You’ve just been to the baby supermarket and bought a brand new mattress for your baby’s cot, congratulations! Or maybe you’ve already had it for a while and now you want to freshen it up.
It’s so important to keep a baby mattress clean as they spend so much time in their crib. This is where I come in. Baking soda is the answer!
In this article, I’ll show you how to clean baby mattresses in a natural and non-toxic way, by using baking soda.
Let’s start.
Baking Soda Dry Method
What You’ll Need:
To deodorize your baby’s mattress with baking soda, you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- A vacuum cleaner
Steps:
- Make sure your baby is not on the mattress.
- Remove all fitted sheets and bedding.
- Vacuum the mattress to get rid of any loose crumbs, hair, or dirt.
- Sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress surface, making sure it’s evenly distributed and covering every inch of the mattress. You may want to put a thin layer of baking soda inside any seams as well. Let it sit for several hours or even overnight if possible. The longer you let it sit, the more absorbing power it will have!
- Vacuum up all remaining baking soda from the surface of your mattress using a hand attachment on your vacuum cleaner or handheld vacuum cleaner. Make sure to get into every nook and cranny where baking soda could be hiding. If your mattress has seams or folds, run the vacuum repeatedly over them until you’re sure no more baking soda can be sucked out with just a little more effort!
- Let your freshly cleaned baby crib mattress air out in an open area so that any lingering smells will dissipate before putting fresh sheets back on top of it.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Wet Method
You can clean the baby mattress using a combination of baking soda, vinegar, and water. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that can remove grime from the mattress. Here’s how you do it:
What You’ll Need:
- Warm water
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Spray bottle
- Brush
- Soft cloth
Steps:
- Combine 3 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake to combine the ingredients.
- Spray the solution onto the surface of the crib mattress until it is wet but not dripping. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes to loosen any stains or other grime that may be stuck on it.
- Sprinkle baking soda over one section of the mattress, adding enough so that there are no wet spots visible beneath it. Add more baking soda as needed to prevent any areas from being left damp for too long.
- Allow the baking soda to sit for 20 minutes before using a sponge or soft cloth dampened with water to wipe away all traces of both the baking soda and dirt on your crib mattress’s surface while gently scrubbing at any particularly stubborn spots where dirt remains after several passes.
- Air dry under the sun.
Why Use Baking Soda to Clean Baby Mattress?
Let’s talk about why you should clean your baby mattress with baking soda.
Baking Soda is a natural product. Unlike many cleaning agents in the market which are made from chemicals, baking soda is a natural product that can be used to clean things ranging from your oven to your hair.
It is gentle on most surfaces and can be used effectively as an abrasive cleaner to help remove dirt, grease, and grime.
In fact, there are many products available in the market that contain baking soda in their ingredients list because it helps them work better by improving their effectiveness on tough stains or removing odors safely.
How Often Should You Wash Baby Mattress?
You should wash your baby’s mattress every two weeks. The mattress contains oils and sweat from the baby and will get dirty.
Tips for Keeping Baby Mattress Clean
There are several ways to keep a baby mattress in good condition:
- Clean the mattress after an accident. If your baby has an accident, or even if you just notice a stain or spot of dirt on the mattress, try cleaning it immediately and thoroughly.
- Air out the mattress after washing it. After you wash a baby’s mattress (or any other fabric), let it air out at least overnight before putting anything on top of it. Air drying will help avoid lingering smells that may come from wet materials.
- Use a mattress protector. A waterproof, breathable crib pad can be placed underneath sheets and blankets so that if there is another accident, the mattress will stay protected until you have time to clean it thoroughly again.
- Wash the protector regularly. Mattress protectors should also be washed frequently so they stay clean and free of any contaminating substances like bacteria or mold spores (which could cause illness in young children). Note: If possible, follow the manufacturer’s instructions when washing these items – they may tell us how often we need to do this type of cleaning versus using different products than those recommended by them for this purpose only.
Conclusion:
So there you have it! A simple method of cleaning your baby’s crib mattress without any harsh chemicals or toxic cleaning solutions. Doing a thorough clean at least every two weeks will keep your baby healthy and safe, and keep bacteria and allergens away.
If you use this method, be sure to also wash all bedding regularly, as well as periodic cleaning of the entire room. If you feel like your baby is still getting sick, consider allergy testing.
If it turns out that an allergen is to blame for your little one’s constant sniffles or sneezes, take extra measures to keep those allergens away from the crib mattress.
Looking for more DIY tips? See my article on how to clean airbeds.
Thanks for dropping by.
-Baking Soda Guy
Photo by Leah Kelley from Pexels
