Best Mattress Cleaners UK (2024)

You must follow the right steps to clean your mattress.

Otherwise, you may be unsuccessful in cleaning your mattress or may even damage it.

Let’s take a look at how you can clean your mattress. 👇

1. Remove and clean your bedding

Firstly, you'll need to remove all bedding and wash it separately.

Your bedding lies between your body and mattress. 🚧

It is the first to get dirty.

Make sure you check the washing instructions for your bedding before cleaning.

2. Vacuum the mattress

Now that your bedding is off and washed, it's time to clean the mattress itself.

Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to thoroughly vacuum your mattress, paying special attention to the seams, corners, and edges. 🛏️

This will help remove any loose dirt, dust, or debris from the surface of the mattress.

The Dyson V8 is one of the best bed vacuum cleaners thanks to its lightweight, cordless design.

It also transforms into a handheld vacuum and comes with a handy attachment for cleaning upholstery like mattresses.

BUY DYSON V8 VACUUM£ 330

3. Spot-clean any stains

If there are any stains on your mattress, use a specialised mattress cleaner to spot-clean the affected areas.

Most upholstery and carpet cleaners are also suitable for this.

Alternatively, you can use a homemade solution (like baking soda mixed with water).

However, the best mattress stain removers can be found in UK retail or online stores. 🛍️

They are quicker, easier, and less messy to use.

Apply the cleaner directly to the stain, and follow the instructions on the product.

4. Allow the cleaning product to penetrate the mattress

Most mattress cleaning products need to be left for a period of time to penetrate the mattress and lift away any dirt or debris.

Make sure you leave plenty of time for products to work their magic.

You may need to repeat this step for particularly tough stains.

5. Clean up the remaining cleaning product

After the cleaning product has had time to work, it's time to remove the excess.

Typically, this involves using a clean, damp cloth to gently blot the stain until it is removed. 🧽

You may also need to use a vacuum cleaner with the upholstery attachment to clean the mattress and remove the excess product and loosened dirt, dust, or debris.

6. Allow the mattress to dry

If you've used water or liquid products, you'll need time to let it dry.

Allow it to air dry before replacing the bedding. 🍃

The drying process may take several hours, so plan ahead and give yourself enough time to complete the process before bedtime.

7. Other helpful mattress cleaning tips

Remember, always read the instructions on the label of your cleaning product.

We also suggest testing it on a small, inconspicuous area of the mattress first to ensure it will not damage the fabric or cause discolouration. 🧪

Our favourite mattress cleaners:

If you don't use a mattress protector, your mattress will likely end up stained.

Numerous things can cause stains, and most people spend approximately one-third of their life sleeping ^[1]. 💤

Considering how much time we spend on our mattresses, it's no wonder that stains accumulate.

Let's look at some of the most common stains and the best mattress cleaner products for each. 👇

Yellow stains on mattresses

The gradual build-up of sweat and body oils can cause yellow stains.

Unfortunately, this can leave your mattress looking grubby and older than its years.

Yellow sweat stains can be particularly tricky because they tend to affect a wider area, making them challenging to spot-treat. 🥵

Since you shouldn't get a mattress wet, it's essential to select a mattress cleaner that doesn't require soaking the area.

We recommend trying the Dr Beckmann's Upholstery Stain Remover.

The attached brush helps work in the product, after which you simply need to leave the stain remover for 3 minutes before dabbing it with a clean, damp cloth.

BUY DR BECKMANN STAIN REMOVER£ 3.50

Blood stains on mattresses

Accidents happen, and so do blood stains on mattresses.

Blood is notoriously tricky to remove, but don't worry because it can be done. 🩸

First, you should gently pat the area only using cold water.

Hot water can cause blood stains to set, and rubbing can spread the mark.

If you're trying to get blood out of your mattress, try the MPC Eradicate Stain Remover.

This product has been formulated to tackle stubborn stains, including blood. 💪

BUY MPC ERADICATE STAIN REMOVER£ 11.99

Food and drink stains on mattresses

If you eat or drink on your mattress, a simple spill can lead to a smelly and ingrained stain.

Some minor stains may be lifted with dish soap. 🧼

However, a stain remover works best for tougher stains.

Generally, you'll want to gently dab (with cool water if necessary) to ensure the stain doesn't spread or set.

This method is best for marks made by things like red wine or coffee.

On the other hand, you'll get better results rubbing in your stain remover (and using hot water) if you're dealing with grease.

We love the multipurpose Ecover Stain Remover for blasting grease stains on mattresses.

It is formulated with eco-friendly ingredients and has an attached brush to help work in the liquid. 👍

BUY ECOVER STAIN REMOVER£ 5.92

Urine stains on mattresses

Urine can be tricky to get out of a mattress.

It can soak into mattresses, which generally shouldn't get wet. 🙅

Additionally, urine can cause lingering odours if it's not effectively eliminated.

So, what's the best way to clean mattress urine stains?

First, you'll want to dry the area using a clean and dry cloth, sponge, or towel.

We suggest you then use a warm, damp cloth to dilute the stain.

After this, you can apply your selected mattress stain remover.

The MPC Eradicate Stain Remover is one of the best mattress cleaners for urine.

Simply spray directly onto the affected area, leave to dry (this may take up to an hour), and brush or vacuum away. 🧹

Spray bottles or stain removers like this are the best way to clean pee from a mattress as they tend to be deodourising and dry quickly.

BUY MPC ERADICATE STAIN REMOVER£ 11.99

Old mattress stains

Newer stains tend to be easier to remove than old ones, which are ingrained in the mattress.

Ideally, you should deal with stains as soon as possible. ⏳

However, sometimes you won't have time or may forget to clean a mattress stain straight away.

Luckily, even entrenched stains can be dealt with.

The best way to clean a mattress stain that's been there for a while is to use a specially formulated product.

But you may find that the stain only fades and doesn't completely disappear after the first clean.

If the stain is stubborn, you'll want to repeat the cleaning process.

Usually, two applications of a mattress stain remover will be enough to banish any leftover marks or discolouration. 👍

Homemade mattress stain remover alternatives

Sometimes stains surprise you.

When an accident happens, you might be caught without the products you need to remove a stain. 😫

In such cases, you can either order next-day delivery on Amazon or pop into your local supermarket.

Or you can try some homemade solutions to remove the stain, though bear in mind these may not solve the problem entirely. 🏡

Here are some homemade mattress stain remover solutions:

• Baking soda and cold water.
• Washing detergent and cold water.
• Washing-up liquid and water.
• Hydrogen peroxide, warm water, and a splash of washing-up liquid.

Baking soda, washing detergent, and cold water mixes are usually recommended for blood or food stains.

A half-and-half mix of hydrogen peroxide, warm water, and a small amount of washing-up liquid works best for yellow stains.

Water and washing-up liquid is the most commonly suggested solution for urine.

Of course, there's no guarantee these solutions will eliminate marks or odours. 😞

Ultimately, a homemade stain remover is better than nothing, but a formulated, shop-bought solution is best of all!

Our favourite stain removers for mattresses:

Regularly cleaning and changing your sheets should prevent odour from building up.

However, sweat, pet smells, and other odours will gradually permeate your mattress if you're not using a mattress protector.

Air fresheners will alleviate these smells but are not a permanent solution.

Luckily, there are ways to neutralise these odours. 👃

You should try a mattress cleaning spray.

The best mattress cleaner sprays have antibacterial properties or enzymes that help break down the bacteria that cause natural odours.

While the MPC Eradicate spray mattress cleaner doesn't have a strong smell, it can neutralise unpleasant odours.

Alternatively, the Dr Beckmann Stain Remover also neutralises smells and leaves a more welcoming scent. 💐

Our favourite mattress cleaners for getting rid of odours:

You won't have to worry too much if you choose a stain remover or cleaning product formulated for mattresses.

However, there are a few things it can help to be aware of. 👇

You should avoid products that:

• Contain bleach.
• Require dilution in water.

Bleach, while good for killing bacteria, could discolour or damage your mattress.

Mattresses shouldn’t get wet, so you'll generally want to avoid cleaning products that require water (such as washing-up liquid). 🧼

You'll get better results if you use products developed for upholstery, as they don’t usually use bleach or need to be diluted in water.