Mattress cleaning
You spend a third of your life on it and it is the one textile in the house that never gets washed.
DeepSteam.ca cleans mattresses with the truck-mounted upholstery tool: a thorough vacuum of both faces and the seams, pre-treatment of sweat, spill or accident areas, then hot water extraction at controlled moisture so the top comfort layers are cleaned without soaking the core. Mattresses are dry the same day with airflow. It is most often booked for allergies, after an illness or accident, or when moving into a home with a mattress left behind.
Do mattresses really need cleaning?
Health Canada's guidance on dust mites states plainly that "Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live in beds, carpets, furniture, plush children's toys, and anywhere that dust accumulates", and that "Both dust and mites can cause allergic reactions and aggravate pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma." Its recommendations include vacuuming soft furnishings frequently with a HEPA filter vacuum, washing linens in hot water weekly, keeping indoor relative humidity between 35 and 50 percent, and encasing mattresses in mite-impermeable covers.
Professional extraction fits into that list as the deep clean the mattress itself never otherwise gets. It removes the accumulated skin cells, sweat and dust that mites feed on, along with the allergen-laden dust already in the top layers. It does not replace the cover and humidity advice; it makes a good starting point for it.
What about stains and accidents?
Sweat yellowing, spilled drinks, blood and children's accidents are pre-treated according to what they are and extracted. Older set stains lighten rather than vanish. Urine is treated as on carpet: neutralized first, then flushed, because heat on untreated urine sets it. Tell us what happened and roughly when; it changes the chemistry.
How long until I can sleep on it?
Same day in most cases. The mattress is cleaned with the least water that does the job and vacuumed dry. Stand it on edge near a fan or an open window and it is ready to make up by bedtime. Put a clean, dry protector on before the sheets.
Which mattresses can be cleaned?
| Type | Cleaned by extraction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Innerspring and hybrid with fabric top | Yes | The standard case. |
| Pillow-top and Euro-top | Yes | Thicker top layer, slightly longer drying. |
| Memory foam and latex | Surface only | Foam must not be saturated. Cover is cleaned; deep stains in foam are not reachable. |
| Futons and sofa-bed mattresses | Yes | Cleaned as upholstery. |
Related: upholstery cleaning, pet stain and odour removal.