning tips? Please leave a comment below!

-NYL