Unsure or a little nervous about how to clean your crib mattress? Follow along as we share step-by-step instructions for cleaning, deep cleaning, spot cleaning, and deodorizing your baby or toddler’s bed completely naturally and in no time flat.
Most parents describe the feeling of welcoming a new baby as an explosion in their hearts.
The term “explosion” also describes the gigantic, unexpected, and persistent messes these little cuties leave behind in their wake, including in their cribs.
From diaper leaks and spit up to teething drool and sippy cups spilled directly onto the mattress between sheet changes (how the heck?!), crib mattresses can take a beating.
And even if you get lucky and have a tidy little sleeper, their crib mattress should still be cleaned at least once a month to remove dust, prevent dust mite build-up, remove dust-borne toxins, soak up any odor-causing bacteria, keep things dry, and create a healthier sleeping environment.
This is even more essential for parents with organic or non-toxic crib mattresses, like ours, which are intentionally not fitted with toxic vinyl or plastic coverings.
Are you ready to clean that crib? Let’s dive in with this step-by-step guide to cleaning, spot cleaning, and deodorizing your baby’s crib mattress naturally and efficiently.
Read more: From Herbs To Air Purifiers: 7 Natural Remedies To Tame Spring Allergies
How To Clean A Crib Mattress Naturally + Deodorize
There are several different ways to clean a crib mattress naturally, but this is one of the easiest and most practical (Why complicate things when you’re barely sleeping or showering, right?)
Here, we’ll explain a basic method for cleaning your crib mattress that you can use once a month or as needed.
In the next section, we’ll cover how to deep-clean your crib mattress, which is best when you’ve gone months without cleaning it or when you have a lot of soil and buildup.
What You’ll Need to Clean Your Crib Mattress
- A vacuum cleaner with a furniture attachment
- Baking soda or a mixture of mild soap and water
- Natural stain remover for spot cleaning, we like Branch Basics All-Purpose (more on this in the spot-cleaning section)
How To Clean Your Baby’s Crib Mattress
- Remove all bedding and wash, using a gentle, non-toxic laundry detergent.
- If your mattress has a removable cover, remove it at this time and launder.
- Vacuum the entire mattress, doing 2-3 passes over the surface. This step alone removes dust, dust mites, dust mite excrement, and all kinds of other nasties!
- If you don’t have a vacuum, use a well-wrung microfiber cloth to wipe down the bed, trapping dust and particulates.
- Next, spot-treat any stains using a natural stain remover, like Branch Basics All-Purpose, vinegar and water, club soda, Attitude Baby Laundry Stain Remover, or the DIY spot cleaner listed in the “How To Spot Clean A Mattress” section.
- It may not seem like a big deal, but avoid using harsh chemical stain removers as they will leave a residue your baby will inhale and/or absorb through their skin. Many of these products contain toxic poisons that are much more harmful to babies than adults. It’s not worth the risk!
- Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda, let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly. This will remove and absorb dirt, oil, and grime, remove stains, and eliminate odors without harming the mattress.
- You’re done!
Not satisfied with the results? Then a deep cleaning may be in order.
How To Deep Clean A Crib Mattress
If the everyday cleaning method wasn’t enough, this deep cleaning method will do the trick.
You can do this either with a handheld upholstery cleaner and non-toxic, baby-safe detergent or soap, like Branch Basics Concentrate or Dr. Bronner’s Baby, or by hand using a microfiber cloth and bowl.
What you’ll need
- A baby-safe, unscented, natural detergent, like Branch Basics Concentrate or Dr. Bronner’s Baby, is best; again, do not use the typical synthetic chemical detergent you may use on carpets, as it could harm the baby and damage the mattress.
- A handheld upholstery or carpet spot-cleaning machine, or two bowls and a microfiber cloth
- Distilled or purified water is recommended to avoid hard water stains.
How To Deep Clean A Crib Mattress Naturally
- Remove all bedding and wash, using a gentle, non-toxic laundry detergent.
- If your mattress has a removable cover, remove it at this time and launder.
- Vacuum the entire mattress, doing 2-3 passes over the surface.
- Spot-treat any stains using a natural stain remover, like Branch Basics All-Purpose, vinegar and water, club soda, or the DIY spot cleaner listed below.
- If using an upholstery or handheld carpet cleaner, fill with water and the baby-safe detergent, and start gently spraying, scrubbing, and sucking up the filth until the mattress is as dry as possible.
- If using a cloth and bowl, combine 1 part baby-safe detergent, soap, or baby shampoo with 4 parts water, then mix well. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the solution, wring it out, and, working in small sections, gently scrub the mattress clean. Once the entire mattress has been scrubbed, remove the solution by dipping a fresh microfiber cloth into a bowl of clean, warm water and wiping it to remove the solution. Re-dip the cloth and repeat until all the soap is removed.
- Dry the mattress as much as possible using another microfiber or absorbent towel or cloth.
- If the weather is nice, you can also put the mattress out in the sun to dry, which will also help bleach out any stains. If not, let air dry by propping it up in the crib and running a fan or turning up the heat a bit.
- Once completely dry, you have the option to apply baking soda, let sit 15 minutes, and vacuum up for extra deodorizing, or simply remake the bed, and you’re done.
A few things to keep in mind when cleaning your crib mattress:
- With regular cleaning, a deep clean shouldn’t be necessary more than every 4-6 months.
- Although water will not harm latex or wool, harsh detergents will, so use only mild, natural detergents or soap.
- It’s okay for the mattress to get wet, but not soaking wet, so use water and cleaning solution sparingly.
- The mattress must be completely dry before remaking the bed! Although our mattresses are mold-resistant, a damp sleep space is not safe or healthy for babies (or anyone!).
- On that note, remember the mattress will need time to dry, so make sure baby has a backup safe sleeping space, such as a bassinet or a safe-sleep-approved pack-and-play.
- Most upholstery and hand-held carpet cleaners are safe to use with natural detergents and soaps. However, if you’re unsure, check with the manufacturer and make it clear you don’t want to use synthetic chemicals in your crib mattress. They may even recommend vinegar and water as a non-toxic solution.
How To Spot-Clean A Crib Mattress
Urine, blowouts, spit-up, vomit, mystery sippy-cup or food stains, all of these can create stains on mattresses that require quick cleaning.
A small stain can be spot-treated using natural stain removers, including:
- Baking soda: For urine, blood, sweat, oil, poop stains, mildew, and food stains.
- Baking soda + liquid castile soap: Dual-action for all types of stains.
- Vinegar: For sweat stains, oil stains, food stains, mildew, and discoloration.
- Club soda: Lifts a variety of stains, including poop stains, sweat stains, urine, and more.
- Cornstarch: For sweat stains, urine, and oil or grease stains.
- A natural stain remover, like Branch Basics All-Purpose, Attitude Baby Laundry Stain Remover, or Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Remover
- Natural baby powder: Makes fast work of oil or grease stains.
- 3% hydrogen peroxide: A natural bleach alternative helps lift nearly any kind of stain, including set-in stains.
- Sunning: Sun has a natural bleaching effect on fabrics and upholstery. If you can, drag your crib mattress into direct sunlight and let it sit for an hour or more to remove tough or set-in stains, including blowout stains (works great for cloth diapers, too!).
We also love this DIY spot-cleaning solution, featured in: How To Clean A Mattress Naturally.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts hydrogen peroxide
- 1 part natural, fragrance-free dish soap
- 1 part table salt (optional)
Work the solution gently into the fabric of your mattress, and allow it to air dry. Then blot the area dry with a dry white rag and scrape off any residue.
It’s also safe to use a handheld carpet cleaner on your mattress to remove stains. Again, as mentioned previously, do not use synthetic chemical carpet cleaners, as they contain harmful chemicals.
Either try just hot water and steam, or use a non-toxic stain remover, like Branch Basics Concentrate or the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Note: If you sun your mattress, we recommend giving a quick vacuum to remove any pollen before re-making the bed.
Read more: Why EWG Verified Products Matter
How To Disinfect A Crib Mattress
Crib mattresses typically don’t need disinfecting if they’re cleaned regularly.
However, if your baby’s been sick or you feel it needs disinfecting, you have two safe and natural options:
1: Natural Steam
A handheld dry-steam cleaner is an excellent, non-toxic choice for disinfecting and deep-cleaning your crib mattress.
Traditional handheld steam cleaners will work too, just be sure to dry the crib thoroughly after use.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which typically specify a specific time and number of passes for disinfection.
2: 3% Hydrogen Peroxide Spray
Hydrogen peroxide is a safe and natural bleach alternative for cleaning and disinfecting crib mattresses.
In fact, research has shown 3% hydrogen peroxide (in the brown bottle) is more effective at killing germs than some chemical disinfectants, like Quats.
What makes it natural? Its formula, H2O2, is very similar to that of water (H2O), and it breaks down into water and oxygen in our bodies and the environment.
It’s so safe, it’s even approved for use in oral care products, and our own bodies produce it!
To use, spray the mattress directly with hydrogen peroxide (no need to soak; a simple spray-down works), and let it dwell for at least 5-10 minutes for maximum germ-killing.
Wipe with a clean, damp cloth, and let dry.
Sunlight can also help kill germs, thanks to its ultraviolet (UV) light.
We recommend this as a final step as its disinfectant properties depend on where you live, how hot it gets, and how long you leave the mattress outside.
If you do sun your mattress, we recommend giving a quick vacuum to remove any pollen before re-making the bed.
What about rubbing alcohol?
Although rubbing alcohol is an effective and safer disinfectant, we don’t recommend it for crib mattresses because:
- It produces harmful VOCs, which aren’t good for babies or their families
- It can damage the mattress if overused, though occasional use is typically OK
- It’s derived from petroleum products, which we like to avoid
- It evaporates quickly, which may hinder its disinfectant properties
If you would like to use rubbing alcohol, that’s your choice (and it’s safer than chlorine bleach or ammonia-based products), but use it outdoors when the baby is not present and give the mattress a thorough wipe-down.
Tips For Keeping Your Organic Crib Mattress Clean Between Cleanings
Most busy parents want to clean less, so here are some tips to keep your organic crib mattress cleaner between cleanings.
Tip 1: Invest in an organic crib mattress cover
Yes, you can have a crib mattress cover that’s free from plastic, vinyl, flame retardants, forever chemicals, and all the other unsavory toxins that come with typical crib mattress covers!
Our Organic Crib Waterproof Protector is soft, flexible, MADE SAFE® for non-toxicity, and designed to protect your baby and your mattress investment.
This high-quality cover is crafted with two layers of GOTS-certified organic cotton and a super-thin polyurethane waterproof film that effectively blocks liquids while allowing water vapor to pass through for a more breathable sleep.
Plus, it’s easy to wash. Just toss it directly into the washer and dryer with your sheets and favorite non-toxic, baby-safe detergent.
So simple and so effective for preventing mattress stains and build-up.
Get yours here (and yes, we offer mattress and pillow protectors for grownups, kids, & toddlers too!).
Tip 2: Vacuum regularly
Regular vacuuming is one of the best ways to keep your mattress clean and extend its lifespan.
Just a few quick passes of the vacuum once a month or so will help remove dust, dust mites, dust mite excrement, and all the icky chemicals that cling to dust.
Tip 3: Do regular sheet changes
Stains, especially urine, sweat, and drool stains, can hide under sheets, quietly soiling and staining your crib mattress.
Regular sheet changes will help prevent this while creating a healthier sleep environment for babies.
Shop Avocado organic crib sheet sets here.
Tip 4: Address stains quickly
If you see a stain on the sheets, it’s likely soaked into the mattress.
This doesn’t mean you have to clean the entire thing, but spot-treating stains as quickly as possible will help reduce the need for deep cleanings.
See the previous section on spot cleaning for how-tos and recommendations for natural stain removers.
Tip 5: Avoid eating & drinking in bed
This may go without saying, but as children get older, they may want to bring snacks, bottles, sippy cups, and dirty trucks into their cribs.
Do your best to teach them that cribs are for sleeping, not eating or drinking. And when they inevitably do spill things in their cribs, clean them up fast.
Tip 6: Air out the crib often
Airing out cribs and beds was once standard practice. However, many of us have forgotten this simple technique.
Airing simply means letting the mattress sit, without sheets or protectors, for a while. You can bring it outside for the sun’s benefits, but even indoor airing works great to reduce moisture build-up, remove odors, and freshen.
Organic Crib Mattress Cleaning FAQs
Cleaning your crib mattress can be intimidating, especially for first-timers. Let’s calm some nerves by answering some FAQs.
Q: How do I know my crib mattress needs cleaning?
A: Some signs it’s time for a clean include:
- Any odors coming from the bed
- Visible stains
- Several nights of bed wetting
- After sickness
- A musty smell (though this shouldn’t happen with non-toxic mold- and mildew-resistant latex and wool mattresses)
- Visible dirt build-up on the mattress surface
- Any color changes to the mattress
Q: Will water harm my Avocado Green crib mattress?
A: Water won’t harm latex or wool, but harsh detergents will! The water recommended in these how-tos won’t harm your mattress and is necessary for deep cleaning and spot-cleaning.
The only harm would come from over-soaking your mattress and not drying it thoroughly. So avoid that, and you’ll be safe!
Q: How do I dry my mattress after cleaning?
A: Let the mattress air dry in an area with plenty of ventilation and air flow for best results. If the weather’s nice, you can bring it outside and let the sun speed up the process.
Running a fan or box fan directed at the mattress will also help speed up the drying process, and a blow dryer can even be used on small spot-cleaned surfaces.
Q: How long will it take my crib mattress to dry?
A: That depends on how wet it got during the cleaning process and if you use anything (like the sun, heat, or a fat) to speed up the drying.
Typically, a mattress cleaned with minimal water will dry in 2-3 hours.
Q: How do I deodorize my crib mattress?
A: The basic cleaning method with baking soda works great for deodorizing.
You can also try airing it out, sunning it, using steam, or even spraying it with cheap vodka (outdoors and away from your baby) and letting it evaporate to eliminate odors naturally.
Q: How often should I clean my crib mattress?
A: For babies (who sleep a lot), we recommend a basic clean once a month and a deep clean every 4-6 months, or more as-needed.
Q: What non-toxic crib mattress protector do you recommend?
Our very own Organic Crib Waterproof Protector is one of the safest, most breathable, and non-toxic options available.
Q: What mistakes should I avoid when cleaning my crib mattress?
Some of the biggest mistakes to avoid are:
- Not vacuuming before cleaning.
- Using harsh detergents or stain removers, which can damage your mattress and are harmful to the baby.
- Over-saturating the mattress during cleaning results in a much longer dry time.
- Not thoroughly drying the mattress, it needs to be bone-dry before being remade.
Looking For The Best Organic Crib Mattress For Your Baby?
In 2016, Avocado Green began disrupting the mattress industry by making the safest, most sustainable organic non-toxic adult, child, and crib mattresses available.
Our organic crib mattress collection has something for everyone, and includes:
- Organic Crib Mattress: The original organic crib mattress is made from certified organic cotton, wool, and latex. EWG Verified®, MADE SAFE® certified, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, quality tested by Good Housekeeping, and tested for PFAS chemicals.
- Eco Organic Crib Mattress: Our most affordable option is made from certified organic cotton, wool, and coconut fiber over a core of 242 individually wrapped innerspring coils made from upcycled steel. Free from polyurethane foams, vinyl, flame retardants, PFAS, and waterproofing chemicals. EWG Verified®, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, and MADE SAFE® certified.
- Luxury Organic Crib Mattress: Our top-of-the-line crib mattress is made only of the finest organic materials and certified components available: cotton-wrapped innersprings encased in unbleached cotton, which are top-and-bottom tied and nested and hand-sewn without glues, plus certified organic wool; organic certified hemp pads; resilient organic certified latex foam; and the finest quality, organic certified cotton ticking. GREENGUARD Gold Certified, EWG Verified®, and MADE SAFE® certified.
Avocado’s dual-sided design (optional on the Eco Organic Crib Mattress) allows the mattress to grow with your child, transforming from a crib mattress to a toddler mattress as they grow, making it an excellent value.
Every crib mattress is covered by a 25-year limited warranty and made in the U.S.A. at our GOTS-certified Los Angeles factory with sustainably sourced materials, honoring our industry-first farm-to-mattress model.
Shop our entire Baby and Kids collection here.
Read more: Is Your Mattress Causing Your Back Pain? Here’s How to Tell
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