The Best Way to Remove Stains From Your Mattress

Photo: Nick Alias (Shutterstock)

Mattresses don’t come cheap, so it’s in your best interest to take care of them. In addition to covering them with a mattress protector and removing dirt and dust by vacuuming them regularly, it also means quickly cleaning up spills before they turn into stains. Here’s how to do that.

How to remove stains from a mattress

For whatever reason, a liquid or other substance was able to penetrate through your mattress protector and leave a stain on the mattress itself. Or maybe you thought you didn’t actually need a mattress protector, and find yourself with an even heavier stain.

Either way, your best chance of removing the stain is taking action as soon as possible so it doesn’t set. Here’s what to do, courtesy of the cleaning experts at Consumer Reports:

1. Take off your bedding: Unlike your mattress, your sheets and blankets can go in the washing machine, so deal with those later.
2. Dab the spill: Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the stain, soaking up as much of the liquid as possible.
3. Spot-treat the stain: Use another clean cloth or paper towel to apply a small amount of a cleaning product, gently dabbing the stain until it’s gone. Liquid laundry detergent is a safe bet, as is a mild dish soap. If you don’t have either on hand, try an all-purpose stain remover. If you think the stain is gone, then notice that it’s still visible as it dries, apply the product again.

Certain stains require something a bit stronger. For instance, it’s best to use an enzyme cleaner (Consumer Reports suggests Angry Orange or Nature’s Miracle) to tackle urine, feces/diarrhea, and mud. It’ll also work for vomit, but prior to applying it, sprinkle some baking soda on top of the stain to absorb the odor, then vacuum it up.

Blood is a little trickier. Start by blotting the stain with cold water (hot water could set the stain, making it permanent), followed by hydrogen peroxide. After that, it’s time for the enzyme cleaner.

No matter what type of cleaning product you use and what kind of stain you have, it’s important to let your mattress dry completely before putting the protector and sheets back on. It could take a few hours—depending on how much liquid was on the mattress—but it’s better to wait than cover the mattress when it’s still damp.

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