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I’m a mattress cleaning expert — the 5 products I swear by for getting rid of urine, stains, smells and bed bugs
A clean mattress is the secret to a good night’s sleep and for maintaining good sleep hygiene.
So when it comes to getting rid of urine, stains, smells and bed bugs from your mattress, having the right products and know-how makes all the difference.
Whilst choosing the best mattress for your individual sleep style is crucial, maintaining it is just as important for lasting comfort, support and optimum hygiene.
This week we are celebrating Sleep Awareness Week 2025 and looking at ways in which we can improve the quality of our sleep — and making sure your mattress is clean and fresh is a great place to start. So, I've compiled my top product recommendations.
If you have stains that won’t shift or you’re noticing your bed is uneven, sagging, uncomfortable or you’re waking up feeling like you have permanent allergies then it could be time for a new bed, check out our monthly mattress sales guide for the best prices on mattresses to suit all sleep styles and budgets.
The 5 products I swear by for getting rid of urine, stains, smells and bedbugs
1. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Best for: removing urine stains and disinfecting
Cleaning your mattress with hydrogen peroxide can remove stubborn mattress stains in minutes. This versatile cleaning and disinfecting agent is found in many household cleaning products.
Because its a mild bleaching agent, it does a really good job of getting rid of stains from urine, blood and sweat.
You can buy it in different strengths but you’ll need to opt for 3% which is safe to use when cleaning your mattress (and the strength you’ll find in cleaning products).
To use it, get a clean spray bottle and mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water. It’s really important to dilute the hydrogen peroxide as using it neat could bleach or discolor your mattress.
Spray the stain, being mindful not to over-saturate your mattress and then using a clean cloth, blot the area to start lifting the stain.
You may have to repeat this step a couple of times, depending on how set in the stain is but when you’re done, leave your mattress to fully dry before remaking your bed.
Hydrogen peroxide will not only remove urine stains but it’ll also help to remove odors and disinfect the area so it’ll quickly destroy bacteria, fungi, viruses and mold spores.
2. Essential oils
Best for: Repelling bed bugs and freshening your mattress
Essential oils are a great way to naturally repel bed bugs, dust mites and also to freshen up your sleep surface. There are a couple of different essential oils you can use, but tea tree oil, lavender and eucalyptus are three oils you should definitely have in your cleaning arsenal.
Tea tree oil, which is also known as Melaleuca, is packed full of insecticidal properties, which makes it perfect for dealing with bed bugs.
It works by damaging the nervous system of the insects, eventually killing them and also disrupting their growth and reproduction so they’ll eventually all just die off.
You can use tea tree oil alone by adding 20-30 drops to 200ml of water in a spray bottle, just mist your mattress daily for a week and leave to dry before remaking your bed.
Lavender oil is another good choice as bed bugs hate the smell. It also has a neurotoxic effect so whilst it won’t kill them straight away, it will disorientate them and stop them from moving about.
This means they won’t be able to detect their hosts so they won’t have a food source. Eucalyptus works in the same way as lavender, it acts as an irritant to bed bugs and destroys their nervous system.
So, mixing these three potent oils together makes for a great way to get rid of bed bugs.
To use this method, take a clean spray bottle, combine 15 drops of tea tree oil, 15 drops of lavender oil and 15 drops of eucalyptus oil along with 250-300ml of water before misting your mattress daily before leaving it to fully dry.
3. Baking Soda
Best for: Deodorizing and removing excess moisture
Baking soda is perfect for use when cleaning your mattress and getting rid of urine, stains, smells and even bed bugs.
This is because it works in a couple of different ways, for a start, it’s a natural deodorizer that neutralizes acidic and alkaline odors rather than just masking them. It’s also a mild abrasive so it can help to break down and lift stains.
You also have a choice on how you use baking soda within your cleaning too. It can be used directly or as part of a paste or cleaning solution, so it’s a really versatile item to have in your cleaning cupboard.
To to use it for getting rid of bad odors, then the best thing to do is to strip your bed and vacuum the surface of your mattress using the upholstery attachment.
Next, just sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the top of your mattress and leave it to sit for at least four hours, although the longer you can leave it, the better. You’ll get really good results by leaving it on there for 8 hours or more.
You can even add a couple of drops of essential oils like the ones recommended above to your baking soda so you get an extra clean and fresh smell.
After it’s sat for long enough, just thoroughly vacuum the surface again, paying special attention to the edges, seams and tufts, to ensure all trace of the baking soda is gone.
The other way you can use it is to make it into a paste by mixing together ½ cup baking soda, 2–3 tablespoons water (add more as needed) and a few drops of mild laundry detergent until you get a thick, spreadable paste.
Apply the paste to the stain using a clean cloth and leave to rest for around an hour. Then using another damp cloth wipe the excess paste away before vacuuming the surface to ensure all the baking soda has been removed.
4. A UV light
Best for: Killing dust mites and bacteria
UV-C light technology works wonders when it comes to cleaning your mattress. UV-C light can eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria, dust mites and other allergens from your bed.
I would recommend investing in a UV wand, as they’re lightweight and super easy to use. They work by disrupting the DNA of bacteria, viruses and fungi and stop them from reproducing.
It’s also a must have for stopping mattress mold in its tracks. The UV light kills mold spores and also stops odor-causing bacteria from spreading. It’s a great product to have if you want to stay away from harsh chemicals when cleaning your mattress as these can sometimes irritate your respiratory system and skin. UV light also does a good job of killing dust mites.
To use it, remove all your bedding, including your mattress protector, and vacuum your mattress.
You will then want to work in sections, so take your wand, holding it around 1-inch from the surface and wave the wand over each area for around 10 seconds.
Do this three times to get the best results. If you want a deep clean and to get rid of any stubborn smells, sprinkle baking soda over the area, or apply your baking soda paste and then run the UV light over the top.
5. A mattress vacuum
Best for: Removing dust, dirt and allergens
Vacuuming your mattress on a regular basis is one of the best ways to keep your mattress clean and in good condition.
Whilst you don’t need a specific vacuum cleaner for your mattress (just an upholstery attachment), if you can buy one then they are definitely worth the money.
Mattress vacuums are designed to get deep into the fibers, removing embedded dirt, dust, debris and dead skin cells.
This can help to reduce stains and smells as well as ensuring your bed is free of dust mites and other allergens that could be leaving you feeling groggy in the mornings.
Many mattress vacuums also include a UV-C light which, as you’ve just read is a great way to kill bacteria, dust mites and mold.
Plus, they often have a stronger suction than a regular vacuum and HEPA filters to capture fine particles, making them great for those with allergies.
When looking for the best mattress vacuum, look for one with a strong suction power (at least 10kPa) and a HEPA filter.
Also, you can buy models that are cordless so that may be a better option if you want something that can handle easier. Also, prioritize a vacuum that has an anti-allergen seal so that it stops particles escaping back into the air.
Proven cleaning hacks to remove smells, stains and bed bugs
How to keep your mattress protected in future
Protecting your mattress against urine, stains, smells and bacteria doesn’t have to be difficult.
The easiest ways is to buy one of the best mattress protectors. This will provide a waterproof barrier between you and your mattress and they’re so much easier to clean as you can often just bung them in the washing machine.
Look for a protector that has anti-microbial properties, especially if you suffer from allergies.
If you want to ensure there’s no way bed bugs, dust mites or other allergens make their way into your mattress, then get yourself a mattress encasement, which zips around your mattress and protects all six sides.
You can also help to protect your mattress by cleaning any stains or spills straight away and regular mattress maintenance like vacuuming your mattress and using baking soda, will keep stains and smells at bay.
You should also rotate your mattress every three to six months, this will not only ensure even wear but also stop any sweat or natural body oils from building up in one area.
