The average human spends about one-third of their lives asleep - that’s eight hours every night on the same mattress. And yet most people neglect their beds and don’t think about cleaning that mattress on a regular basis. While sheets and pillowcases may get washed once a week, the mattress should also be cleaned fairly often as it accumulates dirt, skin flakes, dust, mites and bacteria.
These are always undesirable things when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness. They can pose a serious health risk if not removed from the mattress. Infections, diseases, allergies, skin irritation and asthma can be caused by dirty beds and unclean mattresses. Cleaning your bed is not that difficult and can be done in a matter of minutes with some simple household tools and detergents.
Tips for cleaning a mattress like a pro
1. Vacuum the surface
Start by stripping your bed of the duvet and sheets. Use your vacuum cleaner to suck up any hair, dust and fine particles on the surface of the mattress. If you have an upholstery attachment for the vacuum nozzle, use it to get into the nooks of the surface. Clean every seam and crevice as these act as collection points for dirt.
2. Tackle the bacteria
Next, spray the mattress with an antibacterial solution to kill the germs on the surface. Avoid using bleach as it is a harsh chemical that can ruin your mattress covering and cause possible skin irritation at night. You can dilute some antibacterial detergent in water and put it into a spray bottle. Rub this solution into the mattress with a barely damp cloth. Don’t soak the mattress or wet it too much as it will take a long time to dry and could leave an unpleasant smell.
3. Treat stains and odours
Sprinkle a bit of baking soda onto the mattress and rub it with a cloth to tackle any stains and unpleasant odours. Baking soda is effective for both of these outcomes. For the fastest and best results leave your mattress outside in the sun or in a sunny spot near a window. The baking soda should be left on the surface for about 12 hours, after which it can be vacuumed off easily.
These simple steps should be completed once every three months to keep the surface of your mattress clean and hygienic. A deep clean of your mattress should be done at least twice a year. For this deep clean, it may be advisable to contact a professional cleaning company that has the right equipment and detergents for the job. Feel free to contact us today for your contract cleaning needs or to request an obligation-free quote.
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IWESCO offers specialised cleaning and waste control services to industrial and commercial customers in South Africa. These services are aimed at minimising our customers’ impact on the environment. Our services also include pest control, garden maintenance, fogging and disinfecting. Our staff are highly trained to offer the most professional services. IWESCO is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.
We are a one-stop shop for all your contract cleaning and waste control needs and have a national footprint. Our head office is located in Tshwane but we can provide services to any industrial and commercial client in the major metropolitan areas around South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mbombela and more.
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