How to make a mattress smell nice – 5 tips for an improved sleep environment

As the cornerstone of comfort and restful sleep, keeping your mattress refreshed and smelling nice is a key home maintenance task – just like having a regular cleaning schedule – that should not be overlooked.

While investing in the best mattress sets the foundation for quality sleep, maintaining a pleasant scent is also a significant factor in creating a relaxing and restorative environment. 

From removing odors to adding a personalized scent to your mattress, our cleaning and mattress experts have explained how to ensure it emits a pleasant aroma to enhance not only its appeal but also your overall sleeping experience. 

How to make a mattress smell nice  

As one of the dirtiest places in a bedroom, it's essential to clean a mattress to ensure it smells nice. But why stop there? With a few natural methods, you can create fragrances to use on your mattress before bed or just when it needs a spritz to add a scent that resonates with you. 

1. Use baking soda

Baking soda is the best thing to clean a mattress with to remove odors. It can be distributed evenly onto your mattress and left for up to two hours before being vacuumed off.

Additionally, cleaning with baking soda mixed with cornflour will absorb moisture, like body oils, while neutralizing odor, creating a cleaner and more fragrant mattress.

Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, 4 lb | $2.73 at Walmart
Apply an even sprinkle of this baking soda over your mattress and leave for a couple of hours before vacuuming away. 

2. Use natural fragrances

After deodorizing your mattress, Martin Seeley, sleep expert and Founder of Mattress Next Day suggests 'utilizing natural aromatics in the form of sachets or essential oil sprays.'

Your choice of fragrance will depend on your personal taste and you could learn to curate your own personalized scent by layering fragrances.

'For those who prefer invigorating scents, craft a delightful citrus sachet using dried peels of oranges or lemons,' advises Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning. 'Placed strategically between the mattress and bed frame, this zesty creation not only emanates a fresh aroma but also serves as a natural deterrent against unwanted odors.

'You can also create a sachet filled with dried herbs such as rosemary or thyme. Beyond their delightful scents, these herbs possess inherent antibacterial properties, promoting not only a fragrant sleeping environment but a clean and refreshing one as well.

'Alternatively, consider making a lavender-infused spray using high-quality essential oil mixed with distilled water. This DIY linen spray can be lightly misted onto the mattress before bedtime, imparting a subtle and calming aroma perfect for winding down.' 

These ideas are ideal for making your home smell nice when you're sensitive to fragrance. They don't use harsh chemicals and you can adjust their intensity.

Karina Toner

Karina is the Operations Manager at Spekless Cleaning, a trusted maid service based in Washington D.C. The team has over five years of experience providing top-quality cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients. Karina oversees every aspect of the business, ensuring that every client gets the same top-notch service and a spotless clean every time.

3. Air the mattress

'Odors can be prevented by ventilating the mattress or room it is in frequently,' says Martin Seeley.  'Additionally, consider using a breathable mattress protector to allow your mattress to air better.' This PlushDeluxe mattress protector is Amazon's top pick.

4. Expose it to sunlight

'On a sunny day, move your mattress outside,' recommends Karina Toner. 'Sunlight
purifies and revives naturally. Give it a few hours to enjoy the sun.'

5. Establish a regular cleaning routine

'Establish a consistent cleaning schedule and regularly employ gentle solutions to absorb and eliminate aromas,' advises Martin Seeley.

Make sure you regularly wash your mattress protectors, pillowcases, and sheets and clean your mattress topper. When your bedding is fresh, odors will permeate your mattress less.

Remember to clean your mattress regularly and flip or rotate it to prevent odors from building up.

If you are making a fragrant bed spray with essential oils and water, you can add a deodorizing agent, such as two tablespoons of baking soda or 5 oz. of isopropyl alcohol in a bottle with 20 drops of essential oil. This way you can combine the magic of removing odors and adding fragrances in one.