Short answer
Take the mattress off, vacuum the slats, rails and corners with a HEPA vacuum, wipe hard surfaces with a damp cloth and let them dry completely before the mattress goes back. Check for any spots or musty smell. The best time to do it is when your mattress is being cleaned, so the bed and what's under it are fresh together.
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.
The space between the mattress and the floor is the least-cleaned part of most bedrooms.
A simple routine
- Strip and lift. Take off bedding, then the mattress, and set it on its side.
- HEPA-vacuum the slats, rails, center support, corners and the floor under the bed.
- Wipe hard surfaces with a lightly damp cloth and mild cleaner.
- Dry completely. The EPA advises that you "scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely" (EPA). Don't put the mattress back on damp wood.
- Check the wood for spots or a musty smell, which point to moisture under the bed (damp undersides).
Upholstered frames and headboards
Fabric frames collect dust and skin flakes like a mattress does. We can treat upholstered headboards and rails with HEPA vacuuming and dry vapor steam during the same visit.
Do it on cleaning day
When we clean the mattress, the bed is already stripped and lifted. That's the easiest time to clean the frame, and the time to add underside treatment so every surface is clean at once. Box spring? See should you clean a box spring?.
How we clean what you can't see
This section is our view. Every Sleep Sanitation visit starts with a nose-and-eyes inspection to find where the odor actually lives, then HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment on organic odor, low-moisture dry vapor steam from our Italian-made Vapor Clean machines, UV-C light treatment and a moisture check before we leave. Underside treatment, for the side that faces the floor or frame, is +$50–$75 per mattress. The first mattress is $199 Fall 2026 special (regularly $249), any size. We recommend cleaning every mattress twice a year so odor never gets a head start. Not sure what your bed needs? 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.