Before we look into whether or not steam cleaning mattresses is a good idea, let’s first discuss the benefits of this process in general.

• Natural Method: Steam cleaning mattresses is a natural and chemical-free way to deep clean your bed and your home. It uses high-temperature steam to kill bacteria, dust mites, and other allergens, making it a great option for those with allergies or sensitivities.
• Very Effective: Additionally, steam cleaning can be more effective than traditional cleaning methods, as the high heat can penetrate deep into surfaces and remove dirt and grime that may be missed by other cleaning methods.
• Maintains Indoor Air Quality: Steam cleaning helps to maintain a better indoor air quality by lowering the risk of respiratory irritation and allergies by doing away with the need for harsh chemicals.
• Quick Drying Time: Steam cleaning reduces moisture retention, ensuring a quicker drying time for your mattress and preventing the growth of mould or mildew. This is in contrast to other older procedures that require longer drying times.
• Versatile Use: Steam cleaning is not just for mattresses; it can also be used to clean a wide range of surfaces, including carpets, curtains, and upholstery. This means that it can effectively and thoroughly clean your entire home.
• Environmentally Friendly: With no reliance on chemical detergents, steam cleaning aligns with eco-friendly practices, making it a sustainable option for those seeking environmentally conscious cleaning alternatives.
• Odour Removal: Your mattress and house will smell clean and new after the high-temperature steam kills bacteria and helps neutralise and remove offensive odours.
• Allergen Reduction: Steam cleaning efficiently eliminates typical allergens like pet dander and pollen, in addition to dust mites and germs, promoting a more allergen-free atmosphere in your home.
• Extended Mattress Lifespan: By preventing the buildup of dirt and microorganisms that can eventually cause wear and tear, regular steam cleaning can help your mattress last longer.

Steam Cleaning vs. Vacuuming

You may be wondering, why not just vacuum my mattress instead of steam cleaning it? While vacuuming can remove surface dirt and debris, it may not be as effective at removing allergens and bacteria that can be deeply embedded in your mattress.

Steam cleaning, on the other hand, can reach deep into the layers of your mattress and effectively kill these allergens and bacteria, leaving your mattress cleaner and healthier.

Can You Steam Clean Mattresses?

Yes, you can steam clean mattresses with the necessary tools and skills. One-third of our lives are spent in bed; while in bed, we may sweat, spill food and beverages, and release dead skin cells.

A mattress cover or protector cannot totally prevent moisture and other contaminants from penetrating the mattress, making mattress cleaning unavoidable.

Steam cleaning the mattress at 212 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) kills dust mites and bacteria and breaks down all stains.

Bed bugs are resilient, and harsh chemicals may not kill them. Steaming a mattress for bed bugs at 212 °F or more kills them and their eggs.

Below are the advantages of steam cleaning your mattress

1. Deodorizes Your Mattress: Steam cleaning a mattress neutralizes and removes odors, leaving it completely clean and smelling fresh.
2. Removes Stains: Steam cleaning a mattress is an effective way to easily and quickly eliminate urine and other stubborn stains.
3. Eliminates Impurities: High temperatures in your mattress may create a conducive environment for dust mites, bacteria, allergens, and viruses. Steam cleaning eliminates them instantly.
4. Chemical-free: When steam cleaning, you only need water and a steam cleaner. A commercial steamer is more powerful and heats water to high temperatures. High temperatures successfully remove stains, dust, dirt, dust mites, bed bugs, and other pollens without too much effort.

How to Steam Clean a Mattress in 10 Simple Steps

First, check the material of your mattress to see if it can be steam cleaned. If so, strip the bed of the protector and other bedding and wash them.

Gather all the necessary equipment and materials for cleaning the mattress.

What you need to steam clean your mattress:

• Vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment
• Steam cleaner
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Dry lint-free towels
• Deodorizer (optional)

Here's how to clean mattress with steam cleaner:

Step 1: Strip the Bed of All Sheets, Blankets, and Pillows

Remove the pillows, comforters, blankets, sheets, and the mattress topper to ensure the mattress is completely exposed.

Step 2: Wash the Bedding

Machine wash all blankets, sheets, and other bedding. They also absorb sweat, oils, and dead skin cells from your body.

If the care instructions allow, use high water temperatures to deodorize and sanitize the bedding. Otherwise, use the recommended temperatures and washing method.

You may need to hit up a laundromat with larger washing machine bins or dryers in order to properly agitate and dry bulky bedding and comforters. Or you may want to take some items to a dry cleaner to properly care for.

Step 3: Vacuum the Mattress

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove surface-level debris and dirt.

Step 3: Deodorize the Mattress

Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress to deodorize it. One cup is enough for a twin-sized mattress, and ½ cup would be enough for a smaller one. A whole box of baking soda would be enough for a king or queen-sized mattress.

Increase or reduce the quantity accordingly based on the size of your mattress.

To perfume your mattress, add several drops of essential oils to the baking soda before sprinkling it. Eucalyptus, peppermint, or lavender deodorize the mattress and remove dust mites.

Add white vinegar to help the mixture penetrate the mattress and remove stains.

Step 4: Let the Baking Soda Sit for About an Hour

Allow 1 hour for the baking soda to absorb the oils, stains, and odors. If there are urine stains, allow more time (sometimes even 24 hours) for the baking soda to sit on the mattress to absorb the smell completely.

Step 5: Vacuum the Mattress

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Use the hose attachment and the rotating brush when vacuum cleaning. Slowly run the vacuum over the mattress.

When vacuuming areas that are in frequent contact with the skin, for example, where you lay your head, hold the vacuum cleaner a little longer to suck up the loose fibers, dust mites, dirt, and dead skin.

Step 6: Choose a Steam Machine

Use a powerful steam cleaner like the ones used by commercial cleaners such as optima, which can heat water to 212°F.

If you're renting one, check its specifications to ensure that water will get hot enough to do the job. If you cannot afford a steaming machine, use an iron box with a steaming function.

Avoid a household carpet steamer; its water temperature isn't ideal for killing bed bugs, bacteria, or dust mites.

Step 7: Fill the Water and Heat the Steamer

Most steamers have a wand to apply steam, a tank for water, and a motor to generate heat. Fill the tank with water up to the recommended level.

Following the manufacturer's instructions, turn the machine to heat the water.

Step 8: Steam the Mattress

Holding the steam cleaner at least 6 inches above your mattress, steam clean from the top left corner. Steam towards the right and then down, ensuring the hot steam covers the entire mattress.

Use slow, long, but even strokes to steam clean.

Don't steam one spot for an extended time as you could over wet or damage it. If the mattress takes too long to dry, mold and mildew may grow on it, so simply dampen it.

Turn down the dial to reduce the amount of steam released if you notice that the machine is over wetting the mattress.

Once the top is dry, flip it over. Start the whole process again to ensure both sides of the mattress are clean.

If you're lucky to have a one-sided mattress, you won't have to flip it to clean the other side.

Step 9: Steam the Sides

Steam cleaning the sides, working from top to bottom, leaves no room for bed bugs, dust mites, bacteria, dirt, and other contaminants.

Step 10: Allow the Mattress to Dry

Wait for the mattresses to dry completely for about 2 to 4 hours. If you use too much steam, you may have to wait longer, sometimes up to 8 hours.

Use dry towels or a wet-dry vacuum to suck out excess water from the mattress and then move it outside to dry thoroughly under the sun (which has the added benefit of helping lift stains), laying something underneath the mattress to protect it from getting dirty.

If there is insufficient space outside, run the fans and properly ventilate the room to shorten the drying time.

Step 11: Confirm if It's Dry

Press down the mattress with a dry towel or hand to check if it is completely dry. Allow more time if there's some moisture. Cover your bed with clean bedding if it's completely dry.