It is a no-brainer that you would rather learn how to remove mold from mattress than to sleep uncomfortably for the rest of the night. Worry no more because this guide will help you achieve a good night’s rest on a mold-free mattress.
Is It Safe To Sleep On A Moldy Mattress?
The short answer is no. The long answer is any amount of mold and mildew is hazardous enough for your health. The mere inhalation of mold spores in the air could cause some problems in your respiratory system and trigger allergic reactions.
So, no size of mold should make you delay your cleanup and settle in a moldy mattress. Like any other possible breeding ground for mold infestation, mattresses should be regularly checked up. If you are unsure of what you have spotted, here is a helpful article on mold identification on mattresses.
Do not fret because this does not entail a complex cleaning process. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get rid of mold from any kinds of mattresses.
Step #1. Vacuum both sides
Grab your vacuum cleaner and clean both sides of the mattress. Afterwards, make sure to get rid of all the contents of your dust catcher to prevent mold spores from circulating in the air. This step is similar to a preparation before the actual application of cleaning agents.
Step #2. Apply a solution
In a disposable container, mix equal parts of rubbing alcohol and warm water. Drench an old cloth into the solution and use it to scrub the moldy area of the mattress. To ensure that the solution will surely penetrate into the infested portion, scrub in a circular motion.
Also, do not forget to look after the areas which are not visible in plain sight and are hard to get rid of. The goal of this step is to remove the molds entirely and to not allow any residue of them.
Step #3. Rinse the area
Of course, after every scrubbing comes rinsing. Using an old cloth wrung out in warm water, rinse the affected area. Remember that you need to properly squeeze the cloth to not add extra moisture when wiping it on the mattress.
Any sign of moisture is an opportunity for mold growth. Since this is evidently a cleaning process, you should, of course, have the opposite result.
Step #4. Use a disinfectant
For your upholstery usage, give a few and even sprays of your chosen disinfectant into the affected area. This is to completely remove any mold that might be lingering as they are too tough to be removed in earlier steps.
Step #5. Dry it out
When everything is finished, take your mattress to an area where it can be exposed to direct sunlight. Not only are you making sure that your mattress will completely dry and be free from any moisture but it will also scare away any mold growth as they cannot thrive in sunlight.
This article also gives an in-depth step-by-step guide on how to dry mattresses properly. Before deciding to put it back inside, remind yourself to check every area of the mattress to ensure that there are no moist parts which may possibly lead to another mold remediation.
How To Prevent Mattress Mold
Sure, you know now how to remove mold from a mattress, but it is ideal that you do not want the same thing to happen again. Who wants an unnecessary hassle, anyway?
You can prevent mold from regrowing in your mattress by using a dehumidifier. Mold thrives in places with high levels of humidity so this controls the humidity to a much tolerable level.
You can also opt to use an air purifier to protect your indoor air quality. Since it only deals with air purification, it will obviously not remove any mold from the surfaces of your home but it will get rid of all the mold spores circulating in the air.
Lastly, if you are on a vacation but you can’t leave your mold-related anxieties at home, a pro-tip you could use is leaving the air purification systems on. It is more ideal to do this with a timer switch plugged on as well. However, do not proceed with this if you are hesitant that you can do this safely.
Speaking of good airflow, to make sure that air is circulating properly on both sides of your mattresses, invest in a slatted bed base. The air can flow freely on this due to the spaced out slat.
The technological use that comes along with this can also give convenience. You can adjust the level of springiness to your liking. If you care about home aesthetics, the high-quality beech wood actually exudes a sense of elegance and luxury.
Conclusion
Learning how to remove mold from mattress is like hitting two birds with one stone ― getting a comfortable sleep and keeping any potential health issues at bay. Even though this scenario might not be considered the worst of all, you should not delay the mold remediation process. Otherwise, you might get one of the worst case scenarios — waking up groggy with unwanted bodily reactions.