Spraying Vinegar On Your Mattress: How To Do It And Why It Makes A Difference

Let's face it: most of us probably aren't cleaning our mattresses as often as we should. Considering how much time we spend sleeping, it makes sense that your bed might be dirtier than you think. We leave behind sweat, hair, oils, and dead skin cells when we sleep, not to mention messes from pets or children. Aside from being unsanitary, this built-up debris can negatively affect your sleep and create a fertile feeding ground for dust mites in your mattress. To make matters worse, any pests that invade your sleeping area will leave behind their own waste. All of this means your bed needs regular cleaning.

There are many ways to clean a mattress, from vacuuming to steaming. But there's one natural ingredient that can also be effective, and you probably already have it in your pantry: white vinegar. Acetic acid, the same compound that makes vinegar a great DIY kitchen cleaner, may get rid of stubborn odors and dissolve built-up dirt and stains. Bugs also tend to avoid areas treated with white vinegar, so it deters mites, spiders, and other unwanted pests from crawling into bed with you. That means a diluted vinegar spray is an easy and effective way to freshen up your mattress, and it's something everyone should keep handy. Here's how to use it.

The acetic acid in vinegar is strong stuff (hence the pungent smell), so you'll want to dilute it before you spray it on your mattress. There's no complex ratio needed here: Just mix one part white vinegar and one part clean water in a spray bottle, and you're good to go. With your mattress stripped of its linens, spray one side over the entire surface. Feel free to give some extra attention to any visible stains or areas emitting odors. Note that for deep stains, scrubbing may still be required. Let the mattress dry completely — one hour should be enough — then flip it over and spray the other side.

Your vinegar spray solution can work well with other cleaning methods, too. Since acetic acid can be useful for dissolving common mattress stains, you can spray your stripped bed with vinegar or spot-treat troublesome areas (like urine stains) before vacuuming or steam-cleaning it. You can also add one or two tablespoons of laundry detergent to the mixture if needed. When spot treating, let the vinegar mixture sit for 15 minutes or so to let the acetic acid work before cleaning. Consider using a combo of vinegar and baking soda on your mattress for extra deodorizing power. That said, a diluted vinegar spray by itself is useful for regularly freshening up your mattress, even when it doesn't need a deep-cleaning. Consider keeping a bottle handy and spraying your bed when you change sheets.