Mildew and mold can be present on mattresses, and you may not notice it right away. Mold may appear due to poor ventilation, the mattress getting wet from something, or just from having a bad quality mattress. It is important to recognize the signs of mold on your mattress, know what is causing it, and how to remove it.

Can black mold grow on mattress?

Mold easily grows in damp spaces. The spores can get inside your home through an open window, a vent or by your pet carrying them inside. Mold grows in moisture; therefore, mattresses are a perfect spot for mold to thrive.

At night, we sweat and if your mattress and your space is not very well ventilated, mold growth may appear. It is important to invest in a proper mattress foundation that has slats. This will help with ventilating the mattress. It is also crucial to find bedding that does not make you sweat excessively. The less you sweat, the less of it is absorbed into your mattress.

You should always keep your mattress covered in a waterproof protector to avoid mold growth. It will keep moisture away from the mattress. Also, you need to make sure to frequently vacuum your mattress and sprinkle it with baking soda, let it sit for a while, and then vacuum it up before covering it with a mattress protector and sheets. You may be able to remove the surface mold from your mattress, however it is impossible to kill mold inside your mattress.

Can mold on mattress make you sick?

Mold on your mattress may vary in appearance, however it usually looks off-white, pink, or appears as fluffy black spots. It is crucial to understand that under the right conditions, any mattress can get mold. The most common sign of mold is a musty smell.

If mold has formed in your mattress and it is left in the moist environment, it will continue to grow and spread and can cause health issues.

Some side effects of mold exposure you should look out for are sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and rashes. Some people even have trouble breathing and asthma attacks. Mold can irritate various parts of the body including eyes, skin, nose, and even lungs.

What causes mold to grow on a mattress?

Mold may develop on your mattress because of humidity and bacteria. It is crucial to maintain your mattress so that you can prevent mold in your bedroom. Keep in mind that mold spores are always in the air, however if you provide them with a humid environment, they will grow. Therefore, if you have extra moisture in the room, you should work on getting rid of it.

There are various factors that may cause mold to appear on your mattress. Here are a few:

• A moist environment:

If you have a lot of moisture in your bedroom and you sweat, mold can easily grow on your mattress. This is because when you sweat in a hot room, it gets absorbed into your mattress and causes mold. The moisture in sweat is like food for mold spores. It is important for you to air out the room, reduce its temperature and use a dehumidifier, if possible, to reduce moisture in the room.

• Keeping your mattress on the floor and not turning it monthly:

Mattresses need air flow so that they do not develop mold inside them. Therefore, you should keep your mattress off the floor. If you keep it on the floor with the heat and moisture, it will become an ideal environment for mold. Also, you should always turn your mattress monthly to keep away mold issues.

How to Remove Mold Spots from a Mattress

There are a few ways you can try to remove mold from your mattress:

1. Vacuum the mattress on both sides. Make sure to clean out your vacuum right away to prevent mold spores from spreading.
2. Mix isopropyl alcohol and warm water, dip a cloth in it, then wring it out and use the wet cloth to get rid of the moldy area of your mattress. Always use a circular motion and make sure to go further than the area of where mold can be seen. Make sure to rinse the area with a cloth that you’ve wrung out in warm water so that you do not get your mattress wet.
3. Spray on disinfectant over the whole surface of the mattress, then take the mattress outside.

What happens if you sleep on a moldy mattress?

If you happen to sleep on a moldy mattress, it can be harmful for your health. You can experience respiratory issues, allergy symptoms, difficulty breathing and even asthma and wheezing. Some people develop rashes on various parts of the body where they’ve been exposed to mold. In more severe cases, those with chronic lung conditions can develop lung infections after exposure to mold.

What kills mold on mattress?

You can get rid of mattress mold by using isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide on the mattress. You can also use baking soda and other household chemicals. Finally, you can kill mildew via direct sunshine. Here is a breakdown of each way you can get rid of mold:

• Vacuuming – Making sure to vacuum all areas of your mattress with the thinnest attachment should help get rid of mold. If you have water damaged areas on your mattress, make sure to spend some extra time vacuuming those areas to prevent health issues.
• Sun – If you take your mattress out into the sun the UV rays will kill the mold. Make sure to leave your mattress out in the sun for a while, and in the meantime, run a dehumidifier in your room to ensure proper air flow.
• Rubbing Alcohol – To get rid of mold from your mattress, create a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and spray it liberally on your mattress. If you have larger mold spots, put some of the mixture on a cloth and rub the mattress in a circular motion until the stain disappears. If the mattress still smells musty, make sure to keep cleaning until the smell disappears.
• Vodka & Tea Tree Oil – If you have a memory foam mattress, you should clean any mold spots with a vodka and tea tree oil mixture. You will need to spray the whole area of the mattress, allow it to dry for an hour, then vacuum it from top to bottom, cover the slats and pillow top, and let the mattress air dry.

Are you dealing with a mold problem at your home? Make sure you contact mold remediation professionals to find and remove the mold growth in your home. They can also locate the mold on your mattress and remove it with special removal methods. Whether it is mold on your memory foam or tempurpedic foam mattress, they can get rid of the mold quickly and effectively.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.