At your rental, it is essential to offer your guests quality bedding, and the key component for recovery sleep is, without any doubt, the mattress. Its lifespan is usually 10 years (just like the springbox), but it also depends on how you select it and how you maintain it. So here are a few tips on how to take care of a mattress and ensure its durability.

Mattress and two pillows in a bedroom©Simmons

 

1. Protect

The first thing to do is to add a mattress cover. On average, you lose half a liter of water through perspiration per night. To avoid your sweat sticking to the mattress and a damp smell setting in, it is important to use a mattress cover under your fitted sheet. Vital for clean bedding, it will also protect your mattress from stains. Mattress covers are available in different materials: cotton, sponge, jersey… and may or not have elastic bands in the corners. The most important thing is that they can be machine washed at 60°C at the same time as the comforter cover.

 

2. Dust off

A mattress is the perfect shelter for dust, mites and dead skin cells. A simple step to extend the longevity of the mattress is to reduce allergens through vacuuming, as you would do for a carpet. Once a month, vacuum the surface area, as well as the sides. If your bed base is a springbox type, apply the same treatment.

 

3. Turn

To reduce wear and tear, it is recommended that you turn your mattress often. In spring, place it on its summer side. In summer, turn it 180°. In autumn, turn it on its winter side and, in winter, rotate it. The goal here is to alternate pressure points every three months, with the seasons as a memory aid.

 

4. Ventilate

To get rid of mites, we recommend ventilating the bedroom often. Use the time you spend organizing in between guests to open the windows wide. This will also remove moisture and remove of any damp smell. If the bed is exposed to sunlight, leave the mattress into the open air as much as possible. Unlike most detergents, ultraviolet rays have germicidal properties that can get rid of bacteria and virus. So if you can expose your mattress to the sun (an hour for example), do it so it disinfects the fabric.

 

5. Clean

Do not panic if you discover stains on the mattress once your guests have checked-out, there are solutions. If the mattress has a few stains but is not completely soiled, you can use a steam cleaner. However, do make sure not to wet the fabric too much so that it does not backfire by staining and growing bacteria. If the stains are very different, you can try to clean using:

  • Aleppo soap. Use a damp washcloth soaked with soap to rub.
  • ammonia. In one liter of water, add a few drops of dish soap and half a cup of ammonia. Use a soft brush, but most importantly ventilate the room and wear household gloves.
  • white vinegar. Pour inside a salad bowl two-thirds white vinegar, one-third water and a few tablespoons of dish soap. Soak in a sponge that you will use to clean.
  • soda ash. Add a coffee cup of soda ash in two liters of warm water. Rub using a sponge and remember to wear gloves.

In any case, rinse with a damp cloth, then dry using a hair dryer to guarantee no moisture gets into the mattress.

 

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