How To Clean A Futon Mattress
You are in love with your futon mattress that you bought a few months ago but it is now finally time for you to clean it.
Futons look great in homes and are perfect not only for sleeping but also for sitting. But just like other stuff around the house that gets regular use, your futon mattress is bound to get dirty at one point or another.
This is why regular cleaning and maintenance is a must to keep your futon mattress looking beautiful and comfy for a long time.
This short guide will teach you different ways and steps on how to clean a futon mattress without causing any damage to it:
How to Perform Regular Cleaning of Your Futon Mattress
Your futon mattress deserves a decent clean now and then. Follow these steps to regularly clean your futon mattress:
-
Vacuum your futon mattress
This is the best ad easiest way to remove all accumulated potential allergens and dust. Make sure that you vacuum all sides of the mattress. Try to move around and don’t just stop in one area for too long to ensure that you don’t cause damage to the futon material.
If the vacuum cleaner allows it, you can also adjust the suction power either to medium or low. It may also come in handy to use a nozzle if you have to reach the gaps. You can also try removing the debris by hand then use your vacuum to eliminate them better.
-
Spot-clean the areas that need it
Spot cleaning is ideally done without the cover if your mattress has a removable one. While washing the cover separately, inspect the futon mattress for dirty spots, for fresh and old. You can try using soapy water on not-so-stubborn spots.
Some users also like to combine rubbing alcohol or water with vinegar with a 4:1 ratio. Lemon juice may also come in handy when you need to remove old dirt. Just make sure that you add enough water so that you don’t damage the material. The ratio of water to lemon juice must be a minimum of 3:1.
-
Allow it to dry
To dry your futon mattress after cleaning, you can either take it outside if it is sunny or warm or put it in a well-ventilated room. Whatever method you choose, you should give it enough time to dry since moisture may lead to mold growth.
Other users also hasten the process with the help of a hair dryer although it might not always be effective. It will be better to just leave your futon mattress outside under the sun which can also serve as a disinfectant. Placing it near a window may also do the trick.
How to Wash a Futon Mattress
Make sure you check the tag first to know if your mattress is suitable for machine washing. If yes, then, you are lucky because it will make the cleaning process much easier for you. Here are some recommendations you need to follow for washing a futon mattress:
-
Always read the tag first
The tag of your futon mattress should indicate the recommended type of washing cycle, drying options, and temperature that suits the specific type of your mattress. Don’t forget to do it unless you are not worried about causing damage to your futon and you don’t mind getting a new one.
-
Make sure you have a large washing machine with enough room for your mattress
There are several types of futon mattresses available including King, Queen, Full, and Twin. This means that some of these might not fit into your regular washing machine. If this is the case, you might need to go to the laundromat where larger washers are often used.
Also, see to it that your mattress doesn’t have a very snug fit inside the machine. It still requires some space so that it can get a proper and good wash.
-
Vacuum your mattress before you wash it
Be sure to remove first any small debris so that you can ensure a more thorough wash.
-
Wash the mattress cover separately if it is removable
Most of the time, futon mattresses and covers require different washing and temperature settings to achieve a proper clean.
-
Wash your futon mattress if you own a dryer that can fit it or on a sunny day
As stated earlier, laundromats use commercial-grade dryers that are often bigger than your usual dryer.
How to Disinfect a Futon Mattress
When you or anyone in your family is prone to allergies, cleaning your futon mattress might not be enough. To ensure that you will get rid of all bacteria or potential contaminants, you also need to disinfect your futon mattress.
Before starting the process, you can take the mattress outside or open the windows in the room. Since most disinfecting solutions are often harsh, it is not a good idea to breathe in the products while cleaning the mattress inside a room with poor ventilation.
The most common choice for disinfection is bleach which is widely available and cheap at the same time. Of course, make sure you mix this with water. The recommended ratio is one gallon of water with half a cup of bleach. You can also consider buying a special disinfectant liquid made for furniture.
Wear your rubber gloves and a mask before transferring the liquid to a spray bottle and start disinfecting your futon mattress. Since bleach can be irritating, you can also wear protective glasses.
Start spraying the solution on your futon mattress. Be sure that all sides are covered, with the mattress kept a bit damp. Use paper towels to wipe the surface and remove all excess moisture before leaving the mattress the dry.
It would also be great if you can take it outdoors since once again, bleach gives off a harsh odor that can make it unbearable to stay inside the room. If moving the mattress outside is impossible, you can just open the windows and move the mattress near it to allow extra aeration.
