First aid
- Remove the bedding and cover Wash a removable cover only as its label says.
- Blot Use towels or paper to blot the liquid gently, without rubbing.
- Dampen only the stain Lightly dampen only the stained spot, not the whole mattress. Emma and IKEA both warn of the risk of excess moisture. Cool water, never hot.
- Leave it to dry Do not put bedding on while the spot is damp, and air the room.
Sources: TEMPUR UK, Emma, IKEA, Virginia Cooperative Extension. Checked 07.11.2026.
Stains by type
| Stain | First step | What may stay |
|---|---|---|
| Blood | Cold water, never hot: blood stain on a mattress | A shadow set by heat |
| Urine | Soak up with towels: urine smell in a mattress | A smell from the core |
| Coffee, tea, wine | Blot, cool water, do not soak | Traces of colour |
| Yellow patches, unknown stain | No experiments, send a photo | Often partly stays |
With yellow patches on an old mattress the cause often cannot be determined from a picture, so the outcome cannot be promised either. First tell us how old the mattress is and what has happened to it. Dark spots are a different matter, and they may be mould: mould in a mattress.
Sources: University of Georgia Extension (blood, wine, coffee), Emma. Checked 07.11.2026.
The filling decides how much moisture it can take
| Filling | What to bear in mind |
|---|---|
| Foam | Too much water can damage the structure or leave moisture in the core |
| Springs | Moisture can cause rust, as little liquid as possible |
| Latex, cold foam | Dry vacuuming and a damp cloth, no strong substances |
| Coconut fibre | Sensitive to moisture, do not place on a floor where moisture builds up |
| TEMPUR | The manufacturer writes that the material cannot be washed, sponge-cleaned or dry-cleaned |
We have not checked the rules for Dormeo and other brands, so follow your own manufacturer's instructions. Before you bring in a specialist, look at the manufacturer's care instructions: that is where it says what is allowed. If the mattress is orthopaedic, the label matters even more.
Sources: IKEA, TEMPUR UK, Kurlon. Checked 07.11.2026.
What to write on the form
- The type and size of the mattress, if you know them.
- How old the mattress is.
- What the stain is and how old.
- Whether the stain is on one side or both.
- What has already been tried.
Attach photos of the stain and the label. They help a specialist give you a price and say whether it is worth cleaning both sides.
What not to do
- Do not pour or spray a lot of liquid on the mattress.
- Do not rub.
- Do not use hot water, a hairdryer, a heater or an iron.
- Do not use chlorine bleach or strong substances: they change the colour and can make latex brittle.
- Do not put a damp coconut fibre mattress on the floor: moisture can build up there.
Home remedies vary from source to source, so we do not copy them. Keeping the core dry matters more than any remedy. Even if a remedy helps on the surface, excess moisture may stay inside.
What may stay and when a mattress needs replacing
Usually comes out
- A fresh stain on the top layer
- Light marks from everyday use
- The cover, if the label allows washing
May stay
- An old yellow shadow
- A stain or smell that has reached the core
- Dark mould spots
- A stain set by heat
If there is mould in the mattress, or the smell does not go even after cleaning, the mattress needs replacing. NC State Extension writes that if the smell does not go after treatment, the mattress should be thrown away, because mould comes back if the inside is not completely dry. That refers to floods, but the logic is the same.
Source: NC State Extension (floods). Checked 07.11.2026.
When to order cleaning
It is worthwhile if the mattress is in good condition, the stains are on the surface and the manufacturer does not forbid such care. We clean at your home, and a specialist will tell you from a photo what to expect. Start with the mattress cleaning page; where to clean a mattress in Riga is useful too.
Single mattress from €30, double from €45 (one side), second side +50%. The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside Riga; further out it is from €10.
Sources
- Towels; TEMPUR cannot be washed, sponge-cleaned or dry-cleaned; covers as the label says checked 7 November 2026
- Too much liquid; dampen only the spot; blot, do not rub checked 7 November 2026
- Foam, springs, latex, dry vacuuming checked 7 November 2026
- Cool water, never hot checked 7 November 2026
- Blood checked 7 November 2026
- Wine checked 7 November 2026
- Coffee checked 7 November 2026
- Chlorine and strong substances checked 7 November 2026
- Coconut fibre and moisture checked 7 November 2026
- If the smell does not go, throw the mattress away; moisture and mould checked 7 November 2026