Skip to content
  1. Home/
  2. Laundry Tips/
  3. Fabric Care/
  4. How to clean a mattress & remove stains
A hand resting on a clean white mattress.

How to clean a mattress & remove stains

Dark blue background
From tea, to urine & even blood - mattress stains come from many sources. Find out how to remove mattress stains & care for your mattress with our guide.

For many of us, out of sight means out of mind. And that means we may not think about cleaning our mattresses very often. However, it only takes one accident for the need to clean a mattress to become urgent. Here we explain how to remove stains from mattresses with ease, and give you tips on how to regularly clean the mattresses in your home to keep them fresh and hygienic all-year through.

Little and often

If you want to know how to clean a mattress as part of your regular routine, simply strip off the bedding and any mattress protectors, then hoover lightly over the surface and any corners. This will help to remove any dust or dust mites that could be lurking in your mattress and can be done every 1-2 weeks when you change your bed linen.

When summer comes around, choose a dry, sunny day to air your mattress outside – make sure you have someone on hand to help you get it outside. Alternatively, you could ventilate the room the mattress is in by opening all of the windows. A good airing will help to eliminate moisture and prevent mould. Regular hoovering and an annual airing out of your mattress are especially important if anyone in your family lives with allergies or asthma.  

How to remove mattress stains

Stains can accumulate on your mattress over time. Sometimes it’s as simple as spilling a cup of tea while having breakfast in bed. The best thing to do is to tackle the stain immediately before it dries, but be careful not to use too much liquid.

To remove stains from mattress covers or from the mattress itself, dilute some washing up liquid in water and gently sponge the stain until it lifts from the fibres. Always consult the manufacturer’s washing instructions for your mattress before attempting stain removal and test any cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous part of the material first.  

Removing tougher stains

If you have small children, you may be wondering how to remove stains from a mattress that have come about from illness or accidents. Little ones who are still toilet training may leave you pondering how to remove urine stains from a mattress. Other times, sweat or even vomit may leave an unsightly stain on the mattress, but you don’t necessarily have to run out and buy a new one.

Using a little biological laundry detergent, like Persil Bio Liquid, on the affected area, can help to remove the worst of many stains. Just remember to test the detergent on a small area of the mattress first. After applying laundry detergent, leave the mattress to dry before using it again and give it a good spritz of a deodorising spray to remove any nasty odours. Duvets and pillows can be a bit more straightforward to treat, find out how here.

How to remove blood stains from a mattress

If you or your child are prone to nosebleeds, you probably are looking for advice on how to remove blood stains from mattress covers and mattresses, one of the trickiest stains to shift. First, stick to cold water to prevent the blood from setting and tackle the stain as soon as it occurs.

Apply a small amount of Persil Bio liquid using the Stain Eraser Ball to directly target the blood stain. Brush the area thoroughly with the ball and more cold water until the stain lifts. Be sure to let the mattress dry completely before using it again.  

The thought of “how to clean a mattress?” needn’t cause your nightmares, sleep well knowing you have a clean and stain-free mattress with these simple tips.