Mattress and Upholstery Deep Cleaning Basics

That Cleaning Girl · Deep Cleaning

Mattresses and upholstered furniture get used every single day and cleaned almost never. They collect dust, pet hair, pollen and skin cells, plus the occasional spill. The good news is that a few basics go a long way. If you just finished How to Clean Blinds and Window Tracks, this is a natural next step as you move from walls and windows to the furniture itself.

A note on what's realistic

At home, you can do a lot: vacuum thoroughly, deodorize, spot clean small stains and freshen everything up. What you can't easily do is deep-extract a heavily soiled mattress or a whole sofa. Big stains, old pet accidents and anything with odor that soaked deep into the cushion are jobs for a professional upholstery cleaner with extraction equipment. This guide covers the basics that keep things fresh between those bigger jobs.

It's also worth checking warranty and care information before you start. Some mattress makers ask that you avoid certain cleaners or never get the mattress wet, and some furniture warranties only cover approved cleaning methods. A quick look at the tag or the manufacturer's website can save a lot of trouble.

Deep cleaning a mattress

Start by stripping the bed completely and washing all the bedding in hot water if the care labels allow.

• Vacuum the entire mattress with an upholstery attachment, top and sides, slowly.
• Use the crevice tool along the seams and the edge piping, where dust collects.
• Sprinkle baking soda evenly over the surface and let it sit for several hours. Longer is better.
• Vacuum the baking soda up thoroughly.
• Flip or rotate the mattress if the manufacturer recommends it, and repeat on the other side.

If you can, open the blinds and let sunlight hit the mattress while the baking soda sits. Sunlight helps freshen it and dries any lingering moisture.

Spot cleaning a mattress

For small spots, dab, don't rub. Use a cloth barely dampened with cool water and a drop of mild dish soap, and blot from the outside of the stain inward. Rinse by blotting with a clean damp cloth, then press a dry towel on the spot to pull out moisture. Use as little liquid as possible; a soaked mattress is hard to dry and can start to smell.

Let the mattress dry completely before making the bed again. A fan pointed at it helps.

Read the upholstery cleaning code

Before cleaning a couch or chair, look for the tag, usually under a cushion. It has a code that tells you what's safe:

• W: water-based cleaners are fine.
• S: solvent-based cleaners only; no water.
• W/S or SW: either works.
• X: vacuum only; leave anything more to a professional.

If there's no tag, treat it like an S or test in a hidden spot and use the gentlest method.

Vacuuming upholstery

Vacuuming is the most important part of upholstery care, and the one most people skip. Remove the cushions and vacuum everything: the cushion tops, sides and backs, the deck under the cushions, the arms and the crevices. You'll find crumbs, coins and an impressive amount of pet hair down there. Use a rubber glove or a damp rubber squeegee to pull up stubborn pet hair that the vacuum misses.

Don't forget throw pillows and the cushion covers. If the covers have zippers and the tag says they're washable, check the instructions; some fabrics shrink, and a cover that won't go back on the cushion is a frustrating way to end a cleaning day. When in doubt, spot clean and vacuum instead.

Freshening and spot cleaning

For fabrics coded W, a light sprinkle of baking soda, left for twenty minutes and vacuumed up, freshens cushions nicely. Spot clean small stains by blotting with a cloth dampened in water and a drop of dish soap, again working from the outside in. Rinse by blotting and dry with a towel.

Leather is different: wipe it with a barely damp cloth and use a leather cleaner and conditioner a couple of times a year. Skip baking soda and water-heavy methods on leather.

How often

• Mattress: vacuum and deodorize every few months, and at every deep clean.
• Bedding: wash sheets weekly; pillows and protectors every month or two.
• Couches: vacuum during regular cleanings; full vacuum with cushions off every few months.
• Homes with pets: more often, especially in shedding season.

Allergy sufferers around the south DFW area often notice a real difference during pollen season when mattresses and couches get vacuumed more often.

Headboards need attention too. Upholstered headboards collect dust and hair just like a couch, so vacuum them with the brush attachment. Wood or metal headboards just need a dust and a damp wipe.

Small effort, fresh results

A thorough vacuum and a little baking soda make mattresses and couches feel and smell fresher, and they keep dust and allergens down in the rooms where you spend the most time. If you'd like the whole house freshened at once, take a look at our deep cleaning services.