Luxury Bedding: How to Clean a Mattress - Part 2

Using a mattress pad is a good way to keep your mattress clean. A mattress pad is similar to a mattress protector, but is not waterproof. It is made with a layer of polyester batting that makes your mattress softer, but also catches debris before it filters down into your bed. If you remove the pad and wash regularly, along with your bed linens, the pad will stay clean and stop your mattress from accumulating dust and dirt over the years.

A latex or memory foam mattress topper can also be used to help keep your mattress clean. A mattress topper is made of 1” – 4” of foam that you put over your mattress, under your sheets, primarily to make the bed softer. But they can also serve to stop spills and debris from getting into your mattress. Like mattresses, foam toppers can not be washed, but they are much less expensive than an entire bed and can be replaced less painfully when dirty or soiled.

In conjunction with using a mattress pad or topper, regular vacuuming helps keep a mattress clean. Vacuuming the top of your mattress periodically, when you change the bed linens, will help prevent the build up of dust and dirt in your mattress. If you use a mattress protector, there is no need for vacuuming because a waterproof barrier will also prevent debris from filtering down into your mattress. When vacuuming, use an upholstery attachment if you have one.