Do you know how to get cigarette smell out of a mattress? Removing cigarette smells from a mattress can be challenging. Strong scents can linger on the surface of a mattress, stick to the fibers deep within the mattress, and require a deep clean to remove. It can be more challenging to clean a mattress than some other household items, but luckily most of the cleaning methods for mattresses are fairly simple and require ingredients you already have in your home.
The first step to determining how to rid the mattress of the smell is to determine how long the mattress has been exposed to the smell and how deeply the smell lies within the mattress. We’ll go over multiple cleaning methods to help with all scent strengths, but keep in mind that multiple steps may be required if the scent is deeply permeated within the mattress. We also want to note that Naturally Nestled products cannot be machine washed, so follow the steps closely.
Now, let’s get started on some of the most popular cleaning methods for removing a cigarette smell from your mattress.
Baking Soda
Using baking soda to neutralize the scent is one of the most popular ways to get cigarette smell out of a mattress. You can do this by sprinkling baking soda over the spots that need cleaning on your bare mattress, leaving it on for several hours, and then vacuuming the baking soda off the mattress.
Baking soda also works as a stain remover, so you can use this cleaning method to both deodorize your mattress and clean stains off of it.
White Vinegar
If the baking soda doesn’t rid the mattress of all the cigarette smell, you can also try adding a vinegar mixture to the mattress. You’ll start this cleaning process by combining one cup of water and one cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle (you can use more if needed but keep the 1:1 ratio of water and white vinegar).
Once you have the white vinegar mixture ready, you can spray it on the bare mattress. White vinegar is a natural cleaner that can kill any bacteria causing the smell or deodorize scents present deep within the mattress. Wait around 20-30 minutes for the vinegar to evaporate and eradicate the scent to see if the smell is still present or if the mattress needs another spray.
You can also vacuum the mattress again once the vinegar has evaporated to suck up any particles that may have risen to the surface of the mattress.
(Pro tip: Add lemon juice to your mixture for a natural, clean scent!)
Essential Oils
Essential oils can help mask scents or neutralize strong smells within your mattress. They are especially useful after cleaning with white vinegar to help tone down the strong scent of white vinegar. To use essential oils, combine one tablespoon of your chosen essential oil and one cup of water in a spray bottle and mist the scent over the mattress. This will help give your mattress a clean and light essential oil scent while also leaving a pleasant smell throughout your room.
Steam Clean
Steam cleaning your mattress can also help bring strong scents to the surface of your mattress and remove them, but make sure your mattress type can safely be steam cleaned. Many memory foam mattresses will do better with the baking soda or white vinegar routes and can potentially be damaged if steam cleaned.
For the best steam cleaning and smell removal, we recommend pretreating your mattress with the baking soda method mentioned above before steam cleaning it. Once your mattress is dry, run a steamer over it to lightly dampen the surface (make sure it isn’t soaked through, as this could cause potential mildew) and allow four hours of drying time before replacing the bedding.
Invest in a Good Mattress Protector
Now you know how to get cigarette smell out of a mattress! The listed cleaning methods will help you deodorize your mattress and remove strong smells like cigarette smoke, but it’s also important to invest in a good mattress protector. A well-made mattress protector will keep stains and scents from settling as strongly into the mattress itself and protect the mattress from future damage.
Mattresses also need to be replaced every six to eight years. If it’s time for you to replace your mattress, try Naturally Nestled.
Our mattresses have natural antibacterial properties that can help prevent scents from lingering, and organic compounds that will keep you safe from harsh chemicals. Starting with a new mattress and a well-made mattress protector will help keep your mattress clean and free of stains or lingering scents in the future.
Check out our website to see what options we have and to learn more about natural, clean mattresses here at Naturally Nestled.
