We’ve all been cooped up in our bedrooms during the lockdown, watching films and snacking in front of Netflix. Unfortunately, we’re not perfect; in fact, we can be quite clumsy and wake up the next day to find we’ve spilt red wine or coffee all over the bedsheets. If not that, we’ve crushed crisps, popcorn, or chocolate into the mattress. Annoying, and it’s the price we pay for our indulgence, but how do you remove the cumbersome stains they leave behind?

This post is a guide to getting rid of stains from bed frames, bedsheets, and mattresses. You’ll also find advice on how to sanitise your bedroom furniture so that it is clean and free of germs, which is essential in this coronavirus age.

Let’s kick off with the food!

How to remove food stains from your sheets

When you find that putting your bed sheets in the washing machine isn’t shifting those lousy food stains, the steps below will help you:

1. Rinse the stain with cold water; hot water will only make it worse
2. Mix one part baking soda with two cups of water so that it turns into a paste
3. Spread the paste onto the stain. It should soak up the stain and lift it from the sheets
4. Brush the stain and paste off when it’s dry
5. Now put your sheets into your washing machine and on a cold wash
6. Hang your sheets out to dry

If the stain is dry, leave your bedsheets to soak in cold water for eight hours before following the instructions above.

How to remove drink stains from your bed sheets

Just as we might like to tuck into a big bowl of popcorn between the sheets or munch some toast between them while enjoying breakfast in bed, we might like a cup of coffee or a nightcap while under the duvet. Let’s look at how to deal with stains from these spillages:

Removing coffee stains from synthetic fabrics

1. Blot up the coffee with a clean, dry cloth
2. Soak the stain in 1 quarter of lukewarm water, half a teaspoon (tsp) of dishwashing liquid, and a tablespoon (tbsp) of vinegar for 15 minutes
3. Rinse the stain with warm water
4. Blot up anything left of the stain with a sponge and some alcohol (not the drinking kind)

If the stain is proving stubborn, repeat the procedure above. Unless the stain is old, it should come out sooner or later.

Removing coffee stains from cotton

1. Blot up the coffee with a clean, dry cloth
2. Attack the stain with a commercial stain remover
3. Wash as normal

Removing beer stains

In the days of lockdown, you might have sunk a cheeky beer or two, and while you’ve been guzzling away, some of it may have dripped onto the bed. What a waste! Not to worry. The steps below will help you to sort it out:

1. Strip the sheets from your bed immediately. The sooner, the better
2. Pour some cold water and then some washing machine detergent onto the stain
3. Pop the sheets and any similar items into the washing machine
4. Use the cap as a dosing device. Fill it with detergent and place it on top of the dirty laundry load in the washing machine drum
5. Wash on the usual cycle, but on the hottest wash, the manufacturer recommends
6. When the washing machine finishes, remove the sheets straight away or within two hours for the best results
7. Hang the sheets up to dry

Removing wine stains

When you spill wine, especially red wine, on your sheets or anywhere else, it feels like game over. It isn’t, however. You’ve got to act fast though:

1. Strip off the bedding
2. Mix one part dishwasher liquid with three parts of hydrogen peroxide and apply this mixture to the stain. It will act as a pre-soak
3. Leave for a few minutes. The stain should start to fade. If it doesn’t, add a little more solution. You don’t want the mixture to fade your sheets, so keep an eye on them.
4. Wash as normal when the stain has faded

Alternatively, you could try treating the stain with hairspray or a specialist product and then washing it as normal according to the fabric type. For cotton, the temperature should be 40ºC. 

Cleaning with bleach and vinegar

If your stain has been there for a while and has dried onto your bed, soak your sheets for eight hours. You may have heard an old wife's tale about using vinegar. Well, it’s true.

White vinegar can work for small stains and helps neutralise the odours. To remove a stain with white vinegar, all you have to do is:

1. Pre-soak it for 30 minutes
2. Put the washing machine on a cold cycle
3. Please take out your washing and hang it out to dry.

If you’re having trouble with odours, add ¼ of a cup to your washing machine’s fabric conditioner dispenser. Then just let the washing machine do its thing.

Avoid using bleach

Some people advise using bleach to remove stains. We don’t recommend using bleach on your sheets, especially not on silk or woollen fabric. It’s a harsh chemical and can cause your soft sheets to rip. 

You want your fabrics to last longer and be soft and clean so that you can have a comfier sleep. If you do want to use bleach, try oxygen-based bleach, which is gentler on fabric. 

How to clean stains from your mattress

It would be best if you cleaned your mattress every week and also your bed. Run over your mattress with the vacuum and dust over your bed frame. What you can always do is use a washable mattress protector that can prevent any stains or smells.

If you do happen to slosh wine, juice or other drink or liquid on your mattress or drop some crumbs on it, act sooner rather than later. It would be best if you had a bucket, 1/4 cup white vinegar per 1 litre of warm water, a bar of soap, a cleaning cloth, a toothbrush and a towel. Then follow the steps below:

1. Blot up as much as possible before you attack the stain
2. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar per 1 litre to a bucket of hot water
3. Wet the microfibre cloth so that it’s damp but not soaking wet
4. Rub some soap onto the cloth and scrub the stain. If the stain is especially stubborn, attack it with the toothbrush
5. Rinse the cloth and go over the stain again with it to remove the soap suds
6. Dry the patch with a towel
7. Allow the mattress to dry completely before you remake the bed.

How to clean leather and velvet bed frames

If you look after your bedsheets, you must look after your bedroom furniture, too, especially if it’s upholstered in a piece of luxurious fabric or material. In this section, we look at cleaning velvet and leather.

Cleaning and removing stains from fabric beds

Velvet is a gorgeous fabric that commands your attention. One rule about keeping velvet clean is never to position it near sunlight. Sunlight can affect the material as it attracts dust to your furniture.  If you do get dust, follow the simple steps below:

1. Hoover or dust it down
2. Use a soft brush to wipe down the excess

Suppose you should be unlucky enough to spill wine on your velvet bed. Velvet is a pricey material, so you might not feel comfortable tackling a stain on it, in which case you should hire a professional. If you’re feeling confident, take the following steps:

1. Blot the area with a damp cloth warm water and soap
2. If the spillage is a dry one, use a dry brush to brush it off lightly

Cleaning and removing stains from leather beds

If you have a leather bed, you can clean it with these simple steps:

1. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a bowl to create a cleaning solution
2. Remove dust with a hoover
3. Mix the solution and start cleaning the leather with a soft cloth
4. Wring the cloth out so that it’s damp but not soaking
5. Wipe the dirty areas of the leather
6. Dry off the damp areas with a cloth

If you’re doing a crossword or journaling from the comfort of your bed, you may get ink splotches on the leather. The process below will help you to remove the ink:

1. Apply alcohol to a cotton ball
2. Dab the ink with the cotton ball and watch it lift off
3. Take a fresh cotton ball, apply some more alcohol and do the same again
4. Pat the area down with a cloth until it’s dry

Sanitising and disinfecting bedroom furniture

In the age of coronavirus, when dealing with dirty laundry or anything that you encounter regularly, you need to sanitise it and disinfect it to get rid of germs. 

There are three main things you should do while you’re doing this: 

• Wear (disposable gloves) and also some eye protection while you’re handling these items or bits of furniture
• Clean in a room or spot that has good ventilation
• Avoid mixing cleaning products

Remember it’s important to wash your hands regularly just now. After handling any dirty loads, wash your hands straight away. 

Sanitising your bed frame

Sanitising your bed frame is straightforward. When you’ve slipped on your gloves, you should take the steps below:

1. Wash the frame with warm, soapy water to reduce germs
2. Dry off with a paper towel
3. Change the water to minimise any corrosive effects and then wipe down the frame with disinfectant (but not bleach)
4. Leave the disinfectant on the frame wet for at least a minute before wiping it off.

Sanitising your mattress

Sanitising a mattress is slightly harder because it’s a softer surface. That being said… it’s still simple. 

All you have to do is observe these steps: 

1. Remove any excess dirt.
2. Spray lightly with a disinfectant spray, such as Dettol. Use a sweeping motion as you spray so that you cover the mattress.
3. Allow the mattress to dry.
4. Vacuum the mattress

After that, you’re good to go!

Sanitising your bed sheets

Sanitising your bed sheets is plain sailing. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions. However, observe the advice below, too, when washing your bedsheets:

• Don’t shake the sheets around while you load them into the washing machine or take them out of the washing basket.
• Wash items at the warmest water setting the manufacturer will allow. 
• Dry items completely.
• Please don’t leave items in the washing machine once it stops. Remove them straight away in case there are still remnants of COVID-19 on them.

A few final thoughts on stain removal and cleanliness.

Stains on the bed sheets or mattress are annoying. It’s important to act fast. The longer you take to address the stain, the more it’s going to dig its heels in and refuse to budge. 

Cleanliness is paramount. It’s crucial to wash your hands regularly and take precautions when sanitising and disinfecting your bedding and bedroom furniture. After all, you’re going to sleep in it, and you want it to be as clean and germ-free as possible.

By following the steps above, you can show coffee stains, wine stains and more on the door if you happen to spill a tipple or drop something on your bed in a moment of clumsiness. Apply these and the tips for sanitising and disinfecting your furniture during this coronavirus era so you can sleep not just soundly in your nice, clean bed(room) but also more safely.