It’s important to know how to clean your mattress. Not just for day-to-day cleanliness and hygiene, but let’s say you’re dealing with an emergency—a “my mattress is ruined” situation where you have the frantic energy of an emergency clean-up crew. Is a trip to the dump inevitable? Not necessarily.

Before you think, “I’m so clean, this would never happen to me!” I’m telling you, it can. I’ve seen a lot over the course of my career as a professional mattress tester and certified sleep coach. If you plan to have your mattress for its full eight- to 10-year lifespan, you’ll want to keep it as pristine as possible. I chatted