Stains. Ugh, they’re the worst, right? No matter how clean we try to keep our things, it seems like sooner or later some sort of spillage or mishap will occur, leaving behind a stubborn stain that just won’t go away no matter what we do.

And one type of stain that can be especially hard to get rid of is on mattresses. Fake tan, sweat, wine spills… if you have kids, grandkids or pets, chances are your mattress has seen better days.

Luckily, there are ways to simply (and cheaply!) clean your mattress so that it looks and feels as good as new – and Mrs Hinch fans know best when it comes to this kind of thing. Mrs Hinch, aka Instagram superstar Sophie Hinchliffe, is a cleaning influencer who has more than four million followers on Instagram because she loves sharing tips and tricks on how to keep everything spick and span with very little effort (and without spending a fortune). Trust us when we say she’s definitely worth following!

A clean mattress is a happy mattress, and there's no shortage of cleaning tips on the internet! Source: OpenAI​

Mrs Hinch is so popular these days that fans have even created pages dedicated to her where they share their own tips for keeping their homes clean using her methods (or something similar). On one such Facebook page with more than 100, 000 members - Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It - somebody recently wanted to know how best to get rid of the stains caused by fake tan from an accidental spillage that had ruined their brand new mattress. And boy did the other members come through with some great suggestions!

‘My nephew has destroyed my brand new mattress with fake tan, any tips on how to remove the stain?’, the original poster (OP) wrote.

Within minutes, the page was abuzz with activity, with cleaning tips and tricks coming in from all directions.

‘Use shaving foam, squirt on, rub in and leave 15 mins then clean sponge and hot water. May need a couple of goes - don't use gel though, must be white foam,’ said one member, with another vouching for the tip: ‘If shaving foam doesn't work (may take a few goes) try ChemDry (available from Amazon in a can that looks similar to a fire extinguisher).’

Other commenters favoured more ‘natural’ remedies, with vinegar being a popular recommendation:

‘I managed to get bright red nail varnish out of my cream carpet using neat white vinegar. The area you have is more extensive than mine, but it may work. I let it soak and dry then re-soak and I stood on the towel to soak it up. I put bi-carb on top overnight to get rid of the vinegar smell. Hope you sort it,’ said one.

Washing up detergent (with a few specific shout-outs to fairy liquid in particular) was another go-to solution:

‘I would try neat Fairy liquid. I accidentally splashed tanning mouse onto a brand new cream top - applied Fairy straight onto the stain, worked in then rinsed off and you'd never know,’ noted one user. At the time of writing, Fairy Liquid is available from both Coles and Woolies for $4.75 for 800mls.

We’ve also done our own research, and here’s our 7-step process for removing stains from your mattress - all you need is some white vinegar, bicarb, and elbow grease.

1. Remove all bedding and any other objects from the mattress.

Start by removing all of the bedding, including the sheets, blankets, pillows, and any other objects on or around the mattress. This will give you clear access to the soiled areas.

2. Vacuum the mattress.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to thoroughly vacuum the mattress, paying special attention to any soiled areas. This will help remove any dry debris, dust, and allergens.

3. Pour bicarb soda on the mattress.

Sprinkle a generous amount of bicarb soda over the entire mattress, focusing on any soiled areas. Let the bicarb soda sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb any odours.

4. Apply white vinegar.

Using a spray bottle, apply a light mist of white vinegar over the entire mattress.

5. Scrub the mattress.

Use a scrub brush or sponge to scrub the mattress, focusing on any soiled areas. Be sure to rinse the sponge or brush frequently in hot water.

6. Vacuum the mattress again.

Once you've scrubbed the mattress, vacuum it again to remove any residual debris, dust, and allergens.

7. Air dry the mattress.

If possible, air dry the mattress by opening a window or setting a fan nearby. If it's not possible to air dry the mattress, use a hairdryer on the lowest setting to dry it.


What do you think, members? If you have any mattress cleaning home remedies that we missed, please let us know below.

 

[LaniK]

I never have a problem with mattress stains as I invest in a waterproof mattress protector. Just put stain remover on protector and rinse off then throw in the washing machine.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I never have this problem as I use a mattress protector , which I thought everyone now did.

I wash it every second sheet change.

I then vacuum my mattress.

My grandmother used to lightly sprinkle bi carb over her mattress when she changed her sheets and would leave on for an hour or so then vacuum off.

She would say it freshened up the mattress and took out musty smells she also did this to carpets once a week , lightly sprinkled over carpet left for 1 hour then vacuum

She never sprayed water just left the dry bi carb on

 

[BabsL]

Stains. Ugh, they’re the worst, right? No matter how clean we try to keep our things, it seems like sooner or later some sort of spillage or mishap will occur, leaving behind a stubborn stain that just won’t go away no matter what we do.

And one type of stain that can be especially hard to get rid of is on mattresses. Fake tan, sweat, wine spills… if you have kids, grandkids or pets, chances are your mattress has seen better days.

Luckily, there are ways to simply (and cheaply!) clean your mattress so that it looks and feels as good as new – and Mrs Hinch fans know best when it comes to this kind of thing. Mrs Hinch, aka Instagram superstar Sophie Hinchliffe, is a cleaning influencer who has more than four million followers on Instagram because she loves sharing tips and tricks on how to keep everything spick and span with very little effort (and without spending a fortune). Trust us when we say she’s definitely worth following!

View attachment 6881
A clean mattress is a happy mattress, and there's no shortage of cleaning tips on the internet! Source: OpenAI​

Mrs Hinch is so popular these days that fans have even created pages dedicated to her where they share their own tips for keeping their homes clean using her methods (or something similar). On one such Facebook page with more than 100, 000 members - Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It - somebody recently wanted to know how best to get rid of the stains caused by fake tan from an accidental spillage that had ruined their brand new mattress. And boy did the other members come through with some great suggestions!

‘My nephew has destroyed my brand new mattress with fake tan, any tips on how to remove the stain?’, the original poster (OP) wrote.

Within minutes, the page was abuzz with activity, with cleaning tips and tricks coming in from all directions.

‘Use shaving foam, squirt on, rub in and leave 15 mins then clean sponge and hot water. May need a couple of goes - don't use gel though, must be white foam,’ said one member, with another vouching for the tip: ‘If shaving foam doesn't work (may take a few goes) try ChemDry (available from Amazon in a can that looks similar to a fire extinguisher).’

Other commenters favoured more ‘natural’ remedies, with vinegar being a popular recommendation:

‘I managed to get bright red nail varnish out of my cream carpet using neat white vinegar. The area you have is more extensive than mine, but it may work. I let it soak and dry then re-soak and I stood on the towel to soak it up. I put bi-carb on top overnight to get rid of the vinegar smell. Hope you sort it,’ said one.

Washing up detergent (with a few specific shout-outs to fairy liquid in particular) was another go-to solution:

‘I would try neat Fairy liquid. I accidentally splashed tanning mouse onto a brand new cream top - applied Fairy straight onto the stain, worked in then rinsed off and you'd never know,’ noted one user. At the time of writing, Fairy Liquid is available from both Coles and Woolies for $4.75 for 800mls.

We’ve also done our own research, and here’s our 7-step process for removing stains from your mattress - all you need is some white vinegar, bicarb, and elbow grease.

1. Remove all bedding and any other objects from the mattress.

Start by removing all of the bedding, including the sheets, blankets, pillows, and any other objects on or around the mattress. This will give you clear access to the soiled areas.

2. Vacuum the mattress.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to thoroughly vacuum the mattress, paying special attention to any soiled areas. This will help remove any dry debris, dust, and allergens.

3. Pour bicarb soda on the mattress.

Sprinkle a generous amount of bicarb soda over the entire mattress, focusing on any soiled areas. Let the bicarb soda sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb any odours.

4. Apply white vinegar.

Using a spray bottle, apply a light mist of white vinegar over the entire mattress.

5. Scrub the mattress.

Use a scrub brush or sponge to scrub the mattress, focusing on any soiled areas. Be sure to rinse the sponge or brush frequently in hot water.

6. Vacuum the mattress again.

Once you've scrubbed the mattress, vacuum it again to remove any residual debris, dust, and allergens.

7. Air dry the mattress.

If possible, air dry the mattress by opening a window or setting a fan nearby. If it's not possible to air dry the mattress, use a hairdryer on the lowest setting to dry it.


What do you think, members? If you have any mattress cleaning home remedies that we missed, please let us know

WHY are all mattress tops white now?
Return to the coloured, patterned fabric, please.
While I’m at it -
With all the technology available now, why are mattresses so heavy that they cannot be lifted to change sheets?
Why was it deemed necessary make mattresses 40cm deep, from 24cm deep?
I must use a 1/2 metre long piece of wood to lift the new mattress in six areas ( each corner & middle ) to put on clean sheets.
After delivery ( an extra $70 for upstairs), when I discovered I could not get sheets on as I could not LIFT it, Bev Marks Beds told me that I can get a man to lift it for me!
Fed up w misogynists saying I just hv to ask my male to do it.
I don’t hv a blasted male to do anything!!

As I age, I am told to ‘get a man’ to do it or “help” w difficult tasks.
This is so wrong, and insulting.

 

[Tibs]

I never have a problem with mattress stains as I invest in a waterproof mattress protector. Just put stain remover on protector and rinse off then throw in the washing machine.

Hello Suzanne brought a mattress with protector a few years back marked down on sale my biggest problem is I sweat heavily in summer when am asleep now I didn't over wash the protector but when I went to do so one day I discovered that the rubber backing had flacked of causing horrific stains will the bi-carb remove thse stains?

 

[JayEeGeeP]

WHY are all mattress tops white now?
Return to the coloured, patterned fabric, please.
While I’m at it -
With all the technology available now, why are mattresses so heavy that they cannot be lifted to change sheets?
Why was it deemed necessary make mattresses 40cm deep, from 24cm deep?
I must use a 1/2 metre long piece of wood to lift the new mattress in six areas ( each corner & middle ) to put on clean sheets.
After delivery ( an extra $70 for upstairs), when I discovered I could not get sheets on as I could not LIFT it, Bev Marks Beds told me that I can get a man to lift it for me!
Fed up w misogynists saying I just hv to ask my male to do it.
I don’t hv a blasted male to do anything!!

As I age, I am told to ‘get a man’ to do it or “help” w difficult tasks.
This is so wrong, and insulting.

So agree, not all of us have a male around to do these things. My mattress feels like I'm trying to move an elephants butt to clean under it.

 

[Ricci]

WHY are all mattress tops white now?
Return to the coloured, patterned fabric, please.
While I’m at it -
With all the technology available now, why are mattresses so heavy that they cannot be lifted to change sheets?
Why was it deemed necessary make mattresses 40cm deep, from 24cm deep?
I must use a 1/2 metre long piece of wood to lift the new mattress in six areas ( each corner & middle ) to put on clean sheets.
After delivery ( an extra $70 for upstairs), when I discovered I could not get sheets on as I could not LIFT it, Bev Marks Beds told me that I can get a man to lift it for me!
Fed up w misogynists saying I just hv to ask my male to do it.
I don’t hv a blasted male to do anything!!

As I age, I am told to ‘get a man’ to do it or “help” w difficult tasks.
This is so wrong, and insulting.

There are several types of wedge type lifters you can buy quite reasonably (about $20) that should help enormously with lifting the mattress. There is also a blow up sort of thing that goes between the mattress and the base that automatically lifts the mattress approx 6 inches but it's far more expensive. Just google mattress lifters for seniors to find them.
Hope this helps.

 

[RTS]

WHY are all mattress tops white now?
Return to the coloured, patterned fabric, please.
While I’m at it -
With all the technology available now, why are mattresses so heavy that they cannot be lifted to change sheets?
Why was it deemed necessary make mattresses 40cm deep, from 24cm deep?
I must use a 1/2 metre long piece of wood to lift the new mattress in six areas ( each corner & middle ) to put on clean sheets.
After delivery ( an extra $70 for upstairs), when I discovered I could not get sheets on as I could not LIFT it, Bev Marks Beds told me that I can get a man to lift it for me!
Fed up w misogynists saying I just hv to ask my male to do it.
I don’t hv a blasted male to do anything!!

As I age, I am told to ‘get a man’ to do it or “help” w difficult tasks.
This is so wrong, and insulting.

I can relate to this I was trying to open some smoked oysters over Christmas and found that I didn't have the strength to wrestle the tin open. I couldn't use the hot water jar trick but got a knife in the little gap and levered it open.
It also took a few goes to open a bottle of cool drink.
On the subject of cleaning, I always sprinkled carb soda on wall to wall carpet and left it for a while to draw out any smells and stains. Now I have floor rugs, which I take outside to clean.

 

[Zoya]

I never have a problem with mattress stains as I invest in a waterproof mattress protector. Just put stain remover on protector and rinse off then throw in the washing machine.

I do the same.

 

[ElleJay]

I have a wool underlay and two mattress protectors on my mattress, no marks at all! Even our 15 year old mattress which is on our spare bed, still looks spotless.

 

[Ricci]

I can relate to this I was trying to open some smoked oysters over Christmas and found that I didn't have the strength to wrestle the tin open. I couldn't use the hot water jar trick but got a knife in the little gap and levered it open.
It also took a few goes to open a bottle of cool drink.
On the subject of cleaning, I always sprinkled carb soda on wall to wall carpet and left it for a while to draw out any smells and stains. Now I have floor rugs, which I take outside to clean.

In my kitchen drawer I have various little "tools" for helping to open stuff. Most of them were bought for a few dollars each from Kmart, Aldi or similar places. One releases the pressure in jars so that the lids unscrew easily, one is like an extended lever to make ring pulls a breeze and one is made of various sized and adjustable rings with teeth to help with bottle tops, jars or anything that needs turning. I find them invaluable.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Hello Suzanne brought a mattress with protector a few years back marked down on sale my biggest problem is I sweat heavily in summer when am asleep now I didn't over wash the protector but when I went to do so one day I discovered that the rubber backing had flacked of causing horrific stains will the bi-carb remove thse stains?

I don't think it will. I've used a few mattress protectors as we are a large family and none of mine have foam backing, before buying my new bed n mattress I had a foam underlying and a mattress protector.

Sweating shouldn't have caused this to happen