The photo above illustrates how the Japanese air out their futons on sunny days to stave off any possible mold growth and to kill dust mites that might be congregating inside. For those of us with mattresses, it's not quite as easy or practical to drag our mattresses outside for a good airing out. So what can we do if our beds start to become musty?
Abby wrote a great post on 7 tips for maintaining your mattress last year, which is worth taking a second look at. But, what if you have done all these things to the best of your ability and your mattress still seems a little less than fresh? Well, our old friend baking soda comes to the rescue yet again.
All you need to do is take all the bedding off (presumably to wash it) and sprinkle baking soda over the top of your mattress. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes (longer if you think it needs it). Next, you'll vacuum up the baking soda, making sure you don't miss any spots. Then you flip your mattress and repeat! This will help dry any damp spots, get rid of odors and will also vacuum up dust mites along with with baking soda.
(Images: Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro)
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Michelle, I'm really starting to worry about your baking soda obsession! Lol. Or are you a secret lobbyist for the baking soda industry? In any case, people's mattresses shouldn't be smelling musty. If it is then they need to take better care of it. My mattress doesn't ever smell musty because I use a mattress cover and an egg crate topper. When I flip it, I just let it air out and open my bedroom windows and that's about it.
Eh, funky/musty mattresses happen. Sometimes a room is damp or you sit on it coming out of the shower. Judge not! This is sound advice. Gonna air out our mattresses this week.
Oh this is great. My hubby just got over a nasty cold and I was looking for a way to freshen the bed - beyond changing the sheets and mattress pad. Perfect timing!
I have to divulge that baking soda makes a guest appearance in tomorrow's post, but is not the focus. It will be the last of my baking soda obsession for a while, I promise!
Yesterday's post happened after I had the idea for this one because I caught myself thinking, "we're always touting this stuff but where the heck does it come from?"
Anyway, I use a mattress cover, too, (which I wash bi-weekly and the sheets weekly) but the mattress had its own "scent." Not exactly musty, but not as lovely and fresh as I would like. I tried the baking soda trick and it worked, so I had to share :)