Vacuuming a mattress: how should you do it?

Did you know that a person loses about half a liter of moisture per night and that this can all be absorbed by your mattress? In addition, a person loses millions of skin flakes per day, which can also be found in your bed. Vacuuming your mattress regularly can greatly reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

In this article I'll tell you everything you need to know about vacuuming your mattress.

Why vacuuming your mattress is important

When vacuuming the bedroom, the bed and mattress are often forgotten. Yes, we do vacuum under the bed, but that is not nearly enough. A mattress can quickly become very dusty; especially if you don't have an open slatted base.

I just mentioned that a person loses an average of a quarter to a half liter of fluid per night. This, combined with dander, makes it the perfect place for dust mites, one of the most common allergens in the home. This little creature feeds on human dander and likes warm and moist places. The mattress is a wonderful place for this animal.

These allergens may be present in the mattress

Various allergens can often be found in the mattress. This often has little to do with hygiene: even in clean homes many allergens are present. You may encounter the following allergens in a mattress:

• Pollen: ventilating your bedroom is very important. However, pollen can blow in and the sun can end up in your bed and mattress. If you are sensitive to this – also called hay fever – you can develop respiratory complaints.
• Pet hair/dander: in a home with a dog or cat, pet hair can also be found in your bed. Even if you leave your pet outside the bedroom. Animal dander, in particular, can cause an allergic reaction.
• House dust mites: as I just mentioned, dust mites can also be present in the mattress and your bedding. These little critters are so small you can't see them.

Vacuuming with a mattress vacuum cleaner

Vacuuming the mattress is not difficult. However, it is important to use a good vacuum cleaner that is suitable for this. But what makes a vacuum cleaner a real mattress vacuum? In my view, it must at least meet the following characteristics:

• It must have a HEPA filter (minimum HEPA 13)
• It must be a mattress brush or a motorized turbo brush
• The vacuum cleaner must have good suction power on soft surfaces

Step-by-step plan: vacuuming the mattress

Do you have a suitable vacuum cleaner? Then you can follow the steps below to thoroughly vacuum your mattress.

1. Remove all bedding from the bed
2. Remove any mattress covers
3. Vacuum the mattress, starting at the head end
4. Then vacuum the outer edges of the mattress
5. Turn the mattress over and vacuum the underside
6. Put the mattress back in the correct position in the bed frame

Please note: vacuuming the mattress may have caused dust and dirt under your bed. Therefore, never forget to vacuum under the bed afterwards.

Robbert Tigchelaar

Robbert Tigchelaar is the founder of Vacuumtester.com and is a true vacuum cleaner guru. With more than 10 years of experience in the world of electronic devices, he knows better than anyone what is important in a vacuum cleaner. When a new vacuum cleaner appears, he is eager to test it extensively.