Airing

• Airing a mattress provides ventilation of the fabric. This is done by removing any bedding and letting the air circulate. Open a window on a warm sunny day and allow a breeze to flow through the room. This removes odors
  
  

Vacuum

• Vacuuming is the basic level of cleaning a mattress. This gets up dust and debris. It should be done on a frequent basis such as when it is time to rotate or flip the mattress
  
  

Spots and Stains

• If there are just spots or stains then the cleaning can be limited to those areas.
  Cleaners include vinegar and baking soda, borax (boric acid), soap and water, enzymatic cleaners and commercial cleaners that can be used on mattresses, such as hydrogen peroxide. An important factor in choosing a mattress cleaner is to make sure it is fabric friendly and acceptable for use on mattresses.
  For the vinegar method, wet the stain with vinegar, sprinkle on enough baking soda to make it bubble, let the area dry and then vacuum it.
  For the borax method, wet the stain with water, sprinkle on a small amount of borax, scrub the stain with a sponge, let the area dry and vacuum it.
  For hydrogen peroxide, pour a small amount onto a cloth and rub the stain, but be careful: it can bleach fabric.
  Enzymatic cleaners require pouring some on the stain and waiting.
  The soap and water method requires wetting the stain with water and applying the soap. Scrub with a wet sponge, and rinse the area by scrubbing and rinsing the sponge alternately. Then let the area dry.
  For commercial cleaners, follow the directions provided.
  
  

Deep Cleaning

• Steam cleaning completely sanitizes a mattress. It is used for mites, bacteria, germs, odor and pests, and doesn't leave a residue.
  
  

Mold

• The Environmental Protection Agency states that if there is water damage on fabric, like that of a mattress, then it needs to be dried out within a 24 to 48 eight hour period in order to prevent the growth of mold. Mold is a fungus that grows and causes organic matter to decay. It causes discoloration on the surface where it grows and makes a musty or earthy odor. Look to see if the area is stained.
  A natural mold destroyer is vinegar. Spray it on the affected area. Tea tree oil is also effective against mold. Use it in a ratio of one teaspoon to a cup of water and again spray it on the affected area.
  A professional mold removal firm can be consulted. They have the training and equipment for the safe removal of mold.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Mold can develop where there is a moist environment. Keeping the humidity level in between 30 percent and 50 percent reduces the probability of mold growth, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  A mattress's sheets aid in preventing dust and mites. The higher the thread count in a sheet, the more mite and dust resistant the sheet is. Use at least a 100 thread count sheet. This is a tightly woven fabric acts as a physical barrier to dust and mites. Hot water washes of sheets removes dust, destroys mites and sanitizes.