Why does my bed smell bad? That was a question that I asked myself many years ago, and after spending a significant amount of time troubleshooting the issue and experimenting with different solutions, I was able to fix the problem. In this article, I’m going to share a full list of possible reasons why your bed smells bad, along with solutions on how to remove and prevent odors.
Typically, the reasons why your bed smells bad are probably due to dirty sheets and pillowcases that haven’t been washed properly, sweat and body oils, bed mites and bacteria that have multiplied on the mattress, pet dander or urine, and/or food or liquid that was spilled onto the bed.
Once you are able to identify the cause of the bad smell, you should be able to apply one of the cleaning solutions below to take care of the problem.
But if nothing you try works, it might be necessary for you to invest in a professional mattress cleaning service to come in and deep clean your bed.
Why Does My Bed Smell Bad?
1. The sheets and pillowcase are dirty
Even if you aren’t one to sweat a lot or the bed isn’t used often, it’s constantly exposed to germs and dust in the air.
Eventually, it will need to be washed. It’s unhygienic to leave sheets and pillowcases unwashed for weeks.
In fact, one of the most common causes of skin conditions like acne is caused by dirty pillowcases and sheets.
2. Sweat and body oils have stained the mattress
During those warm summer nights, it’s pretty unavoidable to sweat unless you have good air conditioning at all times.
Even then, your body naturally releases oils to the skin as well as some degree of sweat.
Don’t shower or bathe for a few days, and observe how smelly and musky you become. That’s just the nature of life.
When all of that sweat and body oils seep into the sheets, pillowcases, and then the mattress, they become the reason why your bed smells bad.
3. Bed mites and bacteria
It’s a well-known fact that once bed bugs, fungi, and bacteria populate a bed, bad smells eventually follow.
That’s one of the first real signs that you have a problem with your bed, if there aren’t any signs of stains or dirty sheets.
Fungi love to grow and multiply in dark and moist places. A mattress and base are the perfect places for them to spread.
It’s not just a bad smell that you have to worry about, but the potential for bodily harm as well.
4. Pet dander or urine
In the event that they are a pet mom or dad, you would know all too well that they are not perfect creatures.
Even the most well-trained pets are prone to mishaps every now and then.
Perhaps they’re sick or they were playing outdoors without being cleaned properly and then jumped onto the bed.
A dirty cat or dog rolling on a bed isn’t too much of a problem. Even if this makes the bed smell bad, you could easily remove the smell, especially if it’s caused by dander.
But, if your pet urinated on the bed, threw up, or defecated, well, that will require some deep cleaning before the bad smell is removed.
It would be in your best interest to invest in a deep cleaning service to take care of your bed because a bit of baking soda isn’t going to fix this.
5. Food and liquids that were spilled on the bed
I’m not one who really enjoys eating on the bed, but there have been times when I betrayed my better self and indulged in unhealthy snacks while watching a movie.
Things like ice cream, beverages, and even food that spills onto the bed have to be addressed immediately.
If you ignore it or don’t notice it, that spillage will turn into a stain that seeps deeper into the mattress.
Eventually, it will begin to stink, and it will persist until you do something about it.
How To Clean A Smelly Bed
1. Wash and change the bed sheets and pillow cases
At the bare minimum, you should be washing the bed sheets and pillowcases once per week.
This will ensure that they remain in pristine condition without the risk of them smelling bad at any point or being unhygienic.
In the event that it’s summer or there is another reason why the sheets may be dirty, remove and wash them the very next day.
Most pillowcases and sheets can be tossed into the washing machine for a quick cycle, and they can be dried within an hour or two outside due to their thin and flimsy material.
Your nose and your skin will be extremely grateful that you did this.
2. Vacuum clean the mattress
As mentioned before, it’s unavoidable that your mattress will be exposed to some dirt and dust. Even bacteria or bugs are something unavoidable.
But, to remove and prevent this from happening frequently, you would benefit from running a modern vacuum cleaner over the mattress.
This should remove all surface content and some stuff that is not too deep within the mattress.
To some degree, the smell should ease up after vacuuming the mattress regularly. But, when sprinkling certain disinfectants, sprays, or essential oils, you may want to use the vacuum cleaner to remove most of that from the mattress as well.
3. Open the windows
Believe me when I tell you that it’s quite surprising just how much proper ventilation can alter the scent and smell of a room, including the contents of a room.
Every single day, open the windows and draw the curtains open to allow some sunlight and fresh air to circulate through the room.
This should help to remove some lingering bad smells from the bed and room.
4. Use a humidifier or diffuser in your room
In most cases, a humidifier or diffuser isn’t going to remove or eradicate a smelly bed.
But, to promote a good smell throughout the room and to offset any muskiness, it is advisable to use these items.
I love a diffuser that is vanilla-scented.
It just makes my bedroom smell clean and even delicious (haha).
I highly recommend checking out this humidifier by Everlasting Comfort on Amazon. It has a large 6L water tank that can run for up to 50 hours. It’s quiet, easy to clean, and quite affordable, with over 54K ratings as of writing this article.
5. Sprinkle baking soda onto the mattress
In the event that nothing has worked so far and you need to use something to remove a bad smell from the bed, try sprinkling baking soda onto the mattress, especially on problem areas.
Let it sit for a while before vacuuming or wiping your bed clean.
Apparently, most bad odors and smells are acidic.
Since baking soda is known for neutralizing acids due to its pH-balancing properties, it is believed to be effective at removing bad smells and stains.
When it seems like the bad smell has been removed from your bed, vacuum or dust off the baking soda.
6. Use essential oils
Some essential oils are said to contain antifungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties while being quite aromatic or distinctive in scent.
To disinfect your bed and offset or remove a lingering bad smell, you could spritz the bed with a mixture containing essential oils like mint, tea tree, rosemary, or lemon balm.
Don’t use too much because you don’t want your bed to stink of essential oils either.
Do this over the course of a day or two until all signs of the bad smell have been eviscerated.
I recommend grabbing this pack of 6 essential oils by Pure Aroma on Amazon that includes tea tree oil, peppermint, and lemon grass. For just 10 bucks, a few drops of these essential oils should make a big difference in refreshing your home.
7. Use a laundry detergent paste
When all else fails and you need something to scrub off a stain or spill on the surface of the mattress, you could try using a typical laundry detergent.
Simply make a paste with water and apply it onto the smelly spots.
Let it rest for a bit before using a brush to scrub and clean the dirty spot. Wipe off the detergent paste with a wet cloth. Rinse the cloth and wipe the bed again. Let it air dry for a while before using a vacuum cleaner over the bed.
This should help to clear up any stubborn stains and spills from the bed which will essentially put an end to your problem.
Final Thoughts
That brings us to the end of this article on reasons why your bed smells bad. I hope that you have now been able to identify the cause of your smelly bed.
What I know for certain is that prevention is better than cure.
I make it a habit to wash and change my bed sheets and pillowcases frequently. I also take a shower most nights before getting into bed; I don’t eat or drink stuff in bed, and my bedroom is always well ventilated.
These simple changes have eradicated any smell from my bed and I’m able to enjoy a good night’s sleep. I’m more than certain that you’ll be able to do the same after making these changes and using the solutions mentioned above.
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