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For Those of You Who Enjoy Staining Mattresses....Oct 29 '01 (Updated Mar 14 '02) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line It's better to clean your mattress with prevention! But when in doubt, a little dishwashing liquid will help. Now, about how to clean a mattress. The important thing is to prevent REASONS for cleaning your mattress. Use a fitted sheet and a mattress pad. This will soak up your night sweats, etc. If you have an "overactive bladder," then putting a garbage bag under your fitted sheet will force your urine to pool on the garbage bag, as opposed to soaking into your mattress (causing one of those unsightly, large, yellow-brown circles). You may wake up cold and wet, if so then either move to the couch or to the guest room (if you have one). If you are a woman and it is your time of the month, and you fear you may be the source of a scene similar to that of the guy in the God Father with the horse's head, then double up. Wear a tampon, and a pad, PLUS do the garbage bag trick. If that fails, then sleep in the bath tub. To prevent other stains, then drink your glass of Merlot in the kitchen (and your tea and coffee). Eat your spaghetti in the kitchen. Don't take over night laxatives that work too quickly. Don't smoke in bed. This is a fire hazard, plus it could merely singe your mattress, and finally it could cause it to smell all smokey and gross (if this is the case, then use Febreze--which also works well on urine stench). Now. You've done all of this and you still have a dirty mattress. My advice is to flip it. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If you've followed all of my preventive advice, and you've flipped your mattress and you now have a fresh soiling, then here's what you do: 1. Dawn dishwashing liquid dilluted in warm water: My stepmother used this for my brother's bed wetting when he was young. It rinses well, absorbs odors plus covers them with a decent smell, and it cuts grease out of your way! Don't use too much water, as it will soak too deeply and will be hard to dry. She seemed to think it was mild enough so it wouldn't hurt the mattress. She wasn't rich and didn't possess a steam cleaner or anything like that. 2. If you have the strength and motivation, then letting your mattress dry outside is a great approach and will give it a fresh smell (like laundry dried on a clothes line), though be careful of where you place it so it doesn't get dirtier. Or moving it near an open window will work, though not as well. 3. If you find it is too wet, then someone in my comments area suggested a hair dryer. A fan strategically placed would do well, too. Thanks for reading, and don't fight over who sleeps in the wet spot! Sleep Tight, Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite!  |
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