How to Clean a Mattress UK: Stains, Odours and What's Underneath

TL;DR (30 seconds)

• Learning how to clean a mattress takes about an hour: strip the bed, treat stains with a barely damp cloth, brush or vacuum the surface, then air it fully.
• Do a full clean every six months, plus a quick brush at each sheet change.
• Baking soda lifts odours. Cold water lifts blood. Diluted washing-up liquid handles urine and sweat.
• Never soak a mattress. It dries slowly, and trapped damp is how mould starts.
• Check the care label first, and clean the divan base, drawers or ottoman space underneath while the bed is stripped.

Knowing how to clean a mattress is mostly knowing what not to do. Don't soak it, don't scrub it, and don't forget the base it sits on.

We build divans, ottoman storage beds and mattresses in the UK, so we think about both halves of a bed. Most cleaning guides stop at the mattress surface. This one also covers what's underneath, because dust and damp collect there too.

We'll be straight with you: the timing is good. Dyson's senior microbiologist recommends a deep clean in spring and another in October, at the end of dust mite season, according to Dyson's March 2026 mattress guide. It's the 23rd of October as we write this.

How do you clean a mattress step by step?

To clean a mattress, strip the bed, spot-treat stains with a barely damp cloth, brush or vacuum the surface, sprinkle on baking soda, then air the mattress completely before remaking the bed. Plan on an hour of work and a few hours of drying.

1. Check the care label. It says whether water-based cleaners are allowed and whether you can turn the mattress. Which? advises checking the label first, and your warranty too if it's memory foam.
2. Strip and wash the bedding. Wash sheets and your mattress protector at 60 degrees or above where labels allow. NHS Lothian says that kills dust mites, while cooler washes only rinse the allergen away for a while.
3. Spot-treat stains. Do this before brushing, so you don't grind marks into the fabric. The methods are below.
4. Brush or vacuum the surface. Work in overlapping lines, then the sides and seams. Repeat on the other side if it's two-sided.
5. Sprinkle on baking soda. Spread a thin layer, leave it at least an hour, then brush or vacuum it off.
6. Air the mattress. Open the window, add a fan, and leave it bare until completely dry.
7. Rotate or turn it as the label advises, then remake the bed with a clean, breathable protector.

We'd rather you did this little and often than once in a blue moon. A five-minute brush at every sheet change beats an annual battle.

How to clean a mattress without a vacuum (and when to use one)

You can clean a mattress without a vacuum, and for many sprung mattresses we'd prefer you did. The care advice in our mattress care FAQs is to use a soft brush rather than a vacuum.

Which?, Expert Reviews and Dyson all recommend a vacuum's upholstery attachment instead. The worry with strong suction is that it can tug at the fillings under the quilting. So we'd brush weekly, vacuum monthly at most on low suction, and only if the label allows.

Honestly, we haven't tested every filling on the market. If your mattress came with its own instructions, follow those over ours. Without a vacuum, the routine is simple:

• Brush the surface, sides and seams with a soft handheld brush in small circles.
• Absorb odours with baking soda, then brush it off the same way.
• Wipe with a microfibre cloth wrung out until barely damp.
• Air the mattress with the window open until it's completely dry.

How to remove stains from a mattress without soaking it

To remove stains from a mattress, act quickly, blot rather than rub, and use the least liquid that works. A mattress behaves like a sponge, not a plate: whatever goes in takes ages to come out.

So put the cleaner on a cloth, never straight onto the mattress, then dry the patch with a clean towel.

 

These methods come from Which? and Expert Reviews, with the sweat treatment from Dyson. Test any product on a hidden corner first.

How to get urine out of a mattress

To get urine out of a mattress, blot up as much as you can, then dab the area with a cloth wrung out in water and a little washing-up liquid.

1. Blot with a clean cloth or sponge, wringing it out until nothing more comes up.
2. Slightly dampen the area to dilute what's left, without saturating it, and blot again.
3. Dab with the diluted washing-up liquid, slowly. Mattresses aren't waterproof.
4. Dry the patch with a towel, then air the mattress until completely dry.

For dried-on marks, Dyson suggests citric acid and salt, left for at least an hour before dabbing and vacuuming away. If the smell lingers or a pet is involved, try an enzyme cleaner. That's a product with enzymes (natural catalysts that break down organic matter), much like biological washing powder.

Should you use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide?

White vinegar is the classic cupboard fix, and hydrogen peroxide (a mild bleach) is the other name you'll see online. Use the first with care and the second with caution.

One high-street bed retailer's guide mixes a quarter cup of white vinegar into a litre of warm water and rubs it in with a soaped, barely damp cloth. Dyson suggests a half-and-half spray as a mild disinfectant, but Expert Reviews says to spray the cloth, not the mattress, and we'd side with that.

None of the UK guides we checked lead with peroxide. Dyson warns that bleach-based products can discolour mattress dyes, so patch test first and keep it on the stain only.

What should you do about mould and mildew on a mattress?

Mould and mildew on a mattress come from trapped damp, so the fix is dry air first and cleaning second. Expert Reviews names damp air as the main cause, which makes a dry, ventilated bedroom the best defence.

Off-white or pink spots may be mildew, which is easier to clean because it doesn't grow into the mattress. Move the mattress somewhere airy, use as little liquid as possible, and let it dry fully.

One limit worth knowing: if mould keeps returning or covers a large area, we'd replace the mattress and look for the damp source in the room. Scrubbing can't fix a ventilation problem.

How to deodorise a mattress with baking soda

To deodorise a mattress, spread a thin layer of baking soda over the surface, leave it for at least an hour, then brush or vacuum it off. It works like blotting paper for smells, drawing body oils and moisture up to the surface where you can lift them away.

Baking soda mattress cleaning is cheap and gentle, but timing matters:

• Light staleness: one to two hours is usually enough.
• Stronger smells: leave it overnight, as Which? suggests, then air the mattress.
• Sweat stains: Dyson advises five hours or more before vacuuming.

Skip deodorising sprays. Expert Reviews points out they only mask smells, and extra moisture is the last thing a mattress needs.

Can you steam clean a mattress?

Sometimes, but steam cleaning adds moisture, so check the care label first and avoid it on memory foam. Expert Reviews says a professional steam clean can be very effective, just never on memory foam.

Its June 2024 figures put a professional clean at £20 to £80, around £42 for a double, so ask for a current quote. For an ordinary sprung mattress, we wouldn't bother with steam at home. Getting it completely dry matters more than getting it deeper.

How to clean under a bed base, inside drawers and in an ottoman

To clean under a bed base, move the bed if you can, vacuum the floor and the underside, then wipe the frame with a barely damp cloth. Cleaning the mattress and ignoring the base is like mopping the kitchen and never looking under the cupboards.

Which? recommends vacuuming under the bed and around the frame as you go, especially if you have allergies. Drawer and ottoman bases are heavy, so ask someone to help you move them.

How do you clean a divan base?

Clean a divan base by vacuuming the fabric monthly with a brush attachment and spot-cleaning marks with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water. For our divan bases, we advise against soaking the fabric or using bleach-based cleaners.

While the mattress is off, check the top of the base for damp patches. Use a breathable mattress protector, not plastic sheets or PVC covers, which can trap moisture.

How do you clean inside drawers and an ottoman storage bed?

Clean inside drawers and an ottoman by emptying them, wiping the edges with a damp cloth and a non-abrasive cleaner, then vacuuming before everything goes back. One UK bed retailer's ottoman guide suggests doing it at least every three months.

Dust your stored items first. A boarded base lets little through, while a sprung slatted base lets dust drop as the mattress moves. If you're choosing, our ottoman storage beds and ottoman divan bases are both made in the UK.

How often should you clean a mattress?

You should clean a mattress thoroughly every six months, and brush or vacuum it more often if you have allergies, pets or sweat heavily. Which? calls six months advisable, and Expert Reviews suggests monthly if you have asthma or allergies.

 

Why bother? Dust mites (microscopic creatures that feed on shed skin) thrive in warm, damp places. Allergy UK explains that the allergy comes mainly from proteins in their droppings, which keep causing symptoms after the mite has died.

Be realistic about the results. NHS Lothian cautions that these measures lower allergens without removing them, and that doing several properly beats doing one.

How do you keep a mattress clean for longer?

Keep a mattress clean with a washable mattress protector, daily airing and regular rotating. In a Which? survey of its members, 65% had never cleaned stains from a mattress, so prevention does most of the work.

• Protector: it sits under the sheet and stops sweat, dust and spills reaching the mattress. Choose a breathable one, and a zipped barrier cover if you have a dust allergy.
• Airing: throw the covers back each morning and leave the bed open for about 20 minutes.
• Rotating: turn a sprung mattress head to foot weekly for the first three months, then monthly. Rotate a non-turn mattress 180 degrees monthly.
• Handling: never bend, fold or roll a mattress, because that can damage the spring unit and invalidate the warranty.

 If you sleep hot, there's less moisture to deal with. Which? tests how well moisture passes through each mattress it reviews, and our guide on why a cooling mattress can help if you sleep hot covers the options.

When is it time to replace your mattress instead of cleaning it?

Replace a mattress that still smells after a deep clean, keeps growing mould, or is eight to ten years old. That's Which?'s guideline, and Expert Reviews adds that even very good mattresses rarely last beyond ten years.

We make mattresses, so we have a stake in this answer. Even so, a clean, supportive six-year-old mattress beats a new one you didn't need.

When you're ready, browse our UK-made mattresses. Our mattress recycling service collects an old one during your delivery visit for £59.99, as of October 2026.

Frequently asked questions about cleaning a mattress

Can you machine wash a mattress?

No, a mattress is too bulky and absorbent to machine wash, and the filling would stay wet for days. Only a removable cover can go in the washing machine, and only if its label says so. Follow the instructions closely, because Which? warns the wrong cycle can shrink a cover or invalidate your warranty.

Is it safe to sleep on a mattress that's still damp?

No. Leave the mattress to dry completely before remaking the bed, because leftover dampness can lead to mould. Open the windows and run a fan to move air across the surface. Drying time depends on how much liquid you used and how well the room is ventilated, so allow plenty of it.

Does cleaning a mattress affect the warranty?

It can if you use the wrong method. All our beds carry a one-year manufacturer's warranty, and our terms say bending, folding or rolling a mattress can invalidate it. Stick to a soft brush, mild soapy water and a breathable protector, and contact us before trying anything stronger on a mattress you bought from us.

How do you clean a memory foam mattress?

Use as little liquid as possible, because foam should barely get wet. Check the label first: some covers come off and wash, while others must stay on. Dab stains with a lightly damp cloth, skip steam cleaning, and air the mattress until it's completely dry before you put the sheets back on.

Can a dirty mattress make allergies worse?

It can. Dust mite droppings are a common trigger for asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis, according to NHS Lothian. Washing bedding hot, using a protector and cleaning the mattress regularly lowers the allergen load, though it won't remove it entirely. If symptoms persist, speak to a doctor or pharmacist about treatment.

The bottom line on cleaning a mattress

Bottom line

• Brush weekly, deep clean twice a year, and treat stains the moment you spot them.
• Use as little liquid as you can, and make sure everything dries completely.
• Clean what's underneath too: the floor, the divan base, the drawers and the ottoman space.
• If the smell or mould survives a proper clean, replacing the mattress is the honest fix. 

Questions about caring for a bed from us? Call 01484 260436, email info@divanfactoryoutlet.co.uk or get in touch with the team.

About the author: written by the Divan Factory Outlet team, a family business that started 11 years ago and now makes beds, bases and mattresses in the UK with a one-year warranty.