It does not matter if your air mattress is for guests, used during summer for camping, or placed in a spare room; it surely needs regular cleaning. We will give you a breakdown on how to keep your air mattress or blow up bed fresh and extend its life span.
Note that sometimes you may want to clean your air mattress immediately after using it. Especially when you carry it to camp, it is completely covered with sand or dirt.
If the air mattress is for indoor use, you can clean it easily with some light cleaning and fitted sheets to protect the mattress. You might need to fill the gap between the air mattress and bed frame but it will cause more dirt to cover the mattress.
We will be giving you tips on cleaning an air mattress or blowing up beds, so simply sit back, relax, and keep reading.
Table of Contents
Why learn to clean an air mattress?
Learning how to clean an air mattress is quite important, but many still wonder why they should. The simple answer is that air mattresses tend to get dirty quite fast, so you should clean them at least once a year.
Depending on where you live, you will see that your air mattress is picking up dirt, dust, and hair from being on the floor. Additionally, all mattresses, including air mattresses, tend to absorb sweat and other liquids, so that’s another reason for learning how to clean an air mattress.
Light cleaning the air mattress
In how to clean an air mattress, you can carry out some light cleaning processes as they can help greatly.
While you do not need to wash down or vacuum the vinyl air mattress after every use. It is quite helpful to clean off any debris or visible dirt spotted. You may have to ensure it goes into the box quite clean for those letting the air out and putting air mattresses away.
And, if you want to leave it out for the next night, there are things you can do to leave the mattress in good shape. It is ideal for brushing your mattress off after every use, especially before you pack it up for a trip or your guests.
The air mattress cleaning process can involve using a soft brush, broom, or handheld vacuum. It will assist in removing pet hair, dead skin cells, bed bugs, dirt, or debris. I usually engage in vacuuming for my air mattresses with a velour top.
However, in particular, you can use a damp cloth to wipe down the plastic air bed. But, make sure you let the material completely dry before you place it in the bag or box.
If your air mattress comes with a velvety top layer, it is advisable to simply spot-clean stained areas. This is done so that you do not damage the material. The steps to follow to spot clean an air mattress are:
- Dip your washcloth or the sponge into a cleaning solution and then squeeze it out
- Subtly dab all the stains with the cloth, ensuring you work from the edges of the stain up to the middle
- Wet your clean cloth with water and engage in blotting the areas to eliminate lingering soap
- Repeat this process on every stain
Note that, if subtly scrubbing the stains does not eliminate them, you can embark on cleaning with a soft bristle scrub brush.
Deep cleaning the air mattress
Irrespective of what your mattress is made of, there are some fundamental ways to clean an air mattress. Most of them contain plastic material, vinyl, rubber, or polyurethane plastics.
Note that the material does not matter when it comes to cleaning. However, all that matters is whether the air mattresses come with a built-in pump. When you want to embark on deep cleaning, you will need to remove your mattress pad and sheets.
Understand that you are to wash the sheets weekly or twice during regular usage. However, you are to wash the sheets after every trip for those who take it camping as they will be dirtier.
Nevertheless, suppose the air mattress you use has an inbuilt air pump. In that case, you are to unplug it from the battery source before you start wiping with any liquids. Although some air mattresses have removable pumps, it is quite hard to remove.
And, it is not advisable to keep the mattress inflated when you have removed the pump. With this in mind, you are not advised to remove the inbuilt pumps but ensure you do not get moisture inside them.
When you are cleaning the pump housing, use a damp towel. To be extra careful, you can position the painter’s tape over the face of the pump to ensure water does not get into it.
However, make sure you remove the tape before plugging the pump again. Then, inflate your bed. If air mattresses are deflated, you will not get them clean thoroughly.
More so, you will not fight with any wrinkles, and vacuuming gets easier. Note that if you use your air mattress regularly, deep cleaning is essential every month.
And, if you use it during the camping season, you will need to deep clean it before you get it packed for the year.
When it comes to air mattress cleaning through deep cleaning, you can get it done by:
Vacuuming
When I vacuum, I can remove every debris beginning from dog hair to dust. I can say this is the best way to clean an air mattress that has velour tops.
Wiping it down
Make use of a soft material that is dipped in rubbing alcohol. Note that you will not need to soak it, simply dampen it. If you never knew, this solution helps remove stubborn stains, germs, and those sticky spots.
Another way to wipe it down that I use is to use water with mild soap but ensure you do not get it soaked.
Removal of tougher stains
If those stubborn stains do not leave after using rubbing alcohol, go back to it some more times. Rinse your rag every time or use a different part so that you do not end up rubbing dirt back on the same spot.
Remember that you are not to allow your rinse water to get inside your mattress as it can result in mold growth and even mildew growth. Nobody wants a room that smells like a mildewed basement whenever they deflate their air mattress.
Suppose the primary material of your air mattress is polyurethane plastic or polyvinyl chloride. In that case, you can embark on deep cleaning without worrying about damaging the material. The routine deep cleaning procedure is:
- Dip your clean material into the cleaning solution
- Ensure you wring it in a bid to remove excess liquid
- The mattress should be wiped down with the cloth by using harsher pressure on any excessively stained or dirty parts.
- Make use of another clean, dry cloth to remove the extra soap.
When it comes to removing human or cat urine, the process entails:
- Subtly blot the area with a clean cloth that is dry to absorb the urine
- Try to sprinkle baking soda on the area and allow the baking soda to sit for some minutes before you wipe it.
- Make use of a combined equal amount of vinegar and water, then rub the solution on the soiled parts
- You are to repeat steps two and three until the urine stain is completely removed
When it comes to removing mildew or even removing mold from the air mattress, the steps are:
- Dip your cloth in a dissolvent of equal amounts of alcohol and warm water, then thoroughly wring the cloth
- The moldy area should be scrubbed using the cloth
- Then, rinse that area using a cloth that you dipped in warm water
- Spray your mattress with fabric disinfectant to eliminate any lingering odor
Drying out air mattress
Ensure that your air mattress is fully dry before you keep it. With the help of rubbing alcohol, it should not take up to a few hours outside a warm and sunny day for the mattress to dry thoroughly.
If you cannot put the mattress outside, you are to leave it inflated where you cleaned it and allow it to sit till the next day.
When you are done washing it, it is best to dry the mattress by taking it outside to air dry it the sun. But, if the weather is stormy or wintry, you can place your bed close to a fan to speed up the drying process.
If you use a plastic or rubber material, it should air dry quickly. Nevertheless, the softer fabrics such as velvet and velour may take hours to thoroughly dry.
Keep your mattress inflated during the entire drying process. It will help prevent moisture from accumulating in the folds and quicken the drying time.
Fundamentals of cleaning an air bed mattress
Some of the fundamentals of cleaning air bed mattresses include:
Clean an air mattress after every use
To keep the mattress clean, it is advisable to clean it whenever you use it. If this is not done, clean it once a month. It should be cleaned a minimum of once every season though this is dependent on how frequently you use it.
However, you should clean an air mattress and the bed to kill mold once you see mildew build-up or mold.
Cleaning with mild soap and water
You can spew some drops of mild soap into your bowl of water. Then dampen any clean towel with the detergent and water. Next, subtly scrub each foam area with this cloth and pay close attention to stains. Finally, allow your mattress to air dry.
Wipe pumps with damp cloths
You can make soft detergent and any dampened cloth on the pump for your air mattress. Then, dry it down before giving it time for air drying. I usually keep my pump safe from dust by keeping it in a container or box.
Sprinkling baking soda to decrease odor
You can sprinkle baking soda on the air mattress. While you will need to cover the mattress lightly, you don’t need to make use of plenty of baking soda. You are to give it time to sit for some minutes before vacuuming.
Some other methods you can follow are:
Take your mattress outside
Sometimes I carry my mattress outside every one or two months and keep it out when it is a warm and sunny day.
Sunlight will help dry up the moisture accumulated and kill mold build-up. This is one of the best practices you can easily follow through.
Make use of water and vinegar to remove mold
You can get a mixture of half water and half vinegar. After mixing one cup each of the water and vinegar, place a towel or sponge into this mixture and subtly run it all over your mattress. Then, scrub it with water and leave it to finish air-drying.
Mixing water and isopropyl alcohol
You can have a combination of warm water and isopropyl alcohol in a bucket or bowl. Then, wet your sponge with this composite. Next, make use of the sponge to clean an air mattress. Then embark on air drying it when finished.
Application of disinfectant
There are Disinfectants like Lysol that can be used to remove mold or mildew growth on your mattress.
You are to spray this chemical all over the infected area where the mildew and mold surface. This disinfectant will eliminate those spores that can cause mold to grow later in the future. It is used to prevent mold.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
What is the best way to clean an air mattress?
The best way to clean an air mattress is to use mild cleaning soap and clean water for the air mattress. Afterward, use baking soda to remove bad odors. For molds on air mattresses use a solution of clean water and vinegar.
Are there any sprays you can use to clean an air mattress?
One of the best sprays to clean an air mattress is a solution of vinegar and clean water.
How safe is it to spray my air mattress with Lysol?
Lysol disinfectant spray kills 99.9 percent of the germs you might find on your air mattress so it’s safe to use.
How many different types of cleaning are there for air mattresses?
There are two different ways to clean an air mattress: deep cleaning and light cleaning. These types of cleaning are usable with Casper mattresses that stay in boxes as well.
Conclusion
If you need steps on how to clean an air mattress, we have provided you with some of the best. Ensure you read through to get the best sleeping experience. It doesn’t matter if you are sleeping on an air mattress or on a memory foam mattress. .
In the end, all that mattress is is that you sleep on a clean mattress because your body goes through important changes while you are sleeping.
