How to Deodorise a Mattress?

You wash your sheets every week to keep your sleep crispy fresh, but something still feels off?

The source of funky odours can actually lie deeper, in the layers of your mattress.

Your bed can develop its own odour over the years, or it can smell funky after the accident. In all these scenarios, you need to deodorise a mattress!

And this article will show you five ways to do this effectively, along with tips on how to keep the odours from reappearing.

How to Deodorise Your Mattress: 5 Simple Ways

#1 Baking Soda

You’ve probably put the baking soda in your fridge to remove odours before, but it’s also a cheap and effective mattress deodoriser! It can easily handle slight mildew odours and absorb the smells of sweat, vomit, or urine.

Here’s how to cure your smelly bed using this method:

• Remove the bedding and vacuum the mattress. If needed, treat the dirty spots with a mixture of dish soap and warm water.
• Take a pack of baking soda and generously sprinkle it on the mattress surface. The goal is to cover the surface with an even layer.
• Let the soda layer sit on the surface for about an hour and absorb the odours (1). The more you leave it on, the more effective it will be.
• Vacuum the mattress again and make the bed with clean sheets.

You can also combine baking soda with essential oils to make your mattress feel even fresher.

#2 Baby Powder & Essential Oils

This way to deodorise a mattress is similar to a baking soda method. Baby powder absorbs smells and moisture, which can make the odours less potent. Plus, you can add aroma oils for an additional effect. Here are the ones that might help:

• Eucalyptus — the oil has antiseptic properties and can fight odour-causing bacteria.
• Mint — good for removing sweat odours.
• Citrus oils — help deal with urine smells.

Take 15-20 drops of essential oil per pack of baby powder.

The application method is exactly the same as with the baking soda: sprinkle baby powder over a clean mattress and let it sit for about an hour. Then vacuum and enjoy the fresh-smelling bed!

#3 Water and Vinegar Spray

This method of deodorising a mattress works best along with spot cleaning. Vinegar is volatile, and it can evaporate the odour molecules, therefore making the smell less prominent as the mattress dries out.

To use this organic deodoriser, mix equal parts of white vinegar and clean water into the spray bottle. Lightly spray the mattress surface on the top. Avoid making it too wet and let it dry completely. Then repeat with the other side if needed.

#4 Cornstarch & Baking Soda Mixture

If your mattress started to develop a funky odour over the years, it might be because of the constant contact with your body oils.

A mixture of cornstarch and baking soda can deal with that — cornstarch perfectly absorbs oils — but this method takes time.

All you need to do is to mix equal parts of baking soda and cornstarch and sprinkle it over the smelly area. The mixture then should sit on a mattress for as long as possible, preferably for the day. Then, vacuum the mattress as usual.

Also read: TOP 4 Best Latex Mattresses

#5 Rubbing Alcohol

Finally, you can treat smells with a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol in equal proportion. This method works well for removing body oil and sweat odours and can add effectiveness for your spot cleaning of blood or urine stains.

The application technique is similar to the vinegar method: spray the mixture over the area with odours and air dry it. Repeat as many times as you need to get rid of the smell.

How to Keep Your Mattress Fresh for Longer

Air Out the Room

Fresh air is the best mattress deodoriser, so make sure that you keep your bed exposed to it. Good air circulation in the bedroom removes excess moisture from the air and allows the sweat to evaporate from the mattress surface.

Additionally, leaving the mattress without the sheets on for some time helps combat dust mites and bacteria, which can also cause a funky smell.

Foam mattresses are especially prone to developing odours, but you can check Australian memory foam mattresses with treated foams and pick yourself a bed that will stay fresh for longer.

Vacuum Your Mattress

Regular vacuuming indirectly helps deodorise a mattress because it removes debris that could become food for odour-causing bacteria. So, do not hesitate to give your mattress a good cleaning every 1-2 months. While vacuuming, pay attention to the seams and corners of your mattress, as these are the places where the most debris is gathered.

Rotate The Mattress

Even the best bed in a box made in Australia will fail you without basic care. And rotating the mattress, aside from preventing saggy spots, also improves air circulation within the layers. This, in turn, helps evaporate excess moisture and inhibits mold growth and funky smells.

Put a Mattress Protector On

A mattress protector acts as a barrier and shields the foam and mattress fabric from external impact. Some of them also have waterproof lining, which keeps the moisture and mold out of the mattress.

Ideally, you should encase a mattress in a protective cover since the day of purchase, and change it every 2-3 months. Especially if you have a mattress for a bad back or other specific conditions because these mattresses usually are more expensive, and you want to make the most from sleeping on them.

How To Clean & Deodorise A Mattress | Clean With Confidence