Forget baking soda — this is the ultimate mattress cleaning toolkit to keep bed bugs and mites out of your mattress

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Everything you need for a clean, fragrant, bed bug and dust mite-free mattress, starting from just $7

This image shows a mattress decorated in white linens in a calm, brightly lit blue room. On the bed is the FEPPO mattress vacuum while on the nightstand next to the bed is a bottle of DealMed Hydrogen Peroxide and a bottle of Cliganic Lavender Oil, plus a box of Ortho Bed Bug traps. In front of the bed is a Phueut steam cleaner and a bag of Harris Diatomaceous Earth
(Image credit: FEPPO / Harris / PHUEUT / Cliganic / DealMed / Ortho / Edited by Gemini)

It's time to spring clean and as you sift through forgotten drawers and dust the long-neglected space under the cabinets, don't forget to show your mattress some TLC. Spring cleaning coincides with the start of bed bug and dust mite season, and care now can prevent a pest problem later in the year.

A mattress protector or encasement is a key tool in your bed cleaning kit, and a must if you're investing in the best mattress for your sleep style. Not only do these bedding essentials protect against stains but they can also help keep dust mites from making a home in your bed.

Below I've rounded up the cleaning essentials to protect your mattress against bed bugs, dust mites, stains and odors, starting from just $7 — plus some advice on how to keep your mattress clean all year round.

Mattress cleaning basics — and your dust mite must-haves

If there's one thing every bed needs to stay clean and dust mite free, it's a mattress protector — we think the Coop Sleep Goods Ultra Tech is the best mattress protector you can buy. And don't forget to protect your pillows as well, to keep dust mites from nestling near your face.

You should also be regularly vacuuming your mattress, and a handheld cleaner helps you reach all the nooks and crannies. We tested and loved the FEPPO but be warned; you might be shocked at just how dirty your mattress is.

Banish stains and smells

We've been speaking to the cleaning experts and one thing is clear — you need hydrogen peroxide in your mattress care kit.

A steam cleaner is useful for tackling set-in stains, while dish soap is a good DIY solutions (and if it's not already in your cupboard, you can find soap on Amazon from $3.50.)

Finish with a spritz of lavender oil; the smell is both good for your sleep and might keep bed bugs away.

Prevent and eliminate bed bugs

Bed bugs are nefarious, secretive critters and they can ruin both your mattress and your sleep. They often hitch a ride in suitcases so make sure to check out our tips to avoid bringing bed bugs home from vacation.

Otherwise, a mattress encasement protects every surface of your mattress, while bed bug traps help you spot an infestation and diatomaceous earth helps you eliminate it.

Ruth Jones
Ruth Jones
Senior Sleep staff Writer

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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