'Effectively' banish stubborn yellow mattress stains with 24p kitchen product
Around 40 percent of Brits wash their bed linen once every fortnight, but many are forgetting to clean their mattresses - which can harbour pesky fungus and bacteria.
Research has shown that the average adult sweats 26 gallons a year in bed, making the mattress a hotbed for germs. In fact, lab tests found that a seven year old mattress held more than 16 million CFU (colony-forming units) of bacteria per square inch.
Sleeping on an old mattress can increase your risk of inhaling mould and E coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, sore throats, and itchy eyes. Excessive moisture from body sweat can even welcome critters such as dust mites and bed bugs.
Many homeowners are also left grappling with stubborn yellow stains in their bedding, which seem almost impossible to shift. Mattress expert Rebecca Swain, from Winstons Beds, has shared her nifty household hacks for banishing the musty marks.
She said: "Yellow stains are foul, repulsive and frankly disgusting, but unfortunately it’s a normal occurrence when it comes to beds. Sweating during the night can’t be helped so it’s important to give the mattress a clean otherwise you run the risk of ruining it and making the bed unhygienic to sleep on." Rebecca then revealed the kitchen cupboard essentials that "effectively" remove bed stains.
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Limes
The green fruit boasts up to 10 percent of citric acid, which makes it an effective method for lifting yellow stains. "You can use the fruit itself to scrub on the mattress. Squeeze it gently and wipe it down with hot, soapy water," she said. Limes can be bagged from as little as 24p from Aldi and Tesco.
White vinegar
Vinegar has been hailed the "staple" of housekeeping hacks due to its balanced acidic properties. While the product is mild enough to keep fabrics intact, it can easily remove stubborn stains and deposits.
Rebecca advised: "Use a quarter of a cup of white vinegar with three parts distilled water and mix to create an effective cleaning solution. Use a sponge to soak up the mixture and scrub on the stains. Don’t make the surface too wet otherwise, it can cause internal dampness."
Baking soda
Baking soda is a gentle abrasive and natural deodoriser, making it ideal for household cleaning and stain removal. The expert suggests sprinkling the substance onto the mattress and leaving it to set for an hour.
She added: "After it’s settled, scrub the stains again for better results. The baking soda should help lift the stains up from deeper crevices of the mattress."
Washing up liquid
The product is commonly used for lifting grease and food from dishes, but it can also remove stains from fabrics. "Hot water with a dab of washing-up liquid is a great cleaning source to use on dirty mattresses. It’s an effective way to banish unwanted stains and will help to remove the musty scent," she said.
Lemon juice
Similar to limes, lemon juice is mildly acidic and can efficiently remove yellow marks from mattresses. Create a fizzy solution by mixing two tbsp lemon juice with baking soda, and apply onto the bedding. Rebecca said: "It’ll also leave a refreshing citrus smell on the mattress."
Hydrogen Peroxide
The product is made up of hydrogen and oxygen molecules, and works by breaking up the strong chemical bonds in the stain's molecules. The cleaning guru added: "The substance is an effective way to remove the most stubborn, deep stains. It also works as a disinfectant to make the mattress more hygienic. Only use a small amount mixed with water and wipe it down."
Homeowners have been urged to keep pesky bacteria at bay by deep cleaning their mattresses every six months, and vacuuming the surface every time they change the sheets.
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