Many houseproud Brits work hard to ensure that every spot of their homes is germ-free and sparkling clean.
But there are some spots even the biggest neat freak can overlook - and one of these includes our mattresses. In fact, new survey data has revealed that very few people are cleaning more than the sheets.
People should be cleaning their mattress every six months, according to retailer Bensons for Beds, but only 11 per cent of people do so while 40 per cent of us clean them less regularly. Luckily, the job can be done with an ingredient that can be picked up at Aldi and Tesco for just 52p.
Their data also found that over one in six of us admit to never cleaning our mattress, while eight per cent will only take on the task when tackling a large stain.
These figures are understandable, as most of us may have never learned how to scrub a mattress. But Pam Johnson, Head of Buying at Bensons, explained how you can deep clean your mattress with one natural household ingredient, reports Wales Online.
Baking soda has been hailed as the ultimate natural cleaner. Not only can it unclog hairy bathroom drains, it can also banish burnt-on food stains from baking trays and ovens.
Pam explained: "Firstly, remove the bedding completely and allow your mattress to air out.
"Vacuum the mattress with the upholstery attachment and get the top layer of build-up from the surface. Sprinkle baking soda across the mattress and leave for a couple of hours to allow it to extract dirt and debris from the inside.
"Vacuum up the remaining baking soda, flip and repeat - a quick, cheap and painless way to keep it clean.”
The average Brit spends over seven hours sleeping per night - and that's seven hours for dead skin cells, sweat and dust to amass in the warmth of your mattress.
If we take that over six months, that comes to approximately 1,260 hours - 52 whole days - that the debris has to accumulate, meaning you may be sharing your mattress with unwanted bacteria.
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