Rejuvenate your mattresses and pillows using simple DIY methods

The constant use of mattresses and pillows causes them to attract and accumulate dirt every night they are used: our skin cells, sweat, saliva and any urine or blood stains are all factors that compromise the hygiene of the surfaces with which we remain in contact with every night for lengthy periods. Thus, it is necessary to remember to periodically clean and sanitize our mattresses as well as the pillows, trying to act as soon as possible to treat any stains and sanitize them as thoroughly as possible.

There are several tip to try to clean and rejuvenate our mattresses and pillows using products that we usually have at home or that are easily available. Find out more by reading the information provided below:

Creativo

For pillows, you will need:

• 3 liters of water
• 250 ml of hydrogen peroxide
• 200 grams of liquid soap (dish washing detergent, Marseille, Castile or yellow potassium soap are all acceptable)
• 200 grams of mild dish soap
• the juice of 5 lemons
• 125 grams of borax

How to proceed: there are two ways to use these products on pillows, and we show these below. First, however, it is worth remembering that with regard to temperatures and washing methods, we must consult the manufacturers' instructions. Each pillow type is made with different materials that must be treated differently. Those with feathers require delicate washing (on a wool cycle, or by hand), with temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees C (105 - 140 degrees F). Those of polyester must be hand washed at a maximum of 40 °C. Those of microfibre, on the other hand, cannot be washed with vinegar, but temperatures can reach up to 60 °C if necessary. Finally, those in latex or memory foam are best washed by hand, pouring the diluted product into a spray bottle to be sprayed and dabbed on with a damp cloth until the stains disappear.

• Using the washing machine: put the borax and the two soaps into the detergent dispenser, choose a washing program suitable for the cushions (often there is a dedicated cycle for this), and if the washing machine is a top-loader, fill it first with hot water and then fold in the pillows. Then pour in the hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice. If the appliance is front-loading, you will need to insert the cushions immediately.

• By hand: fill a large basin (or the sink, or the bathroom tub) with hot water and then pour in the various ingredients, mixing them up well. Soak the pillows for a couple of hours in this solution and then rinse them while gently squeezing to release excess water.

For the mattresses: as an alternative, you can use 250 ml of hydrogen peroxide (this works best on blood stains) or the same amount of white vinegar.

The method is very simple: pour the liquid into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the stains, dabbing them with an old white towel or microfiber cloth until you remove the stains. With the recently made stains, this is easy to do.

If the stains are a little more stubborn or are old stains, use hydrogen peroxide and by adding 1 tablespoon of dish washing detergent and 1 tablespoon of salt, mix to create a paste and spread it on the stain with an old toothbrush or brush. Leave the paste on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing off by dabbing the stains with a damp towel or cloth.

Always let pillows and mattresses dry completely before using them again.