Cleaning a stained mattress could be more complicated than expected. Blood or sweat stains can be deeply penetrated into the mattress, so choosing the right cleaning product and method is crucial for better results.

If you have this problem—and you want to avoid bad smells and even mildew in your bed—keep reading to find the best cleaning methods for removing stains from your mattress.

Things to consider before cleaning your stained mattress

Before getting all eager to clean the stains, always check the care label on your mattress before attempting any fix.

However, the biggest no-no is to drench the stain and rub it hard, as tempting as that looks. Too much water helps the stain dig deeper into the mattress, and the moisture is a gateway to mildew.

Another problem is not knowing where the stains came from.

Do you know what caused the stain?

So, how do you proceed if you don't know what caused the stain? A handy way to narrow it down is by looking at the color. The most common stains are either yellow or brown.

If you see a yellow stain and you're pretty sure you didn't wet the bed, don't worry! Those are formed by sweat and natural oils our bodies leave behind. On the other hand, if you find brown stains on the mattress, be careful, as you could have a mildew or mold issue on your hands!

How to clean fresh stains

Knowing what caused the stain helps a lot, but you'll need more than that. If you're lucky and the stains are fresh, here are a couple of ways to remove this horror from your mattress.

In the case of urine and similar stains, try the following:

1. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar.
2. Blot (but do not rub) a clean cloth on the stain to absorb as much liquid as possible.
3. Spray the mixture over the stain and then sprinkle baking soda over it.
4. Let the cleaning agents sit on the stain for at least eight hours.
5. After the wait, vacuum everything on the spot, and the stain should come off.

When it comes to blood, funny enough, warm water makes things worse as it can "cook" the proteins and deepen the stain on the mattress. Therefore, cold water is your best bet when removing blood stains.

Put on some gloves and try this quick method to clean blood:

1. Mix half and half cold water and white vinegar inside a spray bottle.
2. Blot the blood with a clean rag (remember, no rubbing on the stain!)
3. Spray your solution on the stain and leave it for thirty minutes so it can break down.
4. Continue to blot until no more blood is visible. Repeat steps 3 and 4 if necessary.

Up next, here's how to remove the three most common stains you missed when they were fresh.

How to remove old urine stains

As already mentioned, cleaning urine stains when fresh is as easy as applying vinegar with water. However, if your kid was clever enough, and you found out they wet the bed days after the incident, the stain is dry but smelly.

Fortunately, you can still do something about it; you just need to take some extra steps. For this method, hydrogen peroxide combined with baking soda will dissolve the urine and take care of the smell. Here's what you need:

• 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Baking soda
• Dish soap
• Essential oil (optional)
• An empty spray bottle
• Vacuum cleaner

Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Prepare a cleaning spray

Mix eight ounces of hydrogen peroxide, three tablespoons of baking soda, and three drops of dish soap inside your spray bottle. Add enough essential oil to your liking.

Step 2. Apply the cleaner to the stain

Spray enough mixture over the stain, and wait until it looks like the mattress has absorbed it. Prepare the vacuum cleaner for the next step.

Step 3. Vacuum the urine stain

Use your vacuum cleaner on the stain to remove the residue. Repeat this step as many times as necessary.

How to remove sweat stains

Sweat stains are almost inevitable and one of the most common stains on mattresses. It's not because you had an awful fever or a summer night that felt like a sauna; your sweat builds up over time and leaves a yellowish mark. That happens to everyone.

For this method, you'll wash the area with soap and clear up the mattress with hydrogen peroxide. Here's how:

Step 1. Mix your cleaning solution

Mix equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle, and add a bit of liquid dish soap at the end.

Step 2. Add the solution to the stain

Spray the mix over the stain and let it sit for twenty minutes to dissolve the sweat mark.

Step 3. Blot the sweat stain

Blot the sweat stain with a clean cloth or using paper towels. Keep blotting until the stain fades away.

Optional: Deodorize and vacuum the stain

Baking soda can do wonders in removing any musty smells. However, you will have to be patient and set up camp in another room in your house. If you're up to this step, sprinkle baking soda over the stain, wait 24 hours and vacuum the residue on the mattress.

How to remove blood stains

While removing fresh stains has a specific process; you must dissolve bloodstains differently when they're old.

Did you know meat tenderizer (the seasoning, not the mallet) can break down the proteins in the blood? This cooking product will work wonders in this method—just don't forget that pouring warm water on blood is a terrible idea! Follow these three steps:

Step 1. Soften the proteins in the blood

Add one tablespoon of meat tenderizer and two teaspoons of water over the blood stain.

Step 2. Brush the blood stain

Grab a used toothbrush and scrub the mixture you just made. After brushing for a few minutes, wait until dry.

Step 3. Vacuum and blot the stain

Use your vacuum cleaner to suck up the residue from the stain. Finish up by blotting away with a clean cloth.

Keep learning from the cleaning professionals

Removing stains is just one of the many things you must do at home. If you're of the learning type, Rain City Maids have the best tips and tricks to take back control of your home, one chore at a time. While you're at it, click here to learn more about our services—you never know when you need professionals to clean your house.