Everyone who sleeps on a mattress has been issued a warning over hidden dangers if they aren't cleaned properly and regularly.
People are being urged to deep clean their mattresses every three months to prevent dust mites and mould from appearing beneath the sheets. Experts at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk say this is necessary to keep beds safe to sleep on.
Over time, the build-up of dead skin and body sweat can create an environment which welcomes mould and dust mites. Dust mites are tiny pests which are attracted to dead skin cells from warm environments in bedsheets, pillows and mattresses.
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The appearance of dust mites can be a trigger to those suffering from allergies and asthma, with common symptoms of itchy skin and sneezing as a result of their presence. This is why it’s important to regularly deep clean mattresses every three months to prevent these pests from creeping out and to stop mould from growing.
Here are Online-Bedrooms.co.uk’s top tips on how to deep clean mattresses and how to keep them safe to sleep on:
Warm water
Gently brush a mixture of soap and warm water on the mattress and let it sit for four hours before brushing off. Don’t outright pour all of the water directly onto the mattress, especially if there’s mould as it can make the problem worse.
Vacuum regularly
While a deep clean is needed every few months, there’s no harm in vacuuming on a weekly basis to get rid of dust on the mattress.
Baking soda
After putting the bedding in the wash, sprinkle baking soda over the mattress to absorb excess moisture from within it. Then hoover up the remaining particles before putting the bedding back on.
Alcohol to remove mould
Isopropyl or mould spray helps to scrub the mould off, if it’s in a dire condition, call in the professionals to tackle the cleaning job. But if the problem becomes severe, it may mean you need to replace the mattress entirely.
Invest in an anti-allergy mattress protector
A strong mattress protector can prevent dead skin cells from deepening into the mattress to help lower the chance of dust mites from appearing. Anti-allergy ones in particular will help to prevent dust from causing health problems.
Stick to the three-month cycle
The typical time to give the mattress a deep clean is every six months, but cutting this to every three months is the most effective way from stopping dust mites and mould from showing up.
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