I’ve got fall cleaning on my brain, y’all, so it’s my pleasure to share 5 easy steps to freshen a mattress naturally. With the changing of the seasons, I am feeling the urge to clean and refresh all the things. This non-toxic mattress cleaning method is perfect for potty training mamas, removing stinky teenage boy funk, or for when you want a fresh, clean mattress to optimize much needed sleep.

Fall Cleaning is Better Than Spring Cleaning…

Alright, just hear me out. In the south-country, the temperatures are still warm, but the humidity is finally getting lower. For my sisters in the north-country, it’s starting to feel cool and crisp outside. This is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and get some heavy duty cleaning done!

And, for most people, the kiddos are back in school. Now there’s a little more time to address deep cleaning projects that have been placed on the back burner for the summer. If you are a homeschool mama like me, you have the added bonus of assigning some of these tasks to your kids for home economics class! This is a great opportunity for them to learn much needed life skills, and, like the old saying goes, “many hands make light work!”

5 Easy Steps to Freshen a Mattress Naturally:

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What You Will Need:

• Spray Bottle*
• Essential Oils (I use Young Living, but you can also use Woolzies or Mountain Rose Herbs) 
• Filtered Water (I used water from our Berkey)
• Baking Soda
• Mesh Strainer
• A Box Fan or Ceiling Fan
• Vacuum With Upholstery Attachment

*Note: I used a plastic spray bottle because it’s what I had. It is not recommended that you store essential oils in plastic long term. If you want a something for long term use, check out this glass spray bottle option.

Helpful Hint Before You Get Started:

It’s best to start these 5 easy steps to freshen a mattress naturally first thing in the morning to allow plenty of time for it to work and to allow for drying time. 

Step 1: Strip the Bed

Strip your bed and wash all the bedding, including sheets, blankets, and duvet covers.  We have a fantastic recipe for natural laundry detergent that works really well and is extremely frugal! Even better, you can hang your sheets and blankets on the line to dry in the breeze and the sunshine! In addition, sometimes I will spray my pillows with essential oils and place them in the dryer to kill any germs and freshen them up as well.

Step 2: Essential Oil Spray

Using essential oils is a fantastic way to avoid toxic chemicals when cleaning. Fill a spray bottle with water and add your favorite blend of oils. Shake it well and spray the mattress all over until damp. You don’t want to soak the mattress, but you do want good coverage to ensure that everything gets clean.

Which Essential Oils to Use?

There are countless recipes out there, but I like to use a blend of oils that I know will kill any germs, as well as calming oils that will promote relaxation and sleep. My favorite combination is Rosemary, Lavender and Cedarwood. I used 10-12 drops of each in a 16 oz. bottle. 

• Rosemary – aromatic, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, parasiticide, anti-microbial, astringent (The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal Guide pg. 136)
• Lavender – anti-depressant, stress reduction, a gentle remedy for sleeplessness (The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal Guide pg. 208)
• Cedarwood – diminishes stress and anxiety, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, and insecticidal (read more about cedarwood from Dr. Axe here and uses in ayuverdic medicine here) 

Step 3: Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress. Baking soda will absorb moisture, neutralize odors and kill bacteria. Additionally, it will remove dead skin cells, mites, and other allergens from your mattress. Baking soda is the perfect natural product that can be used in cooking, cleaning, and personal care. And of course, it’s super frugal!

Once the bed is covered with a good layer of baking soda, place a fan facing the bed for the rest of the day to help everything dry thoroughly. It is also a really good idea to open the curtains and allow the sun into the room. If it’s a nice day, I love to open the windows and let the whole room air out! Another option is to allow the mattress to sit in the sun outside, if that is possible. Sunlight kills germs and makes everything fresh!

Step 4: Vacuum

When the mattress is completely dry, you will need to vacuum up the baking soda. You can use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to make this easier. Just make sure you do a very thorough job to ensure that all the baking soda and funky stuff is gone.

Step 5: Make the Bed!

The last of these 5 easy steps to freshen a mattress naturally, is to make the bed with freshly clean sheets and blankets! However, now that your mattress is squeaky clean, you might consider addressing your sheets as well. As Sierra mentioned in “How to Create a Frugal Friendly Hygge Home,” we are pretty choosey about our sheets and textiles.

Last year, I rearranged my guest room to function as a home office as well. One of the important things I invested in for that little makeover was organic cotton sheets. Cotton sheets feel so good, and they allow your skin to breathe, unlike synthetic materials. If you really want to think of your bed as an investment in your overall health, you might also consider linen sheets. They are pricey, but they will last a lifetime!

Starla has been fortunate enough to find a couple of sets of linen sheets at thrift stores, so keep an eagle eye out for them while you are out treasure hunting! And definitely check out Starla’s 18 tips to find the best stuff while thrifting!

Additional Mattress Care:

This is a perfect opportunity to remove stains and flip your mattress. We try to do this once every 3-4 months so our bed doesn’t get lumpy. If you have a pillow-top bed, you will only be able to rotate it 180 degrees, but if not, you can also flip it over. 

You Might Also Be Wondering…

Can I Use These 5 Easy Steps to Freshen a Mattress on my Furniture?

Yes! When putting together our classroom/game room, I bought a couch at a thrift store for $60. It was in great shape, and really clean, but for my own peace of mind, I sprayed it down with essential oils and let it dry and disinfect in the sun. I skipped the baking soda, but if there had been stains, it would have worked well to make a paste and scrub those spots out as well. It’s best to test a small, inconspicuous spot first to make sure the fabric isn’t affected. 

What About Carpet or Area Rugs?

Again, this is perfect to address musty carpets and rugs, especially if you have pets. If you have really yucky pet stains, use a rug doctor instead of a vacuum cleaner for step four. And as with the furniture, do test spot! 

Give Us Your Cleaning Tips!

What deep cleaning projects are you tackling this fall? Whether you prefer spring cleaning, fall cleaning, or both, let us know if you have any tips and tricks for us in the comments! Happy cleaning, friends!

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