How often should a mattress and bedding be cleaned?

Busy routines, no noticeable stains, and no nasty smells mean that most people clean their mattresses and bedding too infrequently.
It isn’t unusual for mattresses to never get cleaned unless stained because fresh bedding creates the illusion of cleanliness.
The result is an unhygienic sleep surface, even if it looks fine.
The problem is that dust, mites, dead skin cells, mould, and all the other nasties your mattress accumulates can trigger allergies and make you sick, and it gets worse the longer you wait. So, yeah, cleaning is essential.
Join us below for advice on when to clean your mattress and bedding.
When to clean your mattress
You should clean your mattress every three months, save for any spills, and there are two ways to go about it:
Dry clean
You can dry clean your mattress with carpet cleaning powder and a powerful cylinder vacuum to remove dirt accumulation and deodorise the surface.
A firm but soft brush can also help agitate the surface to remove more dirt. Another way to get dirt out is to vibrate the surface with a massage gun – this will remove dirt trapped deep in the fibres, allowing you to vacuum it all up.
Wet clean
A wet clean is best if your mattress has a musty smell or staining.
Spray the surface liberally with a mattress or fabric cleaning spray and let it sit for half an hour. Then take a damp sponge and a mild detergent and work it into the surface, ensuring you lift out the spray you applied before.
Use a wet vacuum to remove most of the liquid from the surface layers (Henry and Karcher both have wet vacuums), and let your mattress dry for at least a day before using it again (the last thing you want is a damp mattress at bedtime).
When to clean your bedding
Your duvet cover, sheets, and pillowcases need cleaning weekly or bi-weekly, depending on the season (weekly if it’s summer due to the amount of sweat that comes off of you).
You should also wash your sheets weekly if you have allergies, eczema, or an infection, sleep with no clothes on, or don’t shower before bed.
The good news is that cleaning your bedding is much easier than cleaning your mattress—just throw it into a washing machine and dry it before use.
Your duvet and pillows will also benefit from cleaning bi-weekly. Most duvets are machine washable on a hand wash or low-spin setting.
Pillows are tricker because they are easily misshapen by a washing machine drum. If you have foam pillows (latex, memory, reflex form, etc.), use a fabric cleaning spray and a sponge to remove dirt and deodorise them.
When to clean your bed
You should clean your bed frame weekly. Dust it with a damp cloth and remove any cobwebs above and around it.
Vacuum under your bed if you can reach it. If you have an ottoman bed, open up the storage area and see if there’s dirt or hair you can vacuum up.
It’s also worthwhile cleaning your bedside tables and the tops of other furniture pieces so that dust and dirt don’t get blown around when you open windows. A good way to do this is to clean your bedroom every Saturday morning or night.
Summing up
Clean your duvet cover, sheets, and pillowcases weekly or bi-weekly if possible.
Your mattress needs to be cleaned every three months with a dry or wet cloth, although spills or stains should be cleaned up when they happen.
You can extend mattress cleaning times by using a mattress topper or protector – just clean it with your duvet cover to keep things fresh.