The best thing you can do is to avoid getting your mattress dirty in the first place. Encasing the mattress and the box spring in hypoallergenic cases protects them from dust and grime and will cut down on dust mites. However, liquid can still seep through most cases and into the mattress. You may want to consider placing a rubber sheet on the mattress for protection against spills or childhood accidents.

Of course, since most people find that these rubber sheets bunch up and are uncomfortable to sleep on, you may prefer to risk getting the mattress wet, especially if there isn’t a big chance that you will spill your morning coffee or your children are older. If you do get your mattress dirty, you can follow these simple steps to get it clean.

1. To remove dirt or dust, whip out your vacuum. Most mattress manufacturers suggest that occasionally vacuuming your mattress is a good idea, even if it doesn’t look dirty, to keep dust mites under control.

2. If you need to clean up a liquid spill or a stain, don’t grab your favorite stain removal product. Mattresses are made of materials that may not react well to chemicals. Instead, you should just try to blot up any liquid and leave the stain alone. If you can’t bear the thought of leaving the stain on your mattress or if it has a strong odor, you can use a cloth dampened with cold water to gently scrub the stain. You can use a bit of mild soap on the cloth if the stain won’t budge, but just be sure you don’t end up making your mattress or box spring wetter than it already is.

3. Once you clean up the spill or stain, leave the sheets off your mattress and let it thoroughly air dry before you cover it back up. There’s nothing worse than a moldy mattress, especially if the person sleeping on it has severe mold allergies.

Once your mattress is clean and dry, you may want to use this opportunity to flip it over so that it wears more evenly. You should flip your mattress over three or four times a year to help it last longer.

Before you begin removing the old caulking, clean the area with a regular bathroom cleaner, then try to determine the kind of caulking that was used. If it’s silicone it will be soft and rubbery; if it was latex or acrylic, it will be hard. You can remove silicone caulk quite easily with a sharp knife. Acrylic and latex caulk are more difficult to remove. Tricks you might try are scraping it out with a screwdriver or softening it with a heat gun or a product designed specifically to do so. Once it’s all been removed, wipe the area down again. You may even want to put on a coating of a product that will resist mildew.

Once you’ve removed the old caulk and cleaned the area, it’s time to start applying the new caulking you’ve chosen. When selecting your new caulk, you need to consider the fact that hybrid, siliconized caulking will work best. It’s easy to use and remove as well as pliable like silicone and has the mildew-resistance of latex and acrylic. Whatever kind of caulking you choose, however, make sure that it says that it’s meant to be used in a bathroom.

If there’s only a small area that needs to be caulked, you’ll be able to get by with a squeeze tube of caulking instead of having to use a caulking gun. Snip a small hole in the end of the tube so that you’ll have control of the amount of caulking being dispensed. Work slowly and carefully to avoid unsightly squiggles and blobs. Although you may be tempted to buy roll caulking thinking that it will be easier to apply, you’ll find that it’s actually very difficult to get on straight. Place a roll of paper towels and a damp sponge where you can get at them in case of spills. Work in small areas at a time, and as you finish each area smooth the caulk with a damp finger.

It’s better to do an entire caulking job at one time, so make sure you have plenty of time to finish the project before you ever begin it. No one will be able to use the bathtub until the caulk cures which usually will mean the tub is out of commission at least overnight. Taking the time and enduring a little inconvenience now will save you a ton of headaches and expense later on.

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