We all know that Martha has an opinion on all things to do with the home and sometimes the level of attention to detail is more than we mere mortals can hope to have the time for. That said, her advice and methods of housekeeping just make sense - it is tried and true "passed down from mom" good advice. For bedroom month, here are some of the do's and don'ts from Martha about mattress care...
How to Care for Your Mattress: Do's and Don'ts
The Do's:
- Turn your mattress four times a year to distribute the wear evenly. It should be turned side to side and also top to toe.
- How to turn top to toe: "Working with one person on each long side of the bed, grab onto the handles and turn the mattress perpendicular to the box spring. The slide the mattress partially off one side, bringing the end that was at the foot of the bed up, and let the other end fall to the floor so the mattress is standing on one end. Then simply let if fall back on to the bed and turn it back into place, with the end that was the foot now at the head."
- Vacuum mattress and box springs every three months with the upholstery attachment each time you do the turning.
- Strip your bed whenever you go on vacation to air it out.
The Don'ts:
- Don't sit on the edge of a mattress.
- Don't allow your mattress to get wet.
- Don't use dry-cleaning fluid of any type to clean your mattress.
- Don't place a board between your mattress and your box spring - it can interfere with the supporting function of the box spring.
There was one more Don't that we just didn't have the heart to keep on the list, because it just seemed so party-pooper-ish: Don't let children jump on the bed. Undeniably good advice, but no fun either!
Do's and Dont's via: Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook
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cleaning, beds & mattresses, How To..., books, guides & resources, personal health, Martha Stewart, mattress, Martha Stewart's Homekeeping HandbookRelated Links
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dont sit on the edge of the mattress? 1. why? 2. is that even realistic?
view Allachka3's profile
"Don't place a board between your mattress and your box spring - it can interfere with the supporting function of the box spring."
This seems counter to all the recommendations for platform beds and the 'do-away-with-your-box-spring' enthusiasm. I wish there was a way to know what is marketing myth/hype, and what is really good/not good for a mattress.
view kimg924's profile
boxsprings are good for the longevity of your mattress. platform bed/ no boxspring may be better for your back/possibly feel better depending on preference but it's not going to help the mattress because it doesn't cushion the pressure. less bounce back.
view acslater's profile
Does this apply to memory-foam mattresses?
view robyn m.'s profile
sitting on the edge of my mattress (futon mat.) has definitely taken a toll.
view Lady J's profile
Most mattresses these days are reinforced on the edges to prevent it from sinking so I wouldn't worry too much about that.
view Laura's profile
What about mattresses that claim they never need to be rotated? What's up with that? Is it for real?
view Ironsides's profile
I am just never going to measure up to Martha when it comes to mattress care.
But I do agree with the advice about not letting kids jump on the bed. When our son was 18 months old, he was bouncing on our king-size bed with both of us right there, and he went sailing off headfirst into a corner. We're lucky he wasn't seriously injured. No monkeys jumping on the bed!
view greer's profile
What about Euro-top mattresses with the 18 extra inches of puff on one side. They can't be flipped.
And the comes-with-mattress cleaning service ... is that ok?
view shessomelicious's profile
If you have your mattress covered with allergen barrier cover, should I still take it out to vacuum it as well? That seems to be a lot of work.
view pomuk's profile
With "no-flip" mattresses, you're still supposed to rotate them 180 degrees now and then, so the wear is distributed on both ends.
Allergen barriers, at least the ones I've owned, are supposed to keep everything--dust mites, dust, etc.--from getting through to the mattress. So you wouldn't have to take it off to clean under it, but you do have to clean the allergen barrier cover now and then, according to the instructions on the tag. I think mine is supposed to be washed in very hot water. But if you're keeping the mattress pad and sheets on top of it clean, the cover isn't going to get too dirty.
view AmberM's profile