To get rid of mattress smell, strip the bed, vacuum the mattress, sprinkle baking soda over the surface and let it sit for several hours, then vacuum it off and air the mattress out, ideally with fresh air and light. Mattress odors are common and usually come from trapped moisture, sweat, and time, and most respond well to a simple freshening routine. The steps are straightforward and use things you likely already have.
Quick Answer
Strip and vacuum the mattress, sprinkle baking soda over it, let it sit for several hours to absorb odor, then vacuum it off. Air the mattress out with fresh air and light if you can. For new-mattress smell, airing it out over a few days usually resolves it.
Key Takeaways
- Baking soda is the simple, effective odor absorber.
- Vacuum before and after treating the mattress.
- Airing out with fresh air and light helps a lot.
- Trapped moisture and sweat are common causes.
- New-mattress smell usually fades with airing over days.
Step by Step to Freshen a Mattress
The core method uses baking soda, a mild and effective odor absorber, and takes little active effort.
First, strip the bed completely and wash all the bedding, since some of the smell may be in the sheets, not just the mattress. Second, vacuum the whole mattress surface with an upholstery attachment to remove dust and debris. Third, sprinkle a generous, even layer of baking soda over the top of the mattress. Fourth, let the baking soda sit for several hours, longer if you can, so it absorbs the odor and any lingering moisture. Fifth, vacuum the baking soda off thoroughly. Finally, air the mattress out, opening windows for fresh air and letting in light if possible, before remaking the bed. This routine handles most everyday mattress odors. Mattress cleaners cover deeper cleaning.
Why Mattresses Develop Odors
Understanding the cause helps you prevent a repeat. Most mattress smells come from trapped moisture, sweat, and body oils that build up over time, since a mattress absorbs a little moisture every night and rarely gets a chance to fully dry or air out. Poor ventilation, a humid room, or spills that soaked in can all make it worse. The odor is generally the result of this accumulated moisture and residue rather than anything alarming. Knowing this points to the fix: reducing moisture and airing the mattress out regularly keeps odors from building in the first place. Mattress wear covers other aging factors.
Airing It Out
Fresh air and light do a lot of the work. Airing a mattress out, by opening windows, and where practical letting sunlight reach it, helps dry out moisture and dissipate odors naturally. If you can move the mattress to a well-ventilated spot or even outdoors briefly on a dry day, that helps even more, though it is not always practical. Even just pulling back the bedding and letting the mattress breathe during the day, rather than making the bed immediately, lets trapped moisture escape. Regular airing is one of the simplest ways to keep a mattress smelling fresh. Storing a mattress covers keeping one fresh in storage.
New Mattress Smell
A brand-new mattress sometimes has a distinct smell when first unpacked, especially foam mattresses. This is a normal off-gassing that typically fades on its own as the mattress airs out over a few days after unpacking. Setting the new mattress up in a well-ventilated room and letting it breathe, ideally before putting bedding on it, helps the smell dissipate faster. It is generally temporary and not a sign of a problem with the mattress. If you know a new mattress is coming, planning to air it out for a few days handles this smell without any special treatment. Choosing a mattress covers what to expect from a new one.
Keeping Odors Away
Some people wonder about using scented products or sprays to mask a mattress odor. While a light fabric refresher can help a mattress smell pleasant after the baking soda routine, it is worth remembering that masking a smell is not the same as removing its cause. If moisture or buildup is producing the odor, a scent on top only covers it temporarily while the source remains. The more lasting approach is to remove the cause through cleaning, absorbing, and airing, then use any scent only as a finishing touch on an already-fresh mattress. Relying on scent alone tends to lead to a cycle of re-spraying rather than a genuinely fresh mattress, so treat the cause first.
Prevention keeps you from having to freshen often. Using a washable mattress protector catches much of the sweat and moisture that causes odors, and laundering it regularly keeps that buildup off the mattress. Airing the bed out regularly, keeping the bedroom reasonably ventilated, and dealing with any spills promptly all help. None of this is complicated, and together these habits keep a mattress smelling fresh far longer between deeper freshening sessions. When odors do build up, the baking soda and airing routine brings a mattress back without much effort. Mattress protectors cover prevention.
When a Smell Won’t Go Away
Most mattress odors respond to the baking soda and airing routine, but occasionally a smell persists, and it helps to know what that might mean. A lingering odor can point to moisture that has soaked deeper into the mattress, perhaps from a spill that was not dried thoroughly or from persistent humidity, and deeper moisture is harder to reach with a surface treatment. In these cases, more thorough drying, giving the mattress extended time to air out in a well-ventilated space, can help, and dealing with any humidity in the room reduces the source. If a mattress has taken on a strong, persistent odor from a significant soaking and repeated freshening does not resolve it, the moisture may be too deep to fully remove. Knowing this helps set expectations: surface freshening handles everyday smells well, but deeply soaked-in odors are much harder, which is another reason to protect the mattress from major spills in the first place. Mattress protectors cover preventing deep spills.
Recommended Reading
Worth reading next: mattress cleaners, mattress protectors, storing a mattress, and choosing a mattress.
How to Get Rid of Mattress Smell FAQ
How do I get rid of mattress smell?
Strip and vacuum the mattress, sprinkle baking soda over it, let it sit several hours to absorb odor, then vacuum it off. Air the mattress out with fresh air and light if you can. This simple routine handles most everyday mattress odors without special products.
Does baking soda really remove mattress odors?
Yes, baking soda is a mild, effective odor absorber. Sprinkled over the mattress and left for several hours, it absorbs odor and lingering moisture, then vacuums off. It is the core of most mattress-freshening routines because it works and uses something most people already have.
How long should I leave baking soda on a mattress?
Several hours at least, and longer if you can manage it, so it has time to absorb the odor and moisture. Some people leave it for much of a day. Then vacuum it off thoroughly. The longer it sits, within reason, the more it can absorb.
Why does my mattress smell?
Most mattress smells come from trapped moisture, sweat, and body oils building up over time, since a mattress absorbs a little moisture nightly and rarely fully dries. Poor ventilation, humidity, or soaked-in spills make it worse. It is usually accumulated moisture and residue rather than anything alarming.
How do I get rid of new mattress smell?
Air it out. New mattresses, especially foam, can have an off-gassing smell when unpacked that typically fades over a few days as it airs. Set it up in a well-ventilated room and let it breathe, ideally before adding bedding. It is normal and temporary.
Does airing out a mattress help?
A lot. Fresh air and, where practical, light help dry out moisture and dissipate odors naturally. Even pulling back the bedding and letting the mattress breathe during the day rather than making the bed immediately lets trapped moisture escape. Regular airing keeps a mattress fresher.
How do I keep my mattress from smelling?
Use a washable mattress protector to catch sweat and moisture, and launder it regularly. Air the bed out often, keep the bedroom ventilated, and deal with spills promptly. These simple habits keep odors from building, so you rarely need a deeper freshening routine.
