Each mattress you buy for a member of your household is an investment. It’s only natural to want to keep those mattresses as clean as possible. Sweat and other stains will inevitably appear on your bedding eventually, so to clean it, can you use a shampooer on your mattress?
Shampooing a mattress is not recommended as it can saturate the material, leading to mold and mildew growth. Instead, spot clean stains using a mild detergent solution, blotting out excess moisture, and allowing it to air dry completely.
One reason shampooing a mattress isn’t ideal is because it can compromise the mattress’s integrity. Excessive moisture can break down the internal structure, leading to sagging and reduced support. For a deeper clean without the risk of water damage, consider using a handheld steam cleaner that uses minimal moisture.
Additionally, using shampoo can leave behind residues that attract more dirt. Instead, a mixture of baking soda and a few drops of essential oil can be sprinkled on the mattress, left for a few hours, and then vacuumed up. This method helps to deodorize and lightly clean the mattress without risking residue or moisture damage.
Since there are currently so many options for mattresses, it’s important to do your homework before buying. Try to make a list of the most important features you want before beginning the hunt for any major purchase. If being able to clean your mattress with a carpet cleaner is near the top of your list, read on to find out which types of mattresses you should consider.
Can You Shampoo a Mattress?
The answer to this question depends on the type of mattress you’ve chosen to invest in.
Innerspring Mattresses
This type of mattress can contain one of four kinds of mattress coils. These coils are generally made of steel in varying gauges and are almost always located in the mattress’ core to offer the user support when lying down on their back, side, or stomach. Innerspring mattresses usually come in plush, firm, or dual comfort categories.
Can You Shampoo an Innerspring Mattress?
Without saturating the mattress, you can safely use a carpet cleaner to clean your spring coil mattress. If the mattress gets too wet, the core might absorb the water, possibly leading to the growth of mildew later on, which can cause the mattress to develop an odor. In most cases, the coils should not rust if they are truly made of steel.
If you have young children or pets, you will likely have stains on your mattresses that need to be cleaned more often than those who do not. Highly-rated portable carpet cleaners, like the Bissell 3624 Spot Clean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner, are fairly affordable and are worth the investment. They could save you money in the long run by prolonging the life of your mattresses.
How to Shampoo a Mattress
It’s easy to shampoo a mattress. Follow the steps below:
- Saturate soiled area with the carpet cleaner’s soap dispenser.
- Scrub area with brush attachment.
- Extract the dirty liquid with the carpet cleaner.
You can also watch this video to see how easy it is for the mom to clean her child’s mattress after a bedwetting accident, and using a carpet cleaner made the chore much easier:
Memory Foam Mattresses
A memory foam mattress is made of temperature-sensitive foam. This foam type is so popular because it slowly returns to its correct shape. Originally designed by NASA, the mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers made of memory foam were not affordable enough to be widely used. In recent years, the cost has become increasingly reasonable as technology has become more mainstream.
Can You Shampoo a Memory Foam/Tempurpedic Mattress?
Rather than using a carpet cleaner on a memory foam mattress, it is better to use a carpet steamer to minimize the amount of liquid going into the mattress. Since these mattresses are made of multiple layers of foam, it would be difficult to draw liquid back out of it, should any cleaning solution reach the core. Also, a carpet cleaner is made to scrub with a built in brush, which might be too rough for a foam mattress.
Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses are a combination of individually-pocketed coils and memory foam, and it offers benefits from both types of mattresses. Since the memory foam would be closest to the surface, it makes sense to clean a hybrid mattress as you would a regular memory foam mattress.
Pillow Top Mattresses
Pillow top mattresses can either be innerspring or memory foam. Essentially, they are a mattress with an attached topper to add a more plush feel to the bed. Although they may be rare, there’s no reason why hybrid mattresses can’t be offered in a pillow top model as well.
Can You Shampoo a Pillowtop Mattress?
Since the pillow top portion of a mattress can be as little as 2 in (5.1 cm) thick, it is more delicate than the surface of a regular innerspring or memory foam mattress. If you have stubborn stains, you can carefully use a carpet cleaner to spot clean a pillow-top mattress.
Latex Mattresses
The main difference between latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses is that latex foam is quicker to respond than the slow-reacting memory foam. Consumers also need to be aware of any latex allergies prior to choosing this option. Latex mattresses, which are 100% foam, should be cared for like a memory foam mattress would be.
Adjustable Beds
Adjustable beds are actually a kind of bed frame that can raise or lower the head and feet. They can take innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, or latex mattresses. Their care instructions would depend on the type of mattress you selected.
Waterbeds and Air Mattresses
Waterbeds and air mattresses are the less common type of mattresses. Because these two types can be subject to punctures and leaks, it is unlikely that the scrubbing power of a shampooer is the right tool for the job. Most waterbeds and air mattresses need to be spot-cleaned. As always, you should refer to the manufacturer’s suggested care instructions.
Should You Shampoo a Mattress?
Is shampooing a mattress the best choice for you and your family? Before selecting a shampoo for your carpet cleaner, always read the ingredients on the bottle. If you or another household member, pets included, are sensitive to certain chemicals, you should avoid purchasing products with those ingredients. This is especially true if you’re planning on cleaning your household’s mattresses with this product.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on November 12, 2020.
For example, many carpet cleaning solutions contain sodium lauryl sulfate. This is what makes an effective carpet cleaner foam. You may be surprised to find that this ingredient can also be found in many body products, such as shampoo, facial cleanser, body wash, hand soap, and more. If this chemical is gentle enough to wash your face with, it is likely gentle enough to clean your mattress.
If you are concerned about what might be in the cleaning solution that is going on your mattress, then you could learn how to make your own carpet cleaner. There are a variety of ingredients to test out, such as essential oils, vinegar, salt, dish soap, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and many more.
Making your own cleaning solution gives you control over what works for your cleaning needs while keeping your family safe from any known allergens.
Alternative Ways to Keep Your Mattress Cleaner
Everyday use of your beds by you, your children, and your pets will inevitably result in a need to protect your mattresses. Using a product like this 5-star FANCY QUEEN Bedding Waterproof Mattress Protector will help guard your mattresses against stains resulting from sweat and other bodily fluids.
In addition to using a high-quality mattress cover, it is recommended to vacuum your mattress daily. This helps to reduce the number of dust mites and allergens hiding on your mattress that are invisible to the naked eye. If you don’t happen to have time to vacuum every mattress in your home that often, there are other ways to clean your mattress without using a carpet shampooer or steamer.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on November 12, 2020.
A quick and easy way to clean your mattress without needing extra equipment just requires a vacuum, a stain remover, a small brush, and baking soda. This process starts and ends with vacuuming your mattress thoroughly.
- Vacuum your mattress, making sure to get inside any indentations and ridges.
- After the first round of vacuuming, simply use the stain remover of your choice and a small brush to spot clean any stains on your mattress.
- Sprinkle baking powder over your entire mattress and let it sit for as long as possible. (It’s best to do this in the morning to allow the baking soda to do its thing for most of the day.)
- Vacuum your mattress a second time to pick up all the baking soda.
It’s important to remember if you have a double-sided mattress that you should flip your mattress over and repeat the process on the other side.
Watch this video to see how easy it is to use this method to clean a mattress in the average household:
Final Thoughts
Of all the different types of mattresses, innerspring mattresses are the best ones to clean with a shampooer, which is made to scrub out stains. Foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses should be cleaned with a steam cleaner. Pillow top mattresses can be spot cleaned with a shampooer, but you might consider some non-machine ways to clean your mattresses that have been proven effective.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on November 12, 2020.
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