Short answer
Inspect it first: check the cover for tears, stains and odor, look at the seams, and read the label for the manufacturer and care instructions. The EPA advises checking secondhand beds for signs of bed bugs before bringing them home. Then wash what the label allows and book a professional clean for stains, odor and the surface you can't wash.
Book your mattress cleaning
Regular price $249, Fall 2026 promotion price $199first mattress, any size · Fall 2026 promotion
HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment for organic odor, dry vapor steam and UV-C. We recommend cleaning twice a year.
Hand-me-down crib mattresses are common, from an older sibling's crib to a friend's attic.
Inspect before it comes inside
- The cover: tears, cracks in vinyl, stains and odor.
- The seams and edges, where dust and debris collect.
- The label: manufacturer, model and care instructions.
- Signs of pests. The EPA says to "check secondhand furniture, beds and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation before bringing them home" (EPA).
- Storage history. A mattress kept in a damp basement or garage may smell musty (cleaning a mattress after storage).
Reset it
- Wash any removable cover as the label directs.
- Vacuum it thoroughly, seams included.
- Book a professional clean: HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment for old stains and odor, dry vapor steam and UV-C, with underside treatment for the side you can't see.
For adult mattresses with a history, see how to clean a used mattress and can a used mattress be sanitized?.
Where to read next
A whole-house reset for the kids' beds
This section is our view. Kids' beds see the most spills, accidents and late-night messes in the house, so we clean them together in one visit. Every Sleep Sanitation visit starts with an inspection, then HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment on organic stains and odor, low-moisture dry vapor steam from our Italian-made Vapor Clean machines, UV-C light treatment and a moisture check before we leave. Normal accidents, stains and pet odor are included. The first mattress is $199 Fall 2026 special (regularly $249), any size, and each additional kids' bed in the same visit is $149. Underside treatment is +$50–$75. We recommend cleaning every mattress twice a year. Take the 60-second mattress quiz or schedule your cleaning. Call or text (402) 512-5658, or email info@sleepsanitation.com.
Changelog
- 24 October 2026: First published. Sources accessed on this date.
Sources
Last reviewed October 24, 2026. Manufacturer specifications and care instructions change; check the current version for your exact model. This page is general information, not medical advice. How we source and check pages: editorial standards.