Mold is a type of fungus that can cause allergic reactions in people. While they can grow on any material, they are most commonly found in foods and soil. However, finding them in your mattress is not unheard of.
Before we dive into cleaning and preventing mold growth in your mattress, we want to know the factors that cause these growths in your mattress.
What Causes Mold on Your Mattress?
The leading cause of mattress mold is moisture. This can come from many sources, such as sweat, body fluids, and even humidity in the air. A mattress may also absorb water from a nearby leaky roof or plumbing problem.
Mold growth on mattresses can be hard to spot because it often looks like stains or discoloration (or both). Mold is typically black, green, white, or brown in color. You may not see mold on your mattress with the naked eye, but you can often smell it.
A moldy mattress is not only unsightly, but it also poses health risks for you and your family.
Listed below are the things you can do to clean and prevent mold growth in your mattress.
Cleaning a Moldy Mattress
- Vacuuming
To fight mold and other contaminants, vacuum your mattress. Vacuuming the mattress will pull dirt, gunk, and mold from its surface and can prevent those particles from spreading into the room. Persistently wipe the vacuum cleaner to avoid spreading mold spores around the room.
- Simple Cleaning Solution
Make a cleaning solution with equal parts rubbing alcohol and warm water. Scrub the mattress in a circular motion with some force to penetrate deeper into the mattress.
- Disinfectant Solutions
Spray the mattress with a disinfectant to eliminate germs, bacteria, and other microorganisms that can cause illness. Check out the label on your mattress to ensure the solution is safe for your mattress.
- Sun-Drying
After thoroughly cleaning your mattress, place it in a sunny area to dry off any lingering moisture. The sunlight will kill mold spores and help you get rid of germs, making sleeping more comfortable!
Preventing Mold Growth in Your Mattress
- Dehumidifiers
To prevent a mold infestation at home, you should install a dehumidifier in your bedroom. This will help you keep the humidity levels down and to avoid mold growth.
- Air Purifiers
Air purifiers can do wonders for your indoor air quality. They promote air circulation, filter out dirt and dander, and stop mold spores from growing.
- Let the Air In
Keep your rooms ventilated, even when you’re not around. When it’s humid, open the windows and let the air circulate.
- Sunshine
By removing the sheets, opening the windows, and allowing moisture to dry out in the sun, you can kill mold naturally without resorting to chemicals and hard work.
- Change Bed Sheets Regularly
Change your bed sheets and pillowcases at least once a week. Wash them in hot water to kill mold spores, then dry them on high heat to ensure they’re completely dry.
Conclusion
The helpful tips in this article can help you maintain the health of your mattress and your home. As you are aware, something as simple as a mattress can affect your overall health and well-being. With these exciting tips, the process of maintaining that mattress will be easier than you think.
Do you need help with mold removal in Miami, FL? If you don’t know how to do it yourself or if the mold is too extensive for you to handle, contact Swift Restoration today. We have the expertise and experience to remove mold from any surface, including mattresses.
