Friday Favorites: How to clean mattress stains
Ok…two words that just sound super nasty when said together are MATTRESS and STAINS. BUT before I lose you on a technicality, just hear me out. I have kids and I have pets…and sometimes those two beasts living under a roof can cause (said in a stage whisper)…mattress stains. It is gross and I hate to even bring it up, BUT I came across a SUPER easy solution that can help clean mattress stains AND refresh a dirty mattress and I wanted to share with all of my friends in case there are other people with nasty kids or pets who may or may not have caused some stainage of the old mattress.
What you need:
- 1 cup peroxide
- 2-3 Tablespoons baking soda
- spray bottle
- one drop dish soap ( I like dawn…it is just hidden in a pretty amber bottle)
- a couple drops of essential oils if you need extra odor removal
- maybe a funnel or better coordination that me
- a stain to get rid of
What to do:
Alright. Now to the fun part. The part where you actually get to clean away mattress stains. I recently found a disgusting stain on Ethan’s mattress from a spilled juice box. His mattress is less than a year old, so it DID not please me to find such a gross stain. Especially since it was not a new sitution…that stain has been SET IN darn it. BUT in the long run, it could be worse right?!? If your stain IS worse, no worries. This will work on pee stains too (we know they happen, so no shame). It will actually help take out any odor involved as well, so that is a huge bonus.
You just take your squirt bottle, add the baking soda first (that is the only important part). Then add your peroxide (I am not a chemist, but it matters). Finally add a small drop of dish soap. AND just to be safe, gently swirl to mix, NO SHAKING. Shaking may cause the baking soda to clog the squirt bottle (ask me how I know this).
Once it is all nice and mixed, you simply spray it on the stains. No need to scrub or rub the stain. Just squirt on the solution and wait. You will immediately start to see the stain begin to lighten, but it may take up to an hour to fully work its magic. So be patient. If, after an hour the stain is still showing, repeat with more spray. After your stain has disappeared (it really will seem like magic…promise), you might want to turn on a ceiling fan or set up a fan to help the mattress dry out quickly. Or set up a fort in the living-room for the night after you forget to put new sheets on the bed and are too tired at bedtime to worry about it…I am not admitting to anything here.
What else you should know:
- After I started cleaning, I noticed that Ethan had also had a bloody nose and dripped on his mattress. Those stains lightened, but did not come completely out. I even dumped some of the solution directly on the stains. SOOOO if blood is your problem, this may not be the solution for your mattress. (You can see the dark blood stains in the “clean mattress” picture above).
- This solution will not last. Once it is mixed, it should either be used or dumped out. It cannot be stored.
- If the solution leaves behind any traces of baking soda, just wait until your mattress is dry and vacuum up any remaining powder.
- If you do not have a stain, but just want to refresh your mattress, this also works great. Just spray all over your mattress and let dry. This would be a great time to add in those essential oils…oooolala!!
- This can also work on white couches, outdoor furniture cushions, carpet, carseat covers, pack and play mattresses, high-chairs, pillows, etc. JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE ONLY SPRAYING ON LIGHT COLORS AND TEST FIRST IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT BLEACHING.
- This is addicting and once you have removed ALL stains, you MAY have stain removing withdrawals and begin begging your friends to let you remove their mattress stains. You have been warned!!
And that is it. A totally simple solution to a totally gross topic. Who knew we could have a whole conversation about how to clean mattress stains?!?! I promise to never mention mattress stains again…pinky swear!!! BUT you guys requested more cleaning hacks, so be ready!! You can follow along on Instagram HERE and check out my last cleaning hack HERE (trust me it is a good one!!! ). Let’s chat about more gross cleaning problems again real soon:) JESS
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