Do you have any idea that your mattress can become the best place for the fungi and bacteria to grow in numbers and thrive for a long time?
Check Out This -> Mattress Buying Guide
If not, we think it’s time to know what will happen if microorganisms grow and breed between the layers. Such mattresses are mainly classified as mouldy mattresses, and they are not at all good for the health. So, before you reach any conclusion, let’s look at what mould is and how you can prevent it.
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What is mould in a mattress?
Suppose your mattress is subjected to high humidity and germs, especially bacteria. In that case, the inner layers will form the best place where the microorganisms can breed and grow through anaerobic respiration and asexual reproduction. That’s why moulds can multiply in an amount in just a couple of days.
Signs of Moulds On Your Mattress
- Odours: The most common sign of the growth of moulds on your mattress is the odour. Since moulds will release toxic gases, you will get a pungent and very strong odour that will instantly make you vomit.
- Health Complications: Another major sign that you should look out for to detect any mould growth is deterioration in health. For example, suppose you are developing sudden allergies or having problems in breathing. In that case, your mattress is most likely the breeding ground of moulds.
- Looks fluffy: Suppose somehow the mattress is looking fluffy in certain areas. In that case, it means that the mould is releasing carbon dioxide due to the absence of air. As a result, the gas is causing the internal layers to bulge in the upward direction.
Reasons for Mould Growth
- Night Sweats: If you sweat profusely during the night, the water, along with salts and other components, will get absorbed by your skin. Hence, moulds will be able to grow much faster in between the top layers.
- High humidity: If the humidity inside the room is high, the moisture concentration and heat will also increase. Hence, your mattress will become the best ground for the moulds to grow.
- The open-cell structure of the foam: If you have bought a mattress where the foam layer has an open-cell structure, the moulds can easily grow. Such foams have numerous air pockets that trap germs, heat, and moisture, thereby helping the moulds grow.
- Keeping mattresses directly on the floor: When placing your mattress on the floor, you are blocking any air channel that would control the air circulation on the underside. Hence, moulds can grow easily due to a lack of fresh air, moisture, and an abundant heat supply.
- Putting damp towels and clothes on the mattress: If you have a mouldy mattress, the growth is probably due to your habit of keeping the wet towels and clothes on the bed for a long time. As the internal layers absorb the moisture, moulds start to grow after some days.
- Eating on the bed: When eating on the bed, there are high chances of water or any other liquid spills. As soon as the liquid gets spilt, the mattress will absorb at least some of the matter, if not all. Hence, it will create the perfect breeding ground for moulds.
How To Prevent Moulds growth in Mattress
- Use Air Purifier– Suppose you are using an air purifier in the room. In that case, it will help you prevent mould growth by removing microorganisms and other chemicals from the air.
- Keep good airflow on the underside of the mattress– Rather than using a bed with a flat and completely covered surface, you should go with a design where wooden rods are placed as the support. This will help maintain the airflow within the mattress from the underside region, thereby preventing the airflow.
- Sun dry The Mattress Regularly– Another major thing that you can do to prevent the mould’s growth in the mattress is sun-drying it regularly. The UV radiations will remove the moisture trapped in between the layers.
- Use waterproof Mattress Cover– Suppose you have babies or have a habit of eating on the bed. In that case, you should use a waterproof mattress cover since it will prevent any spilt liquid from getting soaked, thereby preventing mould’s growth.
- Flip and rotate the mattress every 3 months– Another amazing way to prevent mould growth is by flipping or rotating the mattress at least every 3 months. This will help you in distributing your body weight evenly on the bed and also reduce the sagging.
- Keep Bedroom Airy– It is very important to maintain good ventilation inside the room. If the air is humid and hot, it will propel the chances of having mould growth. So, it’s better to keep the windows and doors open most times in the day so that the air can pass through easily.
- Change Bed Sheets Regularly– It would be best to change the bed sheets regularly to keep the mattress hygienic and prevent the mould from growing.
- Choose A Breathable Mattress– It would help if you always looked for a mattress where the top cover is highly breathable. This will help in maintaining the natural ventilation, thereby preventing the mould from growing.
Drawbacks of Molds on Your Mattress
- Moulds can cause skin allergies.
- They give off a pungent and suffocating smell.
- The mouldy mattress is not at all good for people having respiratory problems.
- It can cause more health complications in babies and elders.
- The overall integrity of the mattress decreases with mould growth.
How to Clean Mold on a Mattress?
- Scrub and Rinse the Mattress– Sometimes, the mould is mainly due to dirty external cover. For example, if you have a removable zipped cover in your mattress, take it out, scrub the fabric thoroughly, and rinse it with normal but clean water.
- Sun-dry the Mattress– The sun’s UV radiations are perfect for killing the mould growth inside the mattress. However, you cannot keep the mattress dry by itself under the sun. Hence, you need to take a professional’s help so that they can effectively remove the growths.
- Disinfect The Mattress– The best way to clean a mouldy mattress is by disinfecting it. There are a lot of sprays that you can use to ensure that the fungal growth is inhibited. However, if you add the chemical to the bed, it would be better not to sleep on the same bed for at least that particular night.
- Vacuum The Mattress: When you vacuum clean the mattress, all the dust and debris stuck between the layers will get sucked. As a result, the moulds will get cleaned, and you will be able to sleep on the mattress once again.
Conclusion
The mouldy mattress is common in almost every household due to climatic differences, improper handling, lack of maintenance, and so on. However, it is your responsibility to check whether your mattress has developed any mould or not. Also, you need to check its extent and decide whether cleaning will be enough to increase the hygiene of the bed or you need to replace it.
