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How Long Should I Leave Baking Soda on a Mattress?

If your mattress feels old, dirty, or just plain gross, it may be time for a thorough cleaning. This may sound like a drag, but with the power of baking soda, you can get your mattress deep cleaned with minimal effort. However, if you’ve never cleaned a mattress, you may be unsure how to do it. 

You should leave baking soda on a mattress for twenty-four hours for the best results and the cleanest mattress. However, if you cannot be without your mattress for that long, thirty minutes is sufficient to clean the mattress. 

In the rest of this article, I’ll tell you how to use baking soda to get a fresh-smelling and cleaner mattress and why baking soda works. I’ll also explain why it’s important to keep your mattress clean, so you’ll be inspired to do some spring cleaning, even if it isn’t spring. If you have a mattress that’s smelling and looking a little off, keep reading! 

How to Use Baking Soda to Clean a Mattress 

Baking soda is a staple in most people’s kitchen cupboards, and you can also use it for cleaning. One of the best ways to clean your mattress is to use baking soda. 

Here’s how to use baking soda to clean your mattress: 

1. Strip the bed. Remove all duvets, blankets, and sheets. If you want to clean these too, put them in the washing machine and use hot water. Dry them on a high heat setting to kill all the bacteria on the bedding.
2. If there are stains on the mattress, use a spot cleaner. You can make your own with a teaspoon of dish detergent and a cup of water. Most protein-based stains, such as blood, sweat, and urine (I know! But life happens), will come off with this cleaner. Other stains, such as coffee or red wine (no judgment! I enjoy a glass of red at midnight as well), will need something stronger, such as the Incredible! Stain Remover from Amazon. 
3. Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress. If your mattress is particularly pungent, apply more baking soda as you see fit. There should be an even layer of powder over the entire surface of the mattress. If you can, put the mattress in direct sunlight, as the heat from the sun helps the baking soda work its magic more effectively. 
4. Leave the baking soda on your mattress for thirty minutes to twenty-four hours. The more time you give the baking soda to settle, the better, which is why I recommend twenty-four hours. However, if you need to use your mattress before then, thirty minutes is long enough for a basic cleansing. 
5. Remove the baking soda. After leaving it on for at least thirty minutes, use a vacuum to suck up the baking soda. 
6. Repeat the process on the other side. There are two sides to every story, two sides to every coin, and two sides to every mattress. You’ll need to repeat the above process on the other side to ensure your mattress is properly cleaned.
7. Put your bedding back on and get a good night’s sleep! Now you can rest easy knowing that your mattress is cleaner. You also won’t have that annoying odor bugging you as you try to catch your Z’s. 

You should apply baking soda on your mattress at least once a year, although twice a year is even better. Even if your mattress isn’t visibly dirty, it will absorb bacteria and dirt over time, and giving it a scheduled baking soda cleaning will help it last longer.

How Long Should I Leave Baking Soda on a Mattress?

You should leave baking soda on a mattress for twenty-four hours for the best results and the cleanest mattress. However, if you cannot be without your mattress for that long, thirty minutes is sufficient to clean the mattress. 

Why Use Baking Soda To Clean a Mattress? 

Baking soda is a simple and inexpensive cleaning agent that removes stains and eliminates odor. It is especially useful for mattress cleaning because the frequency of use can leave mattresses looking and smelling unpleasant. 

Listen, humans are gross, and most people sleep on their mattresses almost every night. That means that mattresses are full of dirt, oil, dead skin, sweat, and more, which can produce quite the odor. However, you can’t exactly shove your mattress in a washing machine to get that smell out, so you need to use an alternative method. 

Baking soda removes stains, brightens the color of your mattress, and eliminates odor. It’s also easy to use because all you have to do is sprinkle the powder on your mattress, and you’re good to go! The baking soda will absorb the odors and stains without scrubbing.  

Why Cleaning Your Mattress Is Important 

You’re a smart cookie, so I know you know that cleanliness is important. A clean home reduces stress, removes allergens, prevents potentially harmful bacteria, and improves overall health and quality of life. 

However, cleaning your mattress is especially important. Here are some benefits of cleaning your mattress regularly: 

• Reduces itching and discomfort in bed, which contributes to a better night’s sleep. Getting enough rest is difficult if you’re constantly itching or uncomfortable. If you don’t keep your mattress clean, dust mites and fungi can gather on it, triggering allergies. 
• Improves the air quality in your home. A dirty mattress contains all sorts of gunk that can pollute the air. Cleaning it removes these biological contaminants and leads to a healthier, cleaner home with better air. 
• There are bugs in your bed. Okay, maybe not. However, dust mites are teeny-tiny insects that can thrive in a dirty mattress because their number-one meal is dead skin. Uh, yum? Humans shed approximately 1.5 g (0.05 ounces) of skin daily, which could keep approximately one million mites full and happy. These mites poop, too. Overall, keeping your mattress clean is best to keep these mites (and their excrement) at bay. 

You’ll probably sleep better knowing you’re on a clean mattress and not one filled with dirt, dust mites, and other allergens and contaminants. Cleaning your mattress can be annoying and time-consuming, but it is an important chore to keep up with. 

Conclusion 

Generally, the longer you leave baking soda on a mattress, the better. More time allows the baking soda to settle in properly and get the job done. However, some people cannot be without their mattresses for this long. In this case, thirty minutes is enough to get the mattress clean.