How To Clean A Mattress: Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are tiny but you can still spot them with the naked eye. Close-up images show that these household pests have an oval body thats dark brown in color, but after feeding on your blood their bodies swell and become more red in color.
Bed bugs cant fly nor do they move quickly, but they do thrive in moist environments where food is plentiful. In this instance, a warm mattress full of dead skin and sweat. They then shed and go on to lay hundreds of eggs, continuing the infestation in your mattress.
How do you know if you have bed bugs in your mattress? There are several signs of a bed bug infestation and they dont just live on your mattress either. Bed bugs can also infest your bedframe and headboard, your bedroom carpets and rugs, and other bedroom furniture and electronics.
Signs of bed bugs in your mattress and bedding include:
- Bed bug bites on your skin usually red, itchy bumps up to 5cm in diameter
- Bed bug droppings on your mattress and sheets
- Reddish-brown stains from crushed bed bugs
- Small drops of blood on your sheets
- Small and pale yellow eggshells
Some Causes Of Your Cat Peeing On The Mattress
400 > Cats are unlike us in the sense that their behavior is very logical. Normally, cats will use a litter tray, but when they begin to urinate in the home outside of the tray this is a sign that theres something wrong. So, what are the most common causes of this urination behavior and why might your cat be urinating on your bed? Consider the following:
The first thing you should do is have your cat checked out by a local veterinary specialist if it is urinating or defecating outside of their tray. There are a number of health conditions that can cause this sort of urination, including, but not limited to, urinary tract infection, kidney infection, diabetes, and dementia. If it turns out that there is a medical problem, it may be treatable or at least manageable and youll have the answer you wanted.
Every cat lover will tell you that cats are very fussy and particular about their personal cleanliness and the cleanliness of their surroundings. Cats hate urinating or defecating in a dirty litter box, so you need to make sure that your cat is not avoiding it because of this.
Ideally, you should scoop out the dirty litter a few times a day and partially refill it with the right kind of cat litter. Doing this may just solve your problem.
That urine smell
Can I Use Other Types Of Vinegar
I recommend Distilled White Vinegar. I keep it on hand in the gallon bottles because it is amazing with so many different household cleaning tasks like this mattress cleaner, and its super cheap. Other vinegars are for cooking and are more expensive, and really just wont work as well. However I did have a reader mention that she used apple cider vinegar and it worked great. The vinegar is just a strong acid that breaks down the odor causing proteins.
Why dont you just use a waterproof mattress cover?
We do I actually have 3 of THIS ONE. It works really well, except for that time you are so tired that you forget to put it on, or it rips and you didnt know, or your son makes his own bed and forgets to put it on, or it slips off the corner because he thrashes around too much at night, or he just doesnt like the sound/feel of it so he takes it off without telling you, or he wets more than once in a night and you dont have a back-up, or sometimes, they just fail. Its not for lack of trying, believe me. Sometimes these accidents just happen and are totally random and its always good to have a great mattress cleaner method ready to go.
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Some Mattress Cleaning Tips To Remember
- Get to fresh stains as soon as they happen. Dried out stains are much harder to remove.
- Use a stain remover that works with the specific type of stain you are dealing with. In our case, oxygenated enzyme cleaners are specially formulated to tackle blood stains.
- Since most blood stains are caused by menstruation, using white sheets will get the stains off faster since they can easily be bleached. Better still, most stain removers are meant to work well in bright colors.
- Do not use bleaching agents on dark mattress covers as well as on wool and silk.
- Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia. These components are highly toxic so you should never breathe into them directly.
- Always use a clean cloth to dab away any moisture from the mattress.
- Memory foam mattresses should never be soaked in water as they are hard to dry.
Air Drying Your Mattress Under The Sun
While we understand mattresses are more difficult to move around than regular clothing items, air drying under the sun helps in completely drying out and removing odours from your mattress.
Just move your mattress outside to a dry, sunny area and leave it there for a while. This method is particularly great for getting rid of sweat odours.
For more effective results, we recommend air drying your mattress under the sunlight.
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Why Do Some Adults Pee The Bed
Its not just people who spent too much time at the bar and pass out who have nocturnal accidents. A variety of health issues can also cause adults to pee the bed. People with diabetes, for example, have higher levels of urine production, which can cause bedwetting.
Another condition that can cause accidents is a hormonal balance, specifically ADH . Not having enough of this hormone means your body doesnt properly signal to slow down urine production at night.
Other circumstances that can cause the occasional misstep are stress, constipation, sleep apnea, an enlarged prostate, or a urinary tract infection .
Keeping Your Mattress Clean
- The best way to keep a mattress clean is to use a mattress cover. If youre reading this before you purchase a foam mattress, I suggest that you go out and buy the mattress cover the manufacturer recommends immediately.
- If you have children, pets or frequently drink coffee, water or any other beverage in bed, purchase a special water proof protector cover. This will help any time there is a spill or accident as all foam mattress manufacturers advise against ever getting the mattress wet.
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
My cleaning tips will keep your foam mattress in the best shape so you wont need to worry about replacing it!
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How To Clean Fresh Spills Off A Mattress
If you happen to spill a liquid on the bed, such as coffee, coke, or beer , and it soaks through to the mattress its easy to treat.
The steps for cleaning a potentially staining liquid spill are very straightforward:
Strip The Bed And Wash Linens And Bedding
The first step to cleaning your mattress is actually getting to it. Strip down the bed, including the mattress protector, if you use one.
Wash all your linens ad bedding while you work on the mattress. Always check the care label or manufacturers recommendations, but if it is recommended, then a hot wash can help rid your bedding of organisms like dust mites and bed bugs.
Have you ever thought about washing your pillows too? The same reasons for cleaning a mattress applies to pillows, also. They can collect a build-up of skin, sweat, oils, saliva, and harbor dust mites and other irritants and allergens.
Always read the label and check for washing instructions before attempting to clean pillows some are dry clean only.
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Removing Stains From Foam Mattresses
Instead of using products like bleach, peroxide, and ammonia, you should use a fabric cleaner or white vinegar mixed with water.
How To Clean Urine From A Mattress
If you catch the accident quickly, this section is for you. If the urine has already dried and created stains, skip down to the next section.
This process will generally remove the urine smell from a mattress and prevent permanent stains. Be sure to use plenty of baking soda and give it adequate time to soak up all of the excess moisture.
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What Do You Need
You only need to prepare three essentials for this purpose:
- Baking soda
Mix the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap to make the solution.
Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake thoroughly.
Spray the mixture thoroughly over the hardened urine spot. Then, allow time for the mixture to absorb and dry completely. It may take three to four hours.
After the solution has dried, you can see the baking soda residues.
Clean away all of the residue using a vacuum cleanervacuuming aids in the removal of any leftover debris from the solution.
Vacuum the leftover if needed
Do not use a broom or something like that to collect the residue. It will needlessly spread the particles on the mattress.
Scan the mattress to see if there is leftover to be removed. Although the solution should have absorbed everything, it is still a good idea to double-check to be sure.
If the stains remain, continue the process until your mattress is spotless.
Technically, the procedure should remove all hardened urine stains. On the other hand, some stains are stubborn and take a long time to eliminate. As a result, youll have to continue the processes till theyre totally gone.
How To Remove Old Urine Stains
Dry urine stains are tricky but a month old urine stains can seem impossible to clean. Get a hot cup of water and a cup of distilled white vinegar. Pour this over the stain and let it sit overnight. Make sure the spot is soaked. Then rinse it out the next day and do it again. Keep doing this until the stain disappears.
You can also use borax paste. Borax is an alkaline mineral salt also known as sodium borate. It is great for getting out urine stains. This is a laundry product and a strong chemical, so its important to use it safely. If not used carefully, it can cause skin and eye irritation and respiratory issues. So put on your rubber gloves, mask, and goggles, and mix a cup of borax with a tablespoon of water until its a paste-like substance. Then scrub it into the pee stain and let it dry. Vacuum the remaining residue.
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How To Clean Up Dog And Cat Urine
Dog urine is almost identical to human urine, so the cleaning routine will be essentially the same. Feline urine, however, is a whole different animal. As any cat owner knows, this stuff reeks. Thats because, while its still about 95 percent water with some urea, cat urine also contains a feline-specific amino acid called felinine. Humans cant smell it initially, but once it breaks down into sulfurous compounds, watch out.
To tackle cat urine stains, you can try either of the methods for cleaning up human and dog pee, but youll probably need something stronger a store-bought enzymatic cleaner to deal with the super-pungent odor. So try this method: If the pee is fresh, mop up the liquid with a dry towel like you would for human pee remember, blot, dont wipe. Once youve sopped it all up or if youre cleaning dried cat urine lay a plastic sheet or tarp between the mattress and box spring , and dump about 4 cups of warm water over the affected area. The goal here is to dilute the residual cat urine and knock down the scent. Mop up the excess moisture.
Now grab your enzymatic cleaner and depending on the product design, pour or spray it all over the stain. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, or however long the instructions on the bottle say, then sop up any excess moisture. Next, for additional odor-busting, sift some baking soda over the spot and let it sit for as long as possible. Finally, vacuum up the baking soda, and you should be good to go.
Hereof How Do You Clean Urine Out Of A Mattress Without Vinegar
Baking soda to absorb dry urine stain and absorb lingering odor. Hydrogen peroxide to dissolve the bold stain and diminish bacteria. Liquid dishwashing detergent to penetrate and break down uric acid while neutralizing the smell. Spray bottle to dispense the solution.
The Steps:
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How To Prevent Future Stains & Odors
The best way to prevent stains and odors from accumulating on your mattress is to ensure that its properly protected. We recommend using a high quality mattress protector ideally one thats fully waterproof.
Regularly washing your sheets and other bedding can also help protect your mattress from accumulating unpleasant odors. We recommend washing sheets and pillowcases about once per week.
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How To Clean Your Mattress: Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic pests that feed on the dead human skin cells found in dust. They’re not parasites, but their feces contains allergens that can make you sneeze and causes breathing troubles for those with asthma.
Dust mites thrive in mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture and carpets, and prefer warm, humid environments. No matter how clean your home is, they can’t be totally eradicated – but you can reduce them, and you don’t need professional help.
The best way to reduce dust mites is to clean your mattress, bedding and bedroom regularly. Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water set to at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill dust mites and remove allergens. Make sure you use the highest setting on the dryer as well.
It’s also a good idea to use a mattress protector to limit exposure to dust mite feces. In addition, you could invest in a dehumidifier and keep the humidity at less than 50 per cent to prevent dust mites from multiplying.
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Spray Bottle And Clogging Issues
MANY people have issues with their spray bottle, but I have done this application at least ten times without issues. I even used two different spray bottles, but here are some tips from me and readers to get you on your way to successful mattress cleaning.
Make sure whatever spray bottle you have that the straw is as large as possible. Otherwise, the mixture is too thick and it will clog your spray bottle.
Again, DO NOT SHAKE! It can definitely clog your spray bottle.
How Do You Get Pee Out Of A Mattress Without Vinegar
If you dont have vinegar available, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can be a great swap for getting pee out of a mattress. Youll want to make a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid detergent:
- 1 part baking soda
- 5 parts hydrogen peroxide
- A dash of liquid detergent
Once youve created your baking soda solution, spray the stain with the solution and let it sit until the solution is dried. Then, vacuum up any remaining residue from the site.
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