Keep Your Crib Clean

The early years of a human life are typically when we’re the most vulnerable. To make sure children get the best support for their developing health and sleeping habits, it’s a great idea to consider their sleeping arrangements. Most parents use a crib to keep their infant protected and secure. In line with this, it’s important to make sure their crib mattress is always sanitized, not susceptible to harmful contaminants.

Types of Crib Mattresses

For most crib mattresses out there, cleaning them is a simple yet tedious task, and involves more than changing sheets. The issue is complicated further depending on the type of crib mattress, like the following:

• Innerspring mattresses have metal coil springs to make them sturdy, but they can be pricey.
• Foam mattresses are soft and lightweight, but readily absorb dirt, debris, and liquids.
• Double-sided mattresses come with a firm infant side and a softer toddler side, but it also means you only have one side to work with.
• Mattress covers are a popular item to protect the mattress from accidents, but they might also affect the comfort of your infant as they try to sleep.

Along with these options are concerns like proper firmness for your child so they aren’t up all night, liquid resistance for bottles or accidents, crib fit and what materials are used in manufacturing. Many of these factors come into play when the mattress needs cleaning.

Taking Care of the Mattress

Remember to check the manufacturer cleaning guidelines to make sure the mattress stays usable as long as your child needs it. There are several methods and steps in cleaning that could be a part of your required procedures.

• Removal – In nearly all cases, removing the mattress from the crib is a primary step. It allows you to clear away any obvious debris by shaking the mattress out or vacuuming it.
• Scrubbing – Some crib mattresses require a cleaning solution applied with scrubbing. This is not usually required with foam mattresses, but polyurethane ones benefit from scrubbing.
• Rinsing – Again, check with the mattress manufacturer to see whether the mattress can withstand a rinse-off. Although most are made to withstand liquids, many foam mattresses focus on comfort and need a mattress cover to protect them from spills.
• Disinfecting – This is definitely an important step. Typically, spraying the mattress with isopropyl alcohol from a spray bottle is enough to disinfect a mattress after cleaning. Other disinfectants are available on the market, but make sure they are suitable for use around infants.
• Drying – A top thing to avoid is a damp or wet mattress placed back in the crib. A covered mattress, even a plastic one, can invite mold or mildew with the slightest amount of moisture.

All this might sound complicated and daunting, but there’s no doubt it’s important for the well-being of your child. Thankfully, Preferred Carpet Care specializes in mattress cleaning – including crib mattresses. We make sure the mattress is sanitized and safe for your child. We can also answer any questions you have about maintaining the mattress properly, what cleaning steps to take, how often, and what to use in doing so. Please give us a call or schedule a consultation online. We’ll help make sure your baby’s mattress helps them sleep like, well, a baby.