Mattress Cleaning: How Often and How to Spot Clean

What It Means

Mattress cleaning is looking after the mattress itself: treating spills and stains when they happen and giving the whole surface a fuller clean on a schedule. Cleveland Clinic suggests cleaning the mattress, along with pillows and comforters, about every six months to cut down on bacteria, dust mites and shed skin. Tempur-Pedic, for one, says its TEMPUR material must never be soaked or washed, so the work is done from the surface with as little liquid as possible.

Try It: Clean Up a Mattress Spill

A spill just happened. Tick each step as you do it. The steps follow Tempur-Pedic's own care advice, so check your mattress maker's page too.

Stripped the bedding off the wet spot Blotted right away with a clean white cloth, without rubbing Used only a small amount of the cleaner my maker names Kept the cover from getting soaked Blotted again with a cloth dampened in plain water Left it to dry fully, with a fan on it

Steps done0

Out of6

Keep going. Tempur-Pedic's advice is to blot without rubbing and never soak the mattress.

How It Sounds at Home

"The dog got on the bed again, the mattress needs a clean."
"I spilled coffee on the mattress, what do I use?"
"Let's get a mattress cover this time."

The Breakdown

How often, by source

Job	How often	Source
Wash sheets	At least once a week	Cleveland Clinic
Clean the mattress, pillows and comforter	About every six months	Cleveland Clinic
Treat a spill	Right away	Tempur-Pedic

A six-month clean. Buhata's suggestion, built on the sources above: strip the bed, vacuum the mattress surface with the upholstery attachment, spot treat any marks the way your maker's care page says, and let it air out before you remake the bed. Pair it with washing the pillows and comforter, since Cleveland Clinic puts them on the same schedule.

Make it last between cleanings

Wash sheets weekly so less reaches the mattress.
Use a washable mattress protector or a dust mite cover.
Deal with spills the same day, before they dry in.

Good to Know

Read your mattress maker's care page before using any cleaner, because materials differ. Tempur-Pedic, for example, names only small amounts of an oxygen cleaner (OxiClean or Oxi Magic) for spot cleaning its mattresses. For allergies, Cleveland Clinic explains that dust mites need access to people to live, and a dust mite cover over the mattress keeps them from living on it.

FAQ

How often should you clean a mattress?

Cleveland Clinic suggests cleaning the mattress, pillows and comforter about every six months, and washing the sheets at least once a week. Spills should be treated as soon as they happen.

How do you get a spill out of a mattress?

Blot it right away with a clean white cloth without rubbing, then spot clean with a small amount of the cleaner your maker names. Tempur-Pedic advises not saturating the cover, blotting again with a damp cloth and drying it with a fan.

Do mattress covers help with dust mites?

Cleveland Clinic says a dust mite cover over a mattress or pillow keeps mites from living on that surface and reaching you. Wash the cover the way its label directs.

Do It in Buhata

Tasks with a repeat and Reminders

Add "Clean the mattress and pillows" to Tasks with a repeat every six months, and set a Reminder the evening before so the bed can be stripped first.

Open Buhata

Related Terms and Categories

Sheet washing frequency
How often bed sheets should be washed. Cleveland Clinic advises at least once a week, with pillowcases in the same load.
Mattress rotation
Turning a mattress 180 degrees so the head end becomes the foot end, which spreads wear more evenly; flipping it over is a different step many mattresses don't allow.
Pillow washing
Washing the pillow itself, not just its case, which Cleveland Clinic puts on a cycle of every few months to every six months.
Oxygen bleach
Laundry bleach that uses hydrogen peroxide or a similar oxygen-releasing ingredient instead of chlorine, sold as color-safe or non-chlorine bleach.

Chores, cleaning and home care

Sources

Cleveland Clinic, "How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?"; Cleveland Clinic, "Bedroom Allergens: Does Hypoallergenic Bedding Work?"; Tempur-Pedic, "How do I clean a spill on my mattress?"; Tempur-Pedic, "Product Care"

Last updated September 30, 2026.