Prep first
Before you start
- Fix the water source first and dry everything completely.
- Brush loose mold off outdoors if you can, so spores don't scatter through the house.
- Wear gloves, unvented goggles and an N-95 respirator while you work.
- Porous items like carpet may have to be thrown away if mold has gone deep.
Mold on a mattress usually starts where moisture sat for too long, and its spores keep spreading until the area is dry. Fresh growth often lifts with a gentle clean, but the dark mark is partly damage to the fibers, so an older stain may only fade instead of vanishing completely. Because a mattress is thick and layered, moisture can hide deep inside, so drying it thoroughly matters as much as the cleaning itself.
To get mold stains out of a mattress, focus on drying the area thoroughly, since moisture hides deep in the layers. If the spots persist after cleaning, a mold and mildew remover is the next product to try, and test it on a corner first. If the mold smell hangs on after the mark fades, that's a good moment to call a professional.
Before you start
What mattress can take
Use with care4
- Water
- Oxygen bleach
- Enzyme cleaners
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid4
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft-bristled broomLifts loose mold off the surface; wash it before you reuse it.
- Vacuum with an attachmentDraws more mold out of the mattress surface. (opens Amazon)
- Gloves, unvented goggles and an N-95 respiratorKeeps spores out of your lungs, eyes and skin. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap and cold waterLight cleaning for the stained area. (opens Amazon)
- Cloths or sponges and clean towelsBlot as you go and soak up moisture. (opens Amazon)
- Electric fan and electric heaterMove and heat the moist air out of a damp mattress. (opens Amazon)
- Commercial low-pressure fungicide sprayTreats the mildew once the mattress is dry.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Brush off the loose mold
Take the mattress outside if you can, then brush the loose mold off the outer covering with a soft-bristled broom. Wash the broom before you use it again.
Step 2 of 5
Vacuum the mattress surface
Run a vacuum attachment over the mattress surface to pull out more mold. Throw away a disposable bag right away, or empty a bagless vacuum carefully outdoors.
Step 4 of 524 to 48 hours
Dry the mattress completely
If the mattress is still damp, run an electric fan and an electric heater to carry the moist air away. Set it in direct sunlight with air moving over it if you can. Wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold again.
Step 5 of 5
Spray with a fungicide
Once the mattress is fully dry, spray it with a commercial low-pressure fungicide spray to finish off the mildew. Respray it often, especially if mildew is a problem in your home.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on mattress
Look for a commercial low-pressure spray labeled as containing a fungicide, and keep one on hand if mildew keeps coming back.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on mattress, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Each blot should pull a little of the dark color into your cloth, and the spot should read lighter once it's fully dry. Judge it only when it's dry, because a damp spot always looks darker than it will end up. If the mark looks the same after two rounds, it has likely set into the fibers, so the [old or set-in section](#dried) is the next stop.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your mattress
Memory foam mattress
Memory foam can break down when it takes on too much moisture, so this is where the light touch matters most. Use only a little cold water, blot instead of wiping wide areas, and give it extra time in the sun and air before you call it done.
If the mold has spread into the foam itself, a surface clean won't reach it, and the mattress may need replacing.
Underside and sides
Mold often starts where moisture collects, so check the underside and the sides as well as the top. Brush and vacuum those areas the same way, outdoors if you can.
Give those areas the same drying time, since a damp underside can hold moisture even when the top looks fine.
Mattress foundation
The foundation gets the same brushing and vacuuming as the mattress, and it has to be fully dry before the mattress goes back on. Keep the cleaning light and blot rather than wet the wood or fabric.
Check the slats or panels for mold too, since they sit against the mattress base. If the foundation stays musty after drying, replacing it may be the cleaner option.
Mattress cover
Work on the cover in place first: brush and vacuum it, then lightly wash the stained area. Blot and let it dry fully before you judge the result.
If the mold still shows once the cover is dry, the fabric may be too damaged to keep, so decide whether to replace it rather than keep scrubbing.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old mold on a mattress is harder to lift, because the marks often reflect damage to the fibers rather than growth alone. Fabrics badly damaged by mildew may be impossible to clean, so an old stain may never fully disappear.
If the stain is dry and still visible after the steps, one more light round of the same cleaning is the first thing to try, followed by full drying. Expect some marks to stay, since the damage may be in the fibers themselves.
If a mark still lingers after that, white vinegar dabbed on lightly is a next step, or you can bring in a professional upholstery cleaner for a stubborn stain.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on mattress?
Plenty of home remedies get suggested for mold, but a mattress can't take most of them. Stick to the gentle options, since a mattress can't handle bleach, hot water or strong solvents. Mild soap, cold water and thorough drying are what a mattress can take.
Helps1Skip3Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't brush or empty the vacuum indoors
Spores that get loose inside the house can drift onto other surfaces and spread the problem. Brush outdoors when you can, and empty a bagless vacuum outside too. If you have no outdoor space, keep the room closed off while you work.
Don't run the heating or cooling system
If you suspect the system is contaminated with mold, running it can spread mold through the building. Keep it off until you've dealt with the mattress.
Don't take on a large patch alone
Mold covering more than about 10 square feet is bigger than a mattress spot job. Mold from sewage or contaminated water needs the same caution, so follow the official remediation guidance for the area.
Don't skip the moisture source
Mold on a mattress means damp is reaching it from somewhere in the room. Clean the spot without finding that source and the growth is likely to return, so check the room for leaks or dampness first.
Don't skip the test spot
Every cleaner can change the color or texture of a mattress cover, so try it on a hidden corner first. Check that spot once it's dry before you work on the visible stain.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The mattress still smells musty after cleaning
Give it more time in direct sunlight with good airflow, then respray with the fungicide.
A dark mark stays after the mold is gone
The color may be fiber damage rather than live mold. Try vinegar or call an upholstery cleaner if it bothers you.
You can't take the mattress outside
Brush gently near an open window, vacuum straight away, and empty the vacuum outdoors.
When to call a professional
Bring in a professional when the dark area is still there after a couple of gentle rounds, or when mold covers more than about 10 square feet, since that's past what's safe to tackle alone. Tell them it's mold, roughly how big the patch is and whether the mattress was ever wet all the way through.
Questions
How do you clean mold off porous materials like a mattress?
Start by fixing the moisture source, then brush and vacuum outdoors, clean lightly, and dry the mattress fully. Porous materials hold spores deep in the fibers and foam, so surface cleaning may not reach all of it. If the mold has gone deep, the mattress may have to be replaced.
Is mold on a mattress a health risk?
It can be, because you can breathe in or touch spores while you clean. Wear gloves, unvented goggles and an N-95 respirator while you work, so the spores stay off you and out of your lungs.
Will a mold stain come out of a mattress completely?
Often not completely. Some of the dark mark is the shadow of damage in the fibers, so cleaning removes the live mold but may leave a faint mark. Lingering marks are the reason to try the set-in options.
Why does the mold keep coming back?
Usually there's still moisture somewhere. Mold grows only where water or moisture is present, so check for leaks or a damp floor under the bed, then clean and dry again.
Should I throw the mattress away?
Not always, so clean and dry it first, then decide. Replacement makes more sense when the mold has gone deep into the foam, covers a large area, or comes back after drying.
Can I clean mold off a mattress foundation the same way?
Yes, with the same brush, vacuum and drying approach. Never soak the foundation with any liquid, and dry it completely before you put the mattress back on.
How long does a mattress take to dry after cleaning off mold?
It has to dry all the way through before you put anything back on it, so plan for a long stretch rather than a quick wipe. Direct sunlight and moving air help a lot, and any spot still damp after 24 to 48 hours is at real risk of growing mold again.
Can I take the mattress cover off to wash it after mold?
Only when the label says the cover is removable, since pulling off a fixed cover can cancel the warranty. A removable cover should go through the gentlest wash cycle its label allows, and it needs to dry completely before it goes back on the mattress.
How do I get the musty smell out of a mattress once the mold is gone?
Once the spot is fully dry, run the vacuum attachment over it once more to pull up any loose residue. Letting the room air out in the sun or through open windows also helps, though a smell can linger if damp is still trapped inside, so confirm it's dry first.
What helps keep mold from getting into a mattress again?
A washable mattress protector is the most practical barrier, because it keeps spills and damp from reaching the mattress itself. Wash it on the schedule its label recommends, and check the mattress underneath after any leak or spill so moisture doesn't sit.
Mold on other materials
Other stains on mattress
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.