If you haven’t thought about cleaning your mattress lately, consider this: You probably spend six or seven hours on it every night. During that time, dust, dead skin cells, sweat, and oil from your body can make their way onto it. 

1. Ditch the dust.

The easiest way to remove dust is to use the upholstery tool on your vacuum cleaner. It’s a good idea to do this every couple of months or more often if someone is the family suffers with allergies. Go over the top and sides of the mattress and as much of the box spring as you can access. Press down firmly on the tool to draw out dust beneath the fabric’s surface. Then use the crevice tool to get into the quilting, along the edge welting, and where any pillow top is attached.

You can also steam clean your mattress. If you have a garment steamer, go over the mattress with the steamer holding the nozzle as close to the fabric as you can to help the penetrating steam kill dust mites lurking near the surface. Vacuum the mattress again to remove them.

2. Wipe out stains.

If pets sleep with you or you like to snack in bed, chances are your mattress may have some stains on it. By tackling them as soon as possible after they happen or as soon as you notice them, they’ll take less effort to erase. The easiest way to remove them is with a carpet and upholstery cleaner formulated to remove pet stains, like Good Housekeeping Seal-holder Bissell Pet Stain and Odor Remover. “It not only removes pet, food and other stains but also contains enzymes to tackle odors.

To use it, lightly spray the stain — or a cloth — and dab the stain working from the outside edge towards the center to keep the stain from spreading. Rotate your cloth to a clean area as it picks up the dissolved stain to keep from depositing it back onto the fabric. Avoid over-wetting the mattress. When the stain is gone, sponge the area with a damp cloth to rinse and remove all traces of the cleaner. Blot the area with a dry cloth and let the mattress dry thoroughly before making the bed.

If you are lucky enough to own a “steam” cleaner that dispenses detergent and sucks up stains from carpet and upholstery, like Good Housekeeping Seal holder, Bissell Little Green Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, by all means, use it to clean your mattress, too. And the best way to keep your mattress white and stain-free is by covering it with removable mattress pad that you can wash regularly.

If your mattress has yellow cast, it’s likely from a build-up of sweat and body oils. While it’s difficult to wet clean an entire mattress and you never want to fully saturate it, you can try to whiten it with a 50/50 mix (one cup each) of hydrogen peroxide and warm water plus 1/4 teaspoon mild dish liquid. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and spritz mattress surface. Work it into the fabric with a soft brush or terry towel and let set about 30 minutes. Spritz the mattress again with clear water to rinse, blot well to remove all traces of the cleaner, and let it air dry completely. For tough stains, repeat or add a little more hydrogen peroxide to the solution.

Cleaning Methods… You may think you are making your home very clean. Your home is always tidy, you clean your surfaces every day with organic or all-natural products, dust and even vacuum every few days. But until you find out what’s hiding inside your vacuum cleaner and how dirty it really is, you might continue to think the house is clean.

• ELECTRIC SWEEPERS ARE TESTED, BACTERIA ARE EVERYWHERE

The assumption that vacuum cleaners also need cleaning and maintenance is nothing new. Vacuum cleaners and brushes are definitely overwhelmed by germs and bacteria, according to a 2008 study by researchers at the University of Arizona. The vacuum cleaners tested contained 50 percent fecal bacteria, 13 percent E. coli bacteria, and every vacuum cleaner tested contained mold. “Our results show that although the process of vacuuming the house is typically short, vacuum emissions release a significant amount of human-borne bacteria,” the researchers wrote.

• YOU MAY HAVE ALLERGY PROBLEMS WHEN CLEANING

“Such emissions can potentially lead to the inhalation of infectious or allergenic aerosols.” The effect of mold and bacteria-laden dust can be worse for allergy sufferers. To get rid of these problems, all you have to do is clean your vacuum cleaner once in a while and spend a little effort to eliminate the germs in there.

• AFTER EACH USE: CLEAN THE BRUSHES

After each use, check all the brushes to make sure there is no dirt or hair stuck on the brush. If you have hair or loose strands wrapped around a brush, don’t pull it: Use a pair of scissors to cut it instead. Then sterilize the brushes with a disinfectant spray.

• EMPTY THE HOPPER WITHOUT FULLY FULLY

According to vacuum cleaner experts, try to empty it every time you use it, rather than let the dust bin of your vacuum cleaner be completely filled. At least empty when the chamber is half to two-thirds full. This way, you expel potential germs or bacteria inside the chamber before they take up space in the chamber. Emptying the hopper also helps improve the performance of your vacuum cleaner.

• CHECK AND WASH FILTERS PER MONTH

Although cleaning the filters of vacuum cleaners must be a big part of your annual routine, it should be checked more often. You can refer to your vacuum cleaner manual to see where each filter is and how to remove it. Then, if it is washable, remove it, rinse with water and rinse under cold running water. Let it dry completely.

• COMPLETELY REMOVE YOUR CLEANER FOR DEEP CLEANING EVERY 12-18 MONTHS

Although you need to clean the parts that can be detached more often, Vacuum cleaner experts say it’s also a good rule to take apart and brush the entire vacuum cleaner. You should do this approximately once a year. To do this, you will need a few things: hot water, dish soap, cleaning brush, and compressed air. First, separate all the pieces; Wet the can or other washable parts such as attachments with hot water. Rub it all well and let it dry completely before putting it back together. Then use compressed air to remove dust or debris hidden in corners and crevices of the broom. Don’t forget to wipe the exterior parts with a cleaning cloth as well. This article may also interest you: Does your home not look decorative or tidy? Here are the most common mistakes at home

• REPLACE YOUR SWEEPER EVERY 10 YEARS

According to a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the older the vacuum cleaner, the more pollutants it emits into the environment. According to consumer reports, vacuum cleaners last an average of eight years. However, if you follow the instructions above and maintain your vacuum cleaner correctly, you can extend its use for up to 10 years. Otherwise, you may be dragging the 10-year-old mess all over your home.