How to Kill Germs on Beds

If the thought of germs on your bed disturbs you, don't fret. You can kill most of the germs on the bed with one of several cleaning methods. And the more ways you use to clean the bed, the more germs you'll kill. Remember to wash your hands with antibacterial soap before you touch the newly disinfected items, since you may have germs on your hands.

Laundry detergent
Disinfectant spray
Steam-cleaning machine
UV light

Instructions

- 1
  Take off all the bedding and launder it in hot water. Dry the bedding on the hottest setting, if applicable. If some of the items are too large for your washer or dryer, go to a laundromat that has commercial-sized equipment. Take items that must be dry-cleaned to the cleaners.
- 2
  Wash pillows if they are washable. Otherwise, spray them with a disinfectant spray safe for fabrics. If possible, set them out in the sun for three to four hours on each side.
- 3
  Connect the upholstery attachment to a steam-cleaning machine. Steam clean the mattress on one side. After it dries, flip it over and repeat.
- 4
  Spray the top and sides of the mattress with a disinfectant spray safe for fabrics. After the spray dries, flip the mattress over, and spray the other side. Repeat for the box spring. Alternatively, spray the mattress with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. This may bleach the mattress fabric, so test the solution in an inconspicuous area if this concerns you.
- 5
  Lay the mattress and box spring in the sun to allow the sunlight to kill even more germs. Lay them out for three to four hours on each side. A plastic sheet can act as a barrier between the ground and the mattress.
- 6
  Use a UV light designed to kill germs. Wave the wand slowly over the bedding, pillows and mattresses. The light wand can be used in all areas of your home, including the bathroom and kitchen.

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