How to Clean & Maintain Your Air Mattress

Air mattresses provide a convenient, easy solution when a friend or family member needs a place to crash for the night or you need a temporary, comfortable place to sleep. But, just like every place we sleep, it’s important to take the necessary steps to clean and maintain your sleep space.

Why is it important to periodically clean your air mattress? It may be uncomfortable to think about, but the reality is that as you sleep, your body sheds dead skin, hair, sweat and saliva. These elements accumulate on your mattress and create unpleasant odors and attract dust mites, which can result in allergy symptoms or even asthma, according to the Sleep Foundation.

So, just like any regular mattress in your home, you need to know how to keep your air mattress clean and maintained so you can enjoy your air mattress for many years to come.

Here are the basics to keep in mind for cleaning and maintaining your air mattress:

How to Clean Your Air Mattress

1. Remove all sheets and coverings and wash in hot, soapy water.

2. To deflate, unplug your air mattress and store the cord if it has a built-in pump. Or, remove the valve to begin deflation if it’s manually inflated.

3. Once deflated, close the valve.

4. Vacuum the top of your mattress thoroughly with a handheld vacuum or stand-up vacuum with the hose and brush attachment to eliminate any dust, sand or other particles from the air mattress.

5. With a lightly damp, soapy rag, spot clean any areas that need attention and blot with a towel. To dry, use a hairdryer on the “cool” setting, or air dry the mattress outside in the sun. Spot cleaning may be especially important for air mattresses with a flocked top, which is the velvet-like material layered on top of many air mattresses. 

Note: if the air mattress needs deeper cleaning due to pets or other odors, use mild cleaning ingredients such as vinegar or baking soda. Never wash your air mattress in the washing machine.

A great way to give yourself an extra layer of protection against the grime is to purchase a Bestway air mattress with Ultra-Fresh®, a special, antimicrobial coating that helps prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew on the sleep surface. Check out the Bestway Tritech™ QuadComfort™ Air Mattress here.

How to Maintain Your Air Mattress After Cleaning

1. Be sure to carefully store the air mattress in a box or the cloth, cinch storage bag when not in use in a cool, dry place.

2. Keep the pump air vent free from debris or other items nearby during use.

3. Keep all sharp objects away from the air mattress. While most Bestway air mattresses have durable material to resist puncture, it’s still better to keep sharp objects away from every side of the air mattress. Clear the floor the air mattress will be set on and remind guests to be careful about using pens or other sharp objects near it.

4. Avoid running the electric pump for more than five minutes to maintain the motor if you have a traditional, built-in pump. But, if you have a Bestway AlwayzAire® air mattress, the motor can quietly run throughout use – it was created for that!

For all electric pump air mattresses, never expose them to water or rain.

Explore Air Mattresses

Need a new air mattress or ready to upgrade yours? Explore some of Bestway’s most popular models here.