Mattress care, especially cleaning them, is a critical part of business for hotels, inns, and B&Bs.
Think about all the wear and tear your own mattress goes through, and then multiply that by the number of people sleeping at your establishment on a given week.
Here are some tips on how to clean a mattress, so that you – and your guests – can sleep better at night.
1. Use your vacuum
Running a vacuum over the mattress– using the upholstery attachment – is a crucial piece of mattress care. Begin at the top and move down in narrow, overlapping routes, taking care to get the sides of the mattress as well.
2. The benefits of baking soda
Baking soda has a lot of benefits, for our purposes today, we’ll focus on just one of its uses: it works as a deodorizer. Sprinkle it onto a mattress and then use a scrub brush to work the baking soda into the fabric and let it sit for 10 minutes.
3. Use your vacuum…again
Once the baking soda entered the mattress fabric, it began to bond with the moisture and body oils in the material. Running your vacuum over the mattress a second time sucks up all that moisture.
4. Flip it over
Whenever you flip your mattresses – this schedule will depend on the age of each mattress and how frequently they’re used – repeat the first three steps from this list.
Keep in mind that many newer mattresses are not designed to be flipped over. In these cases, rotate the mattress from head to foot every three months to help with a more even distribution of weight.
5. Use a cover
Protect your mattress against stains by using a washable mattress cover. Today’s mattress covers provide an extra level of mattress care, guarding against bacteria, spills and even bed bugs.
Bed bug proof zippered mattress encasements are highly recommended here, as they are waterproof and protect against allergens.
Mattress care: Getting out stains
Mattresses can be magnets for various bodily fluids. Here are some ways to get rid of them:
1. Dried blood
Make a paste from ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap and 1 tbsp. salt. Gently spread it onto the stain and let it sit and dry, then scrape away the residue. Use a white rag dipped in hydrogen peroxide to get rid of any remaining stain.
2. Urine
Use 3 tbsp. of baking soda dissolved in 8 ounces of hydrogen peroxide and a drop of liquid dish soap and dab this solution on the stain.
If that doesn’t work, let the stained area dry, then mix together 3 tbsp. dry laundry detergent (do NOT use anything with bleach) and 1 tbsp. of water to create a dry foam. Spread it on the stain and let it sit for a half hour, then scrape it away with a spoon.
3. Vomit
Make sure the room is well ventilated and use a white rag to dab the stain with unscented household ammonia. Wipe away the stained section with a damp cloth and use some baking soda to get rid of the ammonia. Let the area dry, then vacuum.
Keeping your mattresses clean and comfortable is an essential part of any innkeeper’s job. InnStyle is here to help, with our extensive line of mattress covers and protectors, as well as two stain removers to address stains and odors: 1000+ and Espro.
We also carry an array of different mattresses, for when your mattresses have finally outlived their usefulness. Contact the InnStyle Team to learn more about how to clean and care for mattresses.