How to Get Rid of Stains on Mattresses (Especially if You Have Kids)
The cost of mattresses is quite high, and nobody likes to change their sheets every day just to find a large, unsightly stain. But it can be untidy living with children, pets, or aging parents. A mother gave her tips on how to get mattress stains out a few years back. Professionals have shown how to do this in the interim, focusing on particular stains. These tips aren’t just for parents either. They’re helpful for adult offspring of elderly or incontinent parents as well.
A Mother’s Knowledge
Katelyn Fagan is a devoted mother, wife, and businesswoman who helps families keep their homes tidy and orderly by providing cleaning goods and guidance. She offered a do-it-yourself method that she’s discovered works well for getting rid of mattress stains.
How to Get Rid of Stains on Mattresses
What You’ll require:
Combine the materials and mist the entire mattress, paying particular attention to any stains. After letting everything dry, use a vacuum to get rid of any leftovers.
A Foundation’s Advice
Although Katelyn’s advise is beneficial, stain removal can occasionally be challenging if one is unfamiliar with the chemistry of the stain. Nonetheless, by providing various recipes for tough-to-remove mattress stains, the Sleep Foundation assisted in removing some of these stains.They describe how to remove stains such as blood, vomit, urine, wine, and coffee, both old and fresh.
For “minor stains,” the first mattress stain removal recipe works well. Initially, use a light-colored cloth to wipe away any leftover liquid to avoid “any color bleeding.” Avoid rubbing as this may cause the liquid to seep further into the mattress. Use an enzyme cleanser, such as dish soap, laundry detergent, or stain remover from the shop. Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and white vinegar are more natural substitutes. It is advised to apply to the stained area, let it dry, and then vacuum away, just like Katelyn suggested. To guarantee that the mattress stains are properly removed, the method might need to be repeated. Additionally, to prevent mildew or mold formation, let the mattress air dry completely before using it.
Eliminate Blood and Urine Stains from Mattress Fabric
Cleaning up mattress stains from bodily fluids comes next. The good news is that cleaning new stains is less difficult than cleaning old ones. Therefore, blood can be extracted by directly dabbing with cold water.
Meanwhile, a mixture of baking soda and distilled vinegar may be needed for fresh urine. Pour the same amount of vinegar and water into a spray bottle. After dabbing the region to get rid of extra fluid, sprinkle baking soda on it. After letting the mixture dry, vacuum up any leftover material.
Taking Out Set-in Stains
Even though set-in stains are significantly more difficult to remove, they can still be done with the right cleaning solution. Refer back to Katelyn’s recommendations for urine stains that have set, as the procedures and formulations are the same.
However, blood that has already started to set in might need a little more help. Although an enzyme cleaner is advised, you can instead use common household items. A paste can be made with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
Additionally, scraping with a toothbrush or other abrasive object might assist get rid of stains on mattresses. A scrubbing brush is a preferable substitute since steel wool, among other things, could harm the mattress. In order to stop the stain from spreading, carefully rub the outside of the stain inward. Finally, before using the mattress, blot off any liquid or residue that may have remained.
Get rid of beverage stains from mattresses
It might be difficult to remove liquids like coffee, tea, or wine from clothes, let alone a big, thick mattress. Fortunately, dabbing rather than rubbing will help remove fresh stains before they set. You can also use cold water and a small amount of dish soap.
But if the stains have already set, then a more comprehensive solution might be required. Coffee and tea stains on mattresses can be effectively removed using vinegar and dish soap, but if there is additional cream or sugar present, it is advised to incorporate extra detergent and warm water into the mixture.
Wine, Red, Wine
Mattress stains like red wine are notoriously hard to get rid of. Thankfully, mattress stains may be effectively removed with commercial stain removers. Alternatively, you may try a solution of dish soap, salt, and hydrogen peroxide; just make sure you use cold water.
Blot the stain with cold water after removing any excess liquid, then sprinkle it with salt and leave it for a few minutes or longer. Next, use cool water and a light-colored cloth to dab the salt.
More steps and time may be needed to remove tougher stains:
It’s crucial to remember that many of these fixes might also apply to items other than beds, including clothes. Hydrogen peroxide, however, can fade clothing colors, so stay away from using these solutions on non-white materials and fabrics.
Finally, A Stain That Is Unpleasant to Remove
Urine and blood are unpleasant stains to clean, but vomit is possibly the most repulsive stain of them. The sickening smell of puke seems to cling, making stomachs turn whenever someone lies down or, in the worst situations, walks into the room. “Varied enzymes and acids” are the cause of the difficulty in eliminating the undesirable stains and smells. Thus, enzyme cleaners from the market are effective, but you can also make your own.
What You’ll require:
Give the area a thorough spray, then let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. If the stain and smell are still apparent, blot away any leftover material and cover the area with baking soda. After letting it sit for at least eight hours, vacuum it. Always dab or buff, never rub (this stops the stain from setting further).
Neighbor Mocks Poor Woman for Filthy Look of Her House, Apologizes after She Sets Foot Inside — Story of the Day
Sarah received several complaints about the condition of her house from one of her neighbors, Mrs. Cardigan. The older woman also yelled at her when she couldn’t fix it promptly. But instead of being mad, Sarah invited her and two other neighbors into her home, which surprisingly changed everything.
Mrs. Teller,
I can’t believe I have to complain about this situation. You have to fix your yard immediately. Your house needs painting. It’s a disaster! It makes our neighborhood look awful, and all our houses are losing value since you’re right around the corner. Please do it promptly!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cardigan.
Sarah sighed after reading another of Mrs. Cardigan’s messages. The older woman left notes stuck to her front door for the past two weeks, but there was nothing Sarah could do for now. She sighed and crumpled the letter in her hands, taking it inside and throwing it too forcefully into her garbage can.
Sarah didn’t have time to think about her nosey neighbor and her complaints. | Source: Pexels
“This awful, nosy woman doesn’t understand anything,” she told herself and started putting away the few groceries she had just bought and continued her busy day. All she needed to do now was ignore the situation and hope they would just shut up about it.
She closed the door and peeked at them through her curtains. All three of them had stopped a few yards away and were discussing something intensely.
However, Sarah should’ve expected what happened the next day.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! RING! RING! RING!
Sarah frowned as she raised her head from changing her one-year-old son’s diaper. Someone was at the door, knocking with pounding fists and ringing the bell insistently, which might wake her tired husband, Andrew, who just had a long night shift at the factory and needed his sleep. Her older children were in school, but her baby required peace. If this wasn’t an emergency, whoever was outside didn’t have to be demanding her attention like that.
Her frown stayed in place as she opened the door and saw three of her neighbors. She wasn’t surprised. It was only a matter of time before they would get tired of her ignoring the complaints about her yard. One of them was Mrs. Cardigan. There was also Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Levy. They all lived in a small town in Washington, and Sarah met them at some point but briefly. “Hello… what’s going on?” she asked, confused at their angry faces.
Mrs. Cardigan and two other neighbors came to complain about her yard in person. | Source: Pexels
“Mrs. Teller, I’ve sent many notes, and they’ve all gone unnoticed, apparently,” Mrs. Cardigan began. Her hands were raised, and her body moved with her attitude, which had a mocking tone that Sarah didn’t enjoy. “You seem to think having a yard in this condition is perfectly normal, not to mention the exterior, which is completely falling apart. We’re about to establish a homeowner’s association, and this just won’t do! You’ll actually get fined for this. Is that what you want?”
The other neighbors behind her nodded their heads, added a few complaints of their own, and even laughed at some point. Mrs. Cardigan had the worst cackle of them all. Sarah knew it looked terrible, but fixing her garden was not on her list of priorities.
She wanted to respond to all the vitriol the older woman gave her. How dare these people come to her house and mock and threaten her? They had no idea what was going on with her life. Also, if she didn’t join the HOA, they wouldn’t be able to give her any fines. She wanted to return their statements and even mock them too. But that wasn’t her personality. Sarah was better than that.
“Mrs. Cardigan, Mrs. Levy, and Mr. Sanders, would you please come in?” Sarah offered, gesturing with her hand so they could enter the house. The three neighbors were obviously shocked at her words. They expected a fight, but she wouldn’t stoop down to their level. “We can talk more about this issue inside while having some tea.”
They were shocked when Sarah invited them inside and offered them tea. | Source: Pexels
She ushered them into her house and told them to sit in her living room while she brought out her last remaining tea bags and gathered all her courage to face them with the truth. She took a deep breath, smiled, and returned to the living room.
“Here, you go,” she said in the politest voice she could muster.
Mrs. Cardigan took her cup of tea with apparent reluctance, wondering why Sarah was being nice to them. “So, are you going to do something about this?” she asked.
Finally, Sarah sat down. “Mrs. Cardigan, I’ve read all your memos. But the truth is that gardening is not a priority for my family right now. Our toddler is very sick. Do you hear the rumbling of a machine from a distance?” she asked, pointing towards the hallway.
The neighbors nodded, although they hadn’t noticed until Sarah pointed that out. “It’s not that noisy, but you can hear it. That’s my baby’s breathing machine. He’s sick with a respiratory disease that could pose a danger to his life. And my husband lost his big job after the company went bankrupt. The only thing he’s been able to find in this recession is a night shift at a can factory. It’s grueling, so he’s sleeping right now. See, the door to my bedroom is closed,” she continued, pointing towards another door in the hallway.
She explained why gardening her yard was not on her list of priorities. | Source: Pexels
Mrs. Cardigan wanted to speak up. “Well, that’s –”
But Sarah didn’t let her continue, although her voice was still serene and kind. “And I have two other kids who should be home from school at any moment now. I simply have no time or frankly any money to fix my yard. Everything goes towards food, keeping this roof, and medical bills. Can you understand my situation now?”
The three neighbors looked solemn now that she had finished explaining her situation.
Finally, Mrs. Levy said something. “We didn’t know. We are so sorry, Mrs. Teller. We hope that your baby gets better quickly,” she spoke sincerely.
“Thank you,” Sarah replied, nodding her head at her. The others echoed the sentiment, and Mrs. Cardigan looked like she had been scolded like never before.
They excused themselves quickly, thanking her for the tea and adding more apologies. And Sarah maintained her kind façade through the entire exchange, hoping they would stop with the complaints and the mocking of her yard.
She peeked at them briefly through the curtains but shrugged, hoping they wouldn’t come back. | Source: Pexels
But she closed the door and peeked at them through her curtains. All three of them had stopped a few yards away and were discussing something intensely. She shrugged and went to check on her son.
A few hours later, she heard a telltale sound of a lawnmower and saw Mr. Sanders trimming her lawn using it. She was about to tell him it was unnecessary, but Mrs. Cardigan and Mrs. Levy joined him with gardening tools.
To her shock, others neighbors showed up, bringing flowers, more tools, and everything to help fix the exterior of the house. Sarah went outside to thank them and offered to pitch in, but they wanted to do it themselves.
“Honey, I was awful to you about my complaints. I’m so sorry. Let us do this for you, to make it up to you,” Mrs. Cardigan insisted as she pushed Sarah back into her house.
Sarah’s eyes watered as she peeked at her neighbors through the window, and Andrew finally woke up to see this new development. She explained everything, and he told her something she would never forget.
The neighbors fixed her garden, and Sarah’s husband said something insightful. | Source: Pexels
“People are intrinsically good and they want to do good. We just have to remind them sometimes,” he said and went to prepare something to eat. Sarah nodded, wiping her tears away.
But their neighbors didn’t focus on just gardening. Soon, Mr. Sanders made some calls and got an interview for Andrew, another big corporation. The job offer consisted of regular hours and a salary similar to what he used to have before he was laid off. Luckily, he got the gig, and everything changed for the family.
What can we learn from this story?
- People are good at heart, but they sometimes have to be reminded of it. As soon as Sarah’s neighbors discovered her situation, they decided to take action and help them.
- Respect your neighbors no matter what. Sarah’s neighbors mocked and complained until they realized how hard Sarah’s family’s life was. But they soon atoned for their actions.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a rich woman who mocked a poor neighbor for being a builder until her house was destroyed.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
Leave a Reply