Mattress care comes down to four things: letting it dry out, keeping it under a protector, rotating it from time to time and not soaking it when you clean. Most problems — smell, stains, dents — come from moisture and from the mattress lying in one position for years.
Airing
Overnight a mattress takes in moisture, and it has to be given a chance to escape.
- In the morning it helps to leave the bed uncovered for a short while before making it, so that the sleeping place airs.
- When you change the bedding, leave the mattress without a sheet for a time and air the room.
- If the bedroom is damp, air the room more often.
- Leave a new mattress to air after unpacking as well. The smell of new materials should fade gradually; if it stays sharp or causes discomfort, contact the seller.
What the mattress lies on matters too. A slatted base lets air through from below; a solid bottom does not. We explain how to choose a base in a separate article on slats; the bases themselves are gathered in the bed frames category.
A protector is the simplest care
A mattress is hard to clean, while a protector can simply be washed. So it is best to put one on from the first day.
- The Veneto Thermo mattress cover is a textile one, of calico (100% cotton) with a thin layer of ThermoFiber fibre. It protects against dust and everyday soiling, but lets liquid through.
- The Veneto Fresh mattress cover is made of a moisture-proof membrane fabric. It is needed where something may be spilt on the bed: in a child's room, or in a bedroom with pets.
From below the mattress is protected by the Veneto Mattress pad of ReFiberMix felt (300 g/m²): it lies between the mattress and the base. All the options are in the mattress protectors category, and there is more about choosing them in a separate article.
Rotating and turning over are not the same thing
Rotating head to foot is worth doing when the recommendations for the particular model provide for it: it helps spread the load more evenly. How often is also set by the manufacturer's instructions.
Turning onto the other side is only for double-sided mattresses, and here everything depends on the model.
- In mattresses with “winter/summer” sides, turning is built into the construction. The Veneto Comfort Multi Mattress, for example, is made this way: it is turned with the change of season.
- In mattresses with sides of different firmness, turning changes the feel. The Veneto YIN YANG Mattress has one firm side and one medium, and “winter/summer” sides as well. If one firmness suits you, there is no need to turn it for the sake of care — just rotate it.
- Mattresses with a single working side are not turned over at all.
Which model you have is stated on the product page and in the documents that come with the mattress. If in doubt, ask a consultant.
Turn a large mattress with two people and hold it by the side handles, if it has them. Do not pull it by the cover.
How to remove a stain
The main rule is as little water as possible. A wet filling takes a long time to dry, and the harm from moisture is greater than from the stain itself.
- Blot fresh liquid at once with a dry cloth or paper towel. Do not rub, so as not to drive it deeper.
- Dissolve a little mild soap in warm water. Wet a cloth and wring it out well.
- Work on the stain from the edges to the centre, with light movements.
- Collect the soap residue with a clean damp cloth, then blot dry.
- Leave the mattress to dry without bedding in an aired room. Make the bed only when the surface is completely dry.
Dust on the surface is easily collected with a vacuum cleaner and a soft nozzle when you change the bedding, or a little less often.
If the mattress has a removable cover, like the Veneto Air Mattress, where there is also an inner cover under the outer one, care is simpler. Clean or wash the cover only as its label says. An old or large stain is better entrusted to a dry cleaner that works with mattresses.
What not to do
- Do not soak the mattress with water or clean it with a wet sponge.
- Do not use bleach, solvents or other aggressive products: they damage the cover fabric and the filling.
- Do not dry it with a hairdryer, an iron or a heater. Natural drying only.
- Do not bend or roll a spring mattress — neither for transport nor for storage. It deforms the spring unit.
- Do not jump on the mattress or stand on it at one point.
- Do not always sit on the same edge.
- Do not exceed the load. It is given on the product page of every model: Comfort Multi, for example, is rated for a load of up to 120 kg.
- Do not put the mattress on a base that has sagged, and do not keep it permanently on the floor.
- Do not cover it with plastic film “for protection” — moisture collects under it.
When care no longer helps
It is time to replace a mattress if it has dents that do not go away, springs can be felt, or you roll into one spot every time. Neither a topper nor cleaning will put that right. The warranty conditions and the requirements for use are on the warranty page, and new models are in the mattresses category.
In short
- Let the mattress dry out: an uncovered bed in the morning, airing when you change the bedding.
- A protector from the first day is the simplest way to keep a mattress clean.
- Rotate and turn the mattress only as provided for the particular model; only double-sided ones are turned onto the other side.
- Remove stains with a mild soap solution and a minimum of water, without aggressive chemicals.
- A spring mattress is not bent or rolled.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a mattress be turned?
Rotate it head to foot as often as the manufacturer recommends. Turn onto the other side only double-sided models.
Can a mattress be steam-cleaned?
We do not advise it: steam drives moisture and heat into the filling, and a mattress takes a long time to dry.
The mattress got wet — what should I do?
Collect the liquid with dry towels, stand the mattress on its edge in an aired room and let it dry completely, without heaters.
Is a protector needed if the cover is removable?
Yes. A protector is far easier to take off and wash than the cover of a large mattress.
