The guide to cleaning your mattress: techniques, materials & stain guide
Is your bed really as clean as it looks?
You spend a third of your life on your mattress. While you sleep, your body loses moisture, salts, skin flakes and hair. Without cleaning, your bed slowly turns into an ecosystem for bacteria, mould and dust mites.
Do you want to extend the life of your mattress, reduce your allergies and sleep in a fresh bed again? This is the only guide you need. We cover everything: from basic cleaning to removing stubborn stains such as blood and urine, and the differences between cold foam, latex and pocket springs.
Table of contents:
- Why cleaning is necessary
- Basic step-by-step plan: weekly & monthly maintenance
- Deep cleaning: steaming vs. spray extraction
- Material guide: How do you clean your specific mattress?
- The big stain guide (blood, urine, sweat & more)
- Prevention: prevention is better than cure
1. Why cleaning is necessary
A mattress works like a huge sponge. You lose up to half a litre of moisture per night, which soaks deep into the filling. If this moisture doesn't evaporate properly or isn't cleaned, musty odours and yellow rings appear.
But the biggest problem is alive. The organic waste (skin flakes) causes an explosive growth of mites. Do you suffer from a blocked nose, tightness in your chest or itchy eyes in bed? Chances are this is caused by dust mites in your mattress. Regular cleaning is the only way to stop these allergic reactions and restore your sleep quality.
2. Basic step-by-step plan: weekly & monthly maintenance
You don't need to bring out the heavy artillery every week. With this routine maintenance you keep the basics hygienic.
Step 1: Change and wash the cover
The cover (the mattress casing) catches most of the dirt. Take it off and wash it at a minimum of 60 degrees to kill bacteria.
- Note: Not every cover can go in the dryer. Shrinking means it will no longer fit around your mattress.
- Read the full instructions: washing a mattress cover without shrinking.
Step 2: Vacuum thoroughly
Before you get to work with moisture, the dry dirt has to go. Use an upholstery attachment and systematically vacuum the entire surface. Don't forget the seams, piping and buttons; this is where dust builds up.
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Pro tip: The right suction power is crucial. Read all about vacuuming your mattress.
Step 3: Neutralise odours with baking soda
Does your mattress smell musty? Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) binds acids and fats.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the bare mattress.
- Lightly brush it in with a soft brush.
- Let it soak in for at least 4 hours (the longer, the better).
- Vacuum up the powder.
Need more details? See how to clean your mattress with baking soda.
3. Deep cleaning: steaming or spraying?
Sometimes vacuuming isn't enough. Here we distinguish between disinfecting (killing bacteria) and removing stains (getting rid of dirt).
Option A: Steaming your mattress (for maximum hygiene)
Do you want to kill bacteria, mites and bed bugs? Then heat is your best friend. Steam is often hotter than 100 degrees, which kills organisms instantly.
- The right tool: Use a powerful device like the Achaté Steam Cleaner PRO (Product of the Year 2025). It delivers constant pressure without soaking the mattress.
- How does it work? Move briskly over the mattress (approx. 10 cm per second). The heat kills the mites, the steam freshens up the fabric.
Option B: Spot cleaner (for visible stains)
Do you have coffee, urine or old sweat stains? The heat of a steam cleaner can "bake in" protein-based stains (such as blood or urine). In this case, use a spot cleaner (spray extraction). It rinses the fibres clean and immediately sucks up the dirty water.
4. Material guide: Pay attention to the type of foam!
Not every mattress is the same. The wrong treatment can damage your mattress beyond repair.
| Mattress type | Risk | Advice |
| Cold foam & polyether | Robust, but sponge-like. | Can be cleaned well, but make sure it is bone dry before you make the bed to prevent mould. |
| Memory foam | Sensitive to heat and moisture. | Be careful with steam! Don't hold the steam cleaner in one spot for too long; the cell structure can melt or harden. Work quickly and on the surface. |
| Latex | Very sensitive. | Don't use aggressive chemicals. Latex can dry out and become crumbly. Steam in moderation. |
| Pocket springs | Risk of rust. | Make sure no moisture runs deep into the mattress near the springs. Spray extraction is safer here than a bucket of soapy water. |
| Toppers | Thin and easy to handle. | Often easier to clean than a mattress. Because they are thin, you can air them outside. |
5. The big stain guide (first aid for accidents)
Not every stain is treated the same way. Use this table for the right approach and prevent a stain from becoming permanent.
Blood stains
- Mistake: Using warm water (this makes the blood coagulate).
- Solution: Always use cold water. Dab with a cold, damp cloth or use a little hydrogen peroxide/ox gall soap.
Use our in-depth analysis on how to get blood out of a mattress.
Urine (human)
- Mistake: Letting it dry.
- Solution: Dab it dry immediately with kitchen paper. Then use a solution of cleaning vinegar or an enzymatic cleaner. This breaks down the urine crystals and the smell. Follow our step-by-step plan to remove urine from a mattress.
Cat pee
- Mistake: Using ordinary soap (the cat can still smell it and will pee there again).
- Solution: Cat urine contains ammonia and pheromones. You need a specific neutraliser to prevent your cat from returning to the 'scene of the crime'.
Save your mattress by removing cat pee with these steps.
Mould
- Mistake: Ignoring it. Black dots are spores that you breathe in.
- Solution: This is caused by moisture. Clean with an anti-mould product, but even more importantly: improve the ventilation in your room straight away. Then make sure you remove the mould from the mattress.
Yellow rings
Solution: Make a paste of baking soda, water and a little salt. Spread it on the stain, let it harden and vacuum it up.
6. Prevention: Prevention is better than cure
Now that your mattress is clean, you want to keep it that way.
- Use a mattress protector: A good mattress protector catches most of the sweat before it reaches your mattress.
- Airing: Fold your duvet back towards the foot of the bed every morning. Open the window. Let the moisture evaporate.
- Rotate and flip: Rotate your mattress every 3 months (from head to foot) to prevent sagging and dirt building up in one spot.
Conclusion: When should you call in a professional?
Professional cleaning costs between €60 and €100 per mattress. Since you need to repeat this process regularly, buying a good Achaté Steam Cleaner or Spot Cleaner (which you can also use for your sofa, curtains and floors) often pays for itself after just 2 cleans.
Cleaning it yourself isn't difficult, as long as you follow the right steps and are patient while it dries.
Ready to make your bedroom truly hygienic?
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