What’s really lurking in Britain’s bedrooms? What’s hiding between the sheets? And how clean (or not!) are the places we sleep?
Shocking statistics uncovered by Bensons For Beds found that almost a quarter of Brits only clean their mattress when they get a stain on it – or aren’t cleaning their mattresses AT ALL.
Millennials are leading the way when it comes to the cleanest mattresses with 73% (almost three-quarters) cleaning theirs every 6 months or more often. Whilst 22% (over 1 in 5) of Baby boomers aren’t cleaning their mattresses AT ALL compared to only 9% of millennials who don’t bother.
When you bear in mind that there can be a whole host of nasties in your bed (think dead skin cells, around 10,000 dust mites and their droppings, plus sweat-induced bacteria) maybe this spring / summer it’s time to make sure the weekly cleaning includes your mattress!

Regularly cleaning your mattress can also help keep the likelihood of bed bugs invading your sleep space to a minimum. So, if you want to keep your bedroom bed bug-free, be sure to follow the tips outlined in this mattress cleaning guide. But it’s important to also clean your bed frame and any other furniture and/or furnishings in your bedroom just as regularly.
Experts recommend that people change your mattress every seven years, but by keeping it clean you can prolong its life.
Here’s five easy and expert tips from Bensons For Beds to make sure you keep you mattress clean and in tip top condition.
- Keep on top of it: While you’re washing your bedding each week, take a few minutes to gently vacuum the mattress using the upholstery tool on your vacuum cleaner and working across it in small circles.
- Flipping time: You may also have heard that you need to flip your mattress to allow for even distribution of body weight, minimising wear and tear and helping it to last longer. You’ll only need to do this if it is a double-sided mattress, but regardless of whether it is a single or double sided mattress, you should rotate it every couple of months to help even out wear.
- Air it Out: Fresh air will help to eliminate any odours which are present in your mattress. Whenever you can, open your bedrooms windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate, especially when you have removed the sheets from your bed. You can also sprinkle your mattress with a small amount of baking soda. This helps to get rid of smells which have soaked in. Leave the baking soda for as long as possible before brushing off the excess.
- Stainless: You should also thoroughly clean any stains which appear on your mattress as soon as you can after they happen – these can be caused by sweat or even urine. Clean them with a damp cloth and a mild detergent, gently moving in a circular motion and giving them time to dry properly before you replace the sheets.
- Protect: If you haven’t already got one, a mattress protector can help prevent stains, dust and dirt going directly on to the mattress. Just don’t forget to wash the protector as often as you wash your bedding!