Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Bed

Catch better sleep with a clean bed.

There are many components to your bed – from the box spring to the headboard – and each one gets dirty. Keep your sleeping and relaxing haven fresh by learning how to clean a bed.

How to Clean a Headboard and Bed Frame
Upholstered
Wood
Metal
Rattan
Leather
How to Clean a Box Spring
How to Clean a Mattress

How to Clean a Headboard and Bed Frame

Most headboards and bed frames are made from the same few materials: upholstery, wood, metal, and rattan. The first step to cleaning these materials is to get rid of dust. With the hose attachment, vacuum your headboard or bed frame. To get rid of spots and stains, follow the directions below.

Upholstered

What You Will Need
Bucket
Mild, liquid laundry detergent
3 cloths
Baking soda

Fill a bucket with water and a few drops of mild, liquid laundry detergent. Dip a cloth into the mixture, wring it out, and blot the stain. Dampen a second cloth with just water and blot the stain to rinse the soap off. Then with a dry cloth, blot the stain to soak up excess moisture. Let it air-dry.

If your upholstery is emitting an odor, pour baking soda onto a dry cloth and pat it into the upholstery. Let it sit for a few hours then vacuum it up. It's best to do this right before you strip your sheets, as the baking soda will fall onto your bed.

Wood

What You Will Need
Bucket
White vinegar
2 cloths

In a bucket, mix equal parts hot water and white vinegar. Take a cloth and dip it in the mixture. Wring it out so it is damp, as excess moisture will ruin the wood. Lightly rub the stain to remove it. Then with another dry cloth, rub it over the spot to remove excess moisture.

Metal

Since metal can be made from stainless steel, chrome, aluminum, copper, brass, iron, and more, it is best to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Below are general tips for cleaning different metals.

Stainless Steel, Chrome, and Aluminum

What You Will Need
Metal cleaner
3 cloths

With a damp cloth, wipe down the surface. Apply a store-bought cleaner meant for that specific metal, and follow the label's instructions. Make sure to always go with the grain when working with stainless steel. With another damp cloth, wipe off the excess cleaning product, and buff with a new dry cloth.

Copper and Brass

What You Will Need
Ketchup or lemon and salt
3 cloths

While commercial cleaners work well, there are some at-home solutions that work just as well. Place a small dab of ketchup on a clean cloth and wipe it over the stain. You can also cut a lemon in half, sprinkle salt over the pulp side, and use that to scrub the stain. With a clean damp cloth, rinse the ketchup or lemon and salt off. Wipe the area dry with another cloth.

Iron

What You Will Need
Bucket
Liquid dish soap
3 cloths
Steel wire brush
Vinegar
Sandpaper

In a bucket, mix warm water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Dip a dry cloth into the mixture, wring it out, and wash off the dirt and dust. Take a second damp cloth and rinse off the soap. With a third dry cloth, wipe off any excess moisture.

If your iron has rust spots on it, brush the area with a steel wire brush to get rid of loose flakes. Pour some vinegar directly onto the rust spot. Let it sit for ten minutes. With the steel wire brush, scrub the rust again. Rinse off the area with a damp cloth. You can continue this process until the rust is gone. You can also use sandpaper to get any really tough rust spots out. When you are done, dry the area.

Rattan

What You Will Need
Bucket
Liquid dish soap
Hair dryer
Cloth

Fill a bucket with water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Then stir it to make bubbles. Since rattan can be damaged from moisture and water, it's best to dip a cloth into the bubbles only, not the water. Then lightly blot the stain. Dry it with a hair dryer to ensure mold and mildew doesn't form.

Leather

What You Will Need
Bucket
Baking soda
Vacuum
Leather soap
4 cloths

We recommend reading the manufacturer's directions regarding the best way to spot-treat a stain. Certain types of leather require specific cleaners. Generally, you can pour baking soda on a cloth and pat it into the stain. Let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming it up. Then mix a mild leather soap into a bucket with the label's recommended amount of water. Dip a cloth into the mixture, wring it out, and lightly dab the stain. Dampen another cloth with water and rinse the soap off. With a dry cloth, remove excess moisture and let the area air-dry.

How to Clean a Box Spring

What You Will Need
Vacuum
Bucket
Liquid dish soap
Cloth

Remove the mattress and vacuum the top and sides of the box spring with the hose attachment. Lift the box spring up, push it against the wall, and vacuum the other side. Tilt it back down so it is resting on the frame. Fill a bucket with water and a few drops of mild, liquid dish soap. Dip a cloth into the mixture, wring it out, and gently blot stains to remove them. Let the spot dry completely before putting your mattress back on it.