Does TikTok’s Mattress-Cleaning Hack Work? Sure, but It Could Ruin Your Vacuum

Baking soda is a tried-and-true favorite when it comes to cleaning hacks, but you should probably keep it away from your bed.

This year’s infamous “Sunday Reset” trend has become a pillar of the #cleantok community. Along with doing the dishes and swapping out sheets, creators have made it part of their pre-week routine to post a video of how they do their cleaning reset.

Everyone sharing their own routines has inspired plenty of hacks—the most popular of which is bit of a mystery. If you find your feed filled with aesthetic cleaning videos, you might have wondered why influencers are sprinkling entire boxes of baking soda over their mattresses.

Related: Are You A Closing or Opening Shift Cleaner? Here’s What TikTok Says

Since you can’t exactly throw your entire mattress in the washer along with your sheets, deep-cleaners turn to other methods to leave their mattresses looking (and smelling) brand new. The idea behind using baking soda is that it cleans and deodorizes it with little to no effort.

Plus, for anyone worried about their mattress developing mold over time (yes, it’s a thing!), baking soda soaks up moisture, keeping it from becoming moldy.

Why You Should Avoid Using Baking Soda on Your Mattress

So, where’s the issue? Well, you can’t exactly leave several cups of baking soda sprinkled all over your mattress—you do have to sleep on it, after all. So the most common tactic, after letting it sit for an hour or so, is to vacuum it up.

This may sound like a simple solution, but it can do real damage—not to your mattress, but your vacuum. The particles of baking soda are so small, they can get caught in the components, causing it to clog. Whether you have a brand-new vacuum or not, trying this hack could cause problems like less suction power, a clogged filter, or even your entire vacuum to break down.

We do recommend using a mixture of baking soda and cornstarch to clean your mattress and remove odors, but moderation is key here: Our guide suggests shaking the powdery mixture over your mattress, avoiding piles of baking soda and cornstarch. What you don’t want to do is dump entire boxes of baking soda on your mattress to the extent that mounds of the powder build up. That amount of baking soda can pose a real challenge for your vacuum.

Related: 10 Things You Should Never Clean with Baking Soda

The vacuum issue is the main reason why you might not see pros recommending baking soda first when it comes to surface cleaning. Even though this hack has resurfaced on social media, anyone who wants to keep their vacuum working for as long as possible should avoid overusing baking soda and vacuuming it up. While it may not immediately cause a breakdown, over time your vacuum will become less functional.

Fortunately, there are several alternatives to the baking powder hack that you can use instead: Using a washable mattress protector prevents stains, smells, and dirt from permeating any part of your mattress. This tactic can also help to prevent your mattress from being exposed to humidity or moisture, which ensures your bed remains mold-free.

To remove dust and dirt, you can also vacuum your mattress regularly—without involving baking soda. This is just as effective at removing any small particles that have made their way from your sheets to your mattress.

Related: The 10 Best Vacuums of 2024, According To Our Testing

You can treat stains, spots, and dirt by spot cleaning with soap or fabric cleaner. Using a cleaning spray (or just white vinegar) over your entire mattress effectively helps you treat or prevent any bad smells, too. Just make sure you allow your mattress to dry completely before putting your sheets back on.

If you live in a humid environment and are worried about mold, invest in a dehumidifier and open your windows regularly. Also, don’t forget to flip and turn your mattress regularly. Not sleeping in the same spot can help it last longer—plus, you’ll give both sides a frequent break from mold-inducing moisture. Flipping your mattress about every six months is recommended.

If you’re truly desperate to use baking soda on your mattress, you can either mix it with water to use as a spot treatment or remove the powder yourself, without a vacuum—such as by brushing it off outdoors. We have to admit that we probably wouldn’t recommend the latter method—it kind of defeats the no-effort, time-saving purpose of the original hack.

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