On average, you spend about eight hours per day sleeping. In addition, you may transfer oils, dirt, and body lotions onto your bedding as you go to bed. All these things can make your mattress dirty and a dirty mattress isn’t healthy to sleep on.
On average, you should wash your mattress protector once every two months. But how much you need to wash your mattress protector per month depends on how many times you sleep on it, whether you have kids or pets, whether guests or kids use it, and whether you suffer from allergies, colds, or flu.
A mattress with dirt, bacteria, fluids, allergens, and oils may lead to health complications. That’s why you need a mattress protector, and the protector should always be clean. If you want to know how many times you need to wash your mattress protector under different conditions and how you can care for your other bets, read on.
How Often Should You Wash Mattress Protectors?
Many sources and experts recommend that a mattress cover be washed once every 60 days. However, there’s no agreement on the frequency with which a mattress should be cleaned. Each expert will advise you differently.
Some will tell you that you need to wash your mattress cover once per month, while others prefer washing it two to four times a month. However, most experts agree that pillowcases and bed linens need washing two to four times per month.
What to Consider
Remember that mattress covers accumulate debris and germs over time. So by keeping them clean, you’ll be protecting yourself and your loved ones. And other factors that determine the amount of time you need to wash your mattress include:
- If you have pets jumping on the bed, you’d need to wash the cover more often.
- If some beverage or liquid spills on the mattress cover, you may need to wash it immediately.
- A mattress cover on a guest’s bed may not need regular washing if you don’t receive any guests.
- If the mattress cover is on a child’s bed, it will need regular washing.
- The cover may need regular washing in hot weather where people sweat at night.
- The cover must always remain clean if you or your loved one has allergies.
The amount of time you need to wash your mattress depends on how you use it. The faster it gets dirty, the higher the number of times you should wash it in a month. But wash it:
- Once every three months for guest bedrooms.
- Allergy sufferers: Twice per month (or more often).
- Cold or flu sufferers: post-illness.
- After spilling drinks or food, immediately.
In summary, wash your mattress cover according to how you use it.
How Often Should You Wash Other Bedding?
Proper hygiene requires that all your bedding be clean. They collect oil, sweat, dirt, fur, and other gunk. Dirty bedding can contribute to asthma, skin breakouts, allergies, and many other conditions.
For example, you may need to wash your sheets once weekly, depending on how you use them. But if you don’t use them daily, you can wash them twice a month.
You may need to wash your sheets more often, about 3–4 times a week if you have kids or pets that like playing on the bed. On the other hand, if you have asthma or allergies, you may need to wash as often as possible.
What Bedding to Wash
Other bedding that needs washing include:
- Pillows: If washable, you can wash them once every four to six months.
- Blankets: You can wash your blankets once every two to three months.
- Comforters: Comforters need washing once every two to three months.
- Duvet covers: You need to wash your duvet covers once to twice a month.
- Pillowcases: Pillowcases should be washed once every week.
Also, remember that your mattress needs to be clean.
Cleaning a Mattress
A mattress must be cleaned once every six months to improve sleep quality and health. If your mattress cover and other bedding are clean, but the bed itself is dirty, you can still have health problems.
When cleaning your bedding, check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you follow the correct procedure and use the proper cleaning agents. Using a harsh chemical or detergent for cleaning may damage your bedding and even cause other health complications.
How to Clean a Mattress Protector
A mattress protector is relatively easy to wash and, surprisingly, machine washable. All mattress covers can fit into standard washing machines.
So, you can choose to hand wash or machine wash your mattress cover. However, before washing the cover, check the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them diligently. The mattress protector isn’t recommended because the heat can damage it.
Use Cold or Lukewarm Water
You can wash the cover on its own or put it together with other bedding like bed sheets. Set your washing machine to a delicate or gentle cycle. Never use hot water to wash a mattress cover.
Use Mild Detergent
Always use a mild detergent to wash your mattress cover, and never add chlorine or bleach to the washing machine. Once you’ve cleaned the cover, rinse it well to eliminate any trace of detergent. Any residual detergent can cause mildew or mold growth.
Air or Tumble Dry
You can use a dryer to dry your mattress cover or allow it to dry in the sun. You can as well use a fan to dry it. For tumble drying, make sure you use similar fabrics and low heat. The tumble setting should also be low.
If your mattress cover is non-machine washable, don’t wash it using a washing machine; otherwise, it may shrink.
For a non-machine washable mattress cover, you can use a mild detergent to dab the affected areas before hand-washing the top part of the mattress cover. Once you are satisfied that it’s clean, rinse it well, then dry it in the sun. Don’t return the mattress to the cover before the cover dries fully.
Mattress Protector Cleaning Tips
The best way to increase the lifespan of your mattress cover is to keep it clean by washing it manually. The following steps are necessary for effective cleaning.
Prepare the Mattress Cover
Remove it from the bed, then use a vacuum cleaner to clean its sides. Make sure you clean up all the corners and creases.
Use Baking Soda
Have some baking soda, warm water, and a paper towel or clean piece of clothing. Baking soda is an excellent agent for removing odors and stains. This makes it a great product for absorbing sweat and other allergens on the mattress protector. Use a spray bottle to apply water to the areas that need spot cleaning.
Sprinkle the areas with baking powder and allow them to rest for a few hours. You can then use a damp cloth or paper towel to clean the areas. If you have stubborn stains, use baking powder and water to remove them.
Once you are done with one side of the protector, flip it over and clean the other side. Allow the protector to dry for 24 hours in the air after washing it.
Are Mattress Protectors Worth it?
Although there are many cleaning agents on the market today, it’s still a big challenge to completely remove stains from mattresses, let alone clean them entirely. That’s where mattress protectors come in. A mattress protector ensures these stains don’t reach the bed in the first place.
Fortunately, these mattress protectors can repel or absorb allergens and liquids, ensuring the mattress stays clean longer. And are machine washable, so you need not worry about keeping them clean. Protecting your mattress by cleaning it will ensure you have a restful sleep and stay healthy.
It’s highly recommended that you keep your mattress clean if you have chronic allergies or sensitive skin. A mattress protector protects against common irritants like bed bugs and mites.
This explains why mattress protectors have found their way into healthcare facilities and nurseries. The most significant advantage of these protectors is that they are easy to clean and sanitize.