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Brown stains on a mattress are caused by rust, drink spills, sweat, urine, mold, bed bugs, or blood.
Mattress stains are unsightly and potentially embarrassing. Stains caused by mold or bed bugs can also harm your health.
We've cleaned and tested mattresses of every type in my own home, and found that each cause needs a different treatment.
This guide is for anyone who wants to work out what's causing the brown spots on their mattress, remove them, and stop them coming back.
To effectively treat your brown stain, you need to know exactly what's causing it.
Here is a list of the most common causes, and how to treat each one.
Rust stains are caused by moisture reaching the metal parts of your bed, such as a rusty bed frame, box spring, or the innerspring coils hiding beneath the surface.
To remove rust stains, follow these steps.
Accidental spills of coffee, tea, and other drinks leave behind stubborn brown stains, and the longer a spill sits, the deeper it soaks in.
To remove, blot the spill immediately with a clean cloth or towel, then clean the stained area with a mild, biodegradable detergent or a sustainable cleaning product.
Sweat soaks into a mattress night after night, and over time it builds up into brown and yellow spots and stains.
You can remove sweat stains from a mattress using natural solutions such as baking soda, vinegar, or a salt and lemon juice paste.
Urine stains are a common problem on kids' mattresses (especially when toilet training) and on any bed a pet shares.
Clean urine stains promptly, because fresh urine is far easier to remove than urine that has dried in.
My steps for getting urine out of a mattress work on any mattress type, and cover both fresh and dried stains.
Mold and mildew grow on a mattress that stays damp, leaving brown or discolored spots.
The signs that set mold apart from the other causes are a musty smell and spots on the underside of the mattress.
Mold in a mattress can take hold within 24 to 48 hours in a warm, poorly ventilated room, so treat any spots as soon as you find them.
Bed bugs leave small brown marks on your sleep surface, including fecal spots, and smears where the insects get crushed.
If you spot bed bug stains, treat the infestation immediately with an eco-friendly bed bug spray.
Regular vacuuming helps prevent a bed bug infestation from taking hold.
Blood stains from injuries or menstrual leaks dry into rust-colored marks if they are not treated promptly.
To tackle blood spots, immediately wet them with cold water.
Then, gently scrub with a mixture of cold water, natural dish soap, and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Avoid hot water, because heat sets a blood stain.
Let the treated area dry completely before using the mattress again.
While treating all these types of brown stains is possible, a better solution is to prevent stains from happening in the first place.
Preventing mattress stains is easier than removing them, and it takes nothing more than a few household habits.
A mattress protector blocks the liquids that can cause brown stains such as sweat, urine, and spilled drinks.
We recommend a breathable, eco-friendly mattress protector design that protects the mattress without making you sleep hot.
Vacuum the mattress regularly to remove dust and dirt before they settle in.
We suggest you inspect, clean, vacuum, and rotate your mattress every month.
Blot fresh spills straight away, using the method in the spills section above.
Never rub, because rubbing spreads the stain.
Keeping food and drinks out of bed stops spill stains at the source.
As a bonus, no more irritating biscuit crumbs getting where they shouldn't.
Good ventilation keeps the mattress dry, and a dry mattress gives mold nothing to grow on.
Air the bedroom daily, and run a dehumidifier if the room stays humid.
A stain that survives these habits and the cleaning methods above may need professional equipment.
Yes, you should hire a professional cleaner when you have tried every home cleaning method on this page, but the stain still survives.
Professional services use commercial extraction equipment and stronger cleaning solutions that reach deeper into a mattress than household methods, without damaging the fabric or fibers.
Check that the company uses eco-friendly, non-toxic products before you book.
If even a professional clean fails, you should consider a new mattress.
Yes, you should buy a new mattress when the stains will not shift, and the comfort or support has deteriorated.
Check the age of your mattress before spending more on cleaning products. On average, a mattress lasts 7 to 10 years, and yours may already be due for replacement.
If you want the replacement to outlast the old one, choose certified organic latex, which keeps its shape longer than any other common mattress material.
A mattress topper does offer some protection but is mainly designed to provide comfort and support, not to prevent stains.
If protection is your priority, choose a mattress protector rather than a topper.
To clean vomit stains, begin by carefully removing any solids. Then, sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and leave for a few hours.
Use warm water and a mild detergent to blot up the baking soda (and stain) with a sponge. Allow the cleaned area to dry completely before using it again.
Getting your required nightly sleep is a key component of a healthy lifestyle.
Maintaining a clean, stain-free mattress is essential for prolonging its lifespan and ensuring a hygienic sleeping environment.
By understanding the common causes of brown stains on your mattress and implementing effective removal and prevention strategies, you can keep your sleep sanctuary in A1 condition for years to come.
