Like most things, your air mattress needs cleaning from time to time. Most of the time they are set up on the floor so it is easy for them to get dirty. Here is the best way to clean your air mattress in 30 minutes or less.
The best way to clean your air mattress is to use a vacuum to remove any loose dirt, then remove any stains with rubbing alcohol and rag. This process takes less than 30 minutes and is easy to do.
Maintenance Cleaning
We recommend performing shorter maintenance cleans every time you use your mattress. With either a broom or vacuum, clean the surface of your mattress. Especially if the air mattress was outside or you took it camping, take some time to clean it off after using it. This will extend the life of your air mattress and reduce the frequency of deep cleans down the road.
If you use a wet rag to wipe down the mattress, be sure to let the air mattress dry before storing. This will reduce the likelihood of mold or mildew growing.
How to Clean Your Air Mattress
Step 1: Unplug your air mattress from the wall.
If your air mattress has a built in pump like many do today, make sure to first unplug the air mattress entirely. It is best practice to not mix water and electricity so it is better to avoid this all together and unplug the air mattress. When cleaning around the pump area be extra careful to not allow any liquid near the pump, otherwise it may not function properly down the road.
If your model does not have an electric pump, you can move to the next step.
Step 2: Prepare the air mattress for cleaning.
If you have any sheets or bedding on the air mattress, strip the air mattress down and remove all sheets or other coverings. While you are cleaning the air mattress, we recommend putting the sheets in the washer so that they will be fresh when you put them back on. In general, we like to wash our sheets at least every two weeks.
If your air mattress is not set up prior to cleaning, be sure to inflate the mattress fully. This will make it easy to clean every nook and cranny efficiently. If you don’t inflate the mattress you will be fighting wrinkles on the surface the entire time and it will make the entire process much harder.
Step 3: Vacuum or brush your air mattress
Depending on how dirty your mattress is, you can either vacuum or brush your air mattress down to remove any loose dirt. You could also use a broom and achieve the same effect.
If you are using a vacuum, we highly recommend using a bristle brush attachment to avoid nicks or scratches from the vacuum. Sometimes, the hard plastic attachments on vacuums can scrape the surface of your air mattress.
Step 4: Wipe down your air mattress
Examine your air mattress after the vacuum process and note any remaining dirt or stains. Grab a spare rag and wet the rag with rubbing alcohol, which is an effective cleaner for stubborn stains.
Start gently scrubbing the dirty areas. Sometimes it will require a few passes, so once your rag looks dirty, rinse the rag and start the process again with more rubbing alcohol. After a few passes your air mattress should be looking drastically better.
When using water or liquid on your air mattress, take extra care to make sure no water goes inside the air mattress itself. This will cause your air mattress to mold or grow mildew inside which can lead to undesired and gross smells.
Step 5: Dry your air mattress
Before packing up, be sure to let your air mattress dry fully. This ensures there will be no mold or mildew growth while your air mattress is stored away. Many times air mattresses are used infrequently so in order to extend their life it is important they are stored properly.
Still Dirty?
If your mattress is still dirty after this process, it might be time to buy a new one. Air mattresses only work for so long and after a while they do need to be replaced. We like this model right here, especially the self inflating feature.
Air Mattress FAQ
What can I spray on my air mattress to clean it?
We recommend rubbing alcohol or a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. Both liquids are safe to use on your air mattress.
How can I remove mildew from my air mattress?
To remove mildew we recommend using rubbing alcohol. Spray the contaminated area, wait 5 minutes for the alcohol to kill the mildew, then scrub gently to remove any stains.
Can I use baking soda to clean my air mattress?
If your air mattress is having odor problems, baking soda does a great job removing odor. We recommend lightly covering the air mattress with baking soda and letting the baking soda sit for 24 hours.
Afterwards you can wash the air mattress down and remove the baking soda. This is best done outside and you may need a hose.