How to Clean Your Mattress Under the Sun

Having a clean mattress is an effective way to improve sleep, maximize its life and ensure your sleep environment is as good as what serves you the best.

Slipping between clean sheets and good dreams is all we look forward to after a day. But we also have to consider how we take care of our mattresses and beddings.

We have certainly covered this topic of how to effectively clean your mattress, today we cover only one aspect of it, which is simple but effective.

Get your mattress cleaned under the sun with UV light. This is an extra eco-friendly and sustainable method that costs you nothing in particular. 

People might get used to taking the beddings out for a suntan, but the mattress can benefit the same way. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you can’t lift the mattress out yourself, because the reward is worth it. 

Be sure to prop the mattress up on one side so that moisture would not gather underneath it. If you could not manage to prop it up, make sure to turn the mattress halfway around during the whole day.

Brush it first

Before taking the mattress out, you could first give it a good brush on both sides to release any dust particles and if needed use a vacuum to remove any further stubborn dust hiding under the covers. 

Start by removing as much dust as possible by going over the entire surface of the mattress with your vacuum cleaner's upholstery attachment and crevice tool. If your mattress-cleaning spree has been inspired by a fresh spill, pet accident, or bedwetting event, use clean towels to soak up as much liquid as possible before you vacuum.

According to a recent study, leaving the fabric in the sun produces numerous organic molecules that our noses might recognize from plants and perfumes. After a sunbathe, your mattress might emit pentanal which is found in cardamom, and octanal which produces citrusy aromas, or nonanal which smells of roses!

Most of us spend about a third of our lives in bed. But if you were to think about all the germs, bacteria, and even critters that make themselves at home in your mattress, chances are you wouldn't get much sleep. 

Therefore, remember to wash your sheets and covers once a month and flip the mattress around every few months.

Best disinfectant

Sunshine does more than just help plants grow; it is very good at killing bacteria, dust mites, and other microscopic critters we don’t like in our home, as well as removing stubborn odors. 

Just 30-60 minutes is usually long enough for the sun to clean an item, but be sure to rotate the item if needed to get all sides and angles clean. Don’t leave things out for too long though or any dyes on them may begin to fade.

If at all possible, clean your mattress outside on a warm, sunny, not-too-humid day. The sunlight will help your mattress dry as you clean it; better yet, it acts as a natural disinfectant, helping you kill bacteria with a good dose of UV rays. 

Is sunlight the best disinfectant? An article called Natural Alternatives to Bleach for Disinfecting discussed the pros and cons of such disinfectants as bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and yes, sunlight. The article stated that bleach could be dangerous, irritating to the eyes, mouth, lungs, and skin, and when mixed with ammonia could result in the release of toxic fumes.

The authors suggested three alternatives: vinegar, which is non-toxic, hydrogen peroxide, which can cause burns at high concentrations, but when used safely is reasonably safe, and sunlight, which like vinegar is nontoxic.

The article states “In fact, scientists have found that exposing a bottle of water to sunlight for 6 hours is an economical way to provide developing countries with safe drinking water. The disinfecting properties of sunlight can also be useful around the house. 

If you have an object that you can move outside, the sun’s rays can help disinfect it. A stained piece of white laundry can be effectively brightened and disinfected by spraying the stain with lemon juice or vinegar and then hanging it in the sun.

Eliminate moisture

Meanwhile, between changing the sheets and replacing mattresses, pillowcases, and cushions, there is a way to prevent them from getting molds, deodorize them and let them get some sun too without bringing everything out into the garden.

On sunny days, position your beds and couches by the window where a good amount of sunlight passes through. Keep the windows open to allow the air to circulate — and this is especially important if, for most of the day or night, the air-conditioner is on and all doors and windows are closed.

Sunlight streaming from windows equals an ounce of prevention. The heat of the sun will eliminate moisture from your mattress, thus preventing the formation of mold.