Mold on Mattresses

What Is Mold and Why Is It on My Mattress?

Mold is a common name for a collection of fungi that like to grow on damp surfaces. As it’s also called, mildew can produce toxins and release them into the air. Thus, it can pose a potentially serious threat to your health.

As we said, mold likes damp surfaces. Your mattress is one such surface; you spend hours sleeping on it, so it’s bound to soak up some of your sweat. That is why finding mold on your mattress is as common as it is.

Even damp air can cause a moldy mattress, which is why the best mattresses in a box in Canada will instruct you to air out your mattress for a day before use.

How to Remove Mold From a Mattress

If you already have a mold problem, it’s best to try and fix it as soon as possible. Here is how to remove mold from a mattress:

• Vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent household cleaner, as its acidic properties kill bacteria and mold. The recipe for a homemade vinegar cleaner is straightforward: pour some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray away! The only thing you might want to play around with is concentration. While edible vinegar is excellent for minor stains, you’ll need a more concentrated solution if you have mold on your mattress.

Of course, the drawback to cleaning with vinegar is its pungent smell. While this goes away fairly quickly, sometimes it can linger, especially at higher concentrations. However, since the cleaning properties of vinegar come from its acidity, you can try other acidic compounds to fight mold. Citric acid, for example, is completely odorless.

• Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another effective and readily available mold remedy. It has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, making it great for the job.

To clean mold with hydrogen peroxide, do the same as you would with vinegar using a spray bottle. You can choose concentrations ranging from three to twelve percent based on the severity of your mold problem. When the solution comes into contact with the mold, you’ll notice fizzing, which is proof that the hydrogen peroxide is doing its job.

Be advised that hydrogen peroxide is not entirely harmless: higher concentrations can poke a hole into your mattress’ cover. Use it sparingly and with great care.

• Carpet Extractors

A carpet extractor is a home appliance similar to a vacuum cleaner. However, unlike a regular vacuum, an extractor can suck large quantities of moisture from your carpets and furniture.

To use an extractor, first, soak the stains with your choice of cleaner. Then, scrub away with a brush to agitate the mold. Lastly, get your extractor and suck all that dirty water away from your mattress. With most machines, you’ll see the mold coming out of your mattress and into the hose—it’s very satisfying.

How to Prevent Mold on Your Mattress

The best thing you can do for mold prevention is keep moisture away from your mattress. Here’s how to prevent mold on your mattress:

• Make Sure Your Bedroom Is Well Ventilated: Air out your bedroom often, every day if you need to. This will eliminate the moisture stuck inside the air, which can eventually find its way into your mattress.
• Change Your Bedsheets Often: Your bedsheets are the first line of defense between you and your mattress. They absorb most of your sweat during the night, but they have their limits. When the sheets get saturated, the sweat continues into your mattress.
• Make Sure Your Mattress Is Ventilated: Check out the underside of your bed frame. Is it a solid piece of wood, or does it have holes in it? The holes aid ventilation tremendously, and if you don’t have them, make them. Another thing you can do is flip your mattress often. This has numerous other benefits in addition to ventilation.
• Get a Waterproof Cover: Place a waterproof barrier under your sheets if you sweat a lot. It will stop your sweat from going into the mattress. This is especially important with memory foam mattresses as they quickly absorb moisture.