Home Care Challenge: Refresh Your Mattress & Pillows for Better Sleep
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission. Read my disclosure policy here.
We recently moved our two boys into a shared room, and they were so excited!
It’s only been about two weeks, and while there have been plenty of highs and lows, I’ll save the full breakdown—how we got here, our process, and mood boards—for another post.
For now, let’s talk about what has changed: our sleep schedule.
Our oldest has started making surprise visits to our room multiple times a night. No explanation, no requests—just silent, slightly eerie staring until one of us sighs, gets up, and walks him back to bed. Meanwhile, our youngest has decided that the middle of the night is a great time to cry out—waking up his brother and, of course, us. So, yeah… it’s been fun.
I know adjusting takes time, and this is a big transition for them. I’m just really hoping we get back to some kind of normal sleep routine before the end of the month.
But one thing that won’t be disrupting my sleep? My mattress and bedding. So this week, we’re focusing on those—because even if sleep is in short supply, it should at least be good sleep.
If you can’t remember the last time you flipped or vacuumed it, you’re not alone. I used to overlook this task until I realized how much dust, allergens, and who-knows-what can build up over time. Let’s just say our mattress has seen its fair share of surprises.
Your bedroom should be a sanctuary, a place where you can truly rest and recharge. But to get the best sleep possible, your mattress and pillows need a little TLC every six months. Here’s how to refresh your sleep setup with minimal effort.
Rotate & Vacuum Your Mattress
Rotating your mattress helps distribute wear evenly and prevents sagging. Depending on your mattress type:
Innerspring & Hybrid Mattresses: Rotate 180 degrees.
Flippable Mattresses: Flip it over completely.
Memory Foam & Pillow-Top Mattresses: Check the manufacturer’s instructions—some should not be flipped but can still benefit from rotating.
Next, vacuum your mattress to remove dust, dead skin cells (sorry, but it’s true), and allergens. Use the upholstery attachment, paying extra attention to seams and crevices.
Bonus Freshness Tip: Sprinkle a mixture of 1 cup baking soda and 10-15 drops of essential oil over the mattress. Let it sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming to absorb odors and leave a subtle, clean scent.
Clean & Fluff Your Pillows
Pillows collect sweat, dust mites, and bacteria over time (yikes), so giving them a proper wash is essential.
Synthetic & Cotton Pillows: Machine wash on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Use an extra rinse cycle to remove all soap.
Down & Feather Pillows: Best cleaned by a professional, but you can spot clean if needed.
Memory Foam Pillows: These can’t be machine washed—just spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
Pro Drying Tip: Throw clean dryer balls or tennis balls into the dryer on low heat to keep pillows fluffy and prevent clumping.
Wash Your Duvet Cover & Refreshing the Insert
Since we’re already tackling the mattress and pillows, let’s not forget about the duvet!
Duvet Covers: If you use a duvet cover, it should be washed every couple of weeks (or at least monthly) to keep it fresh and free of dust and allergens. Follow the care label instructions, but most cotton and linen covers can be tossed in the washing machine on a gentle cycle with mild detergent.
Duvet Inserts: While you don’t need to wash your duvet insert as frequently, giving it a refresh a few times a year is a good idea. If it's machine washable, use a large-capacity washer with mild detergent and an extra rinse cycle to ensure all soap is removed. Otherwise, airing it out in the sun for a few hours can help eliminate odors and moisture buildup.
Fluff & Redistribute: Over time, duvet inserts can get clumpy. Give it a good shake or toss it in the dryer on low heat with a few dryer balls to help redistribute the filling and restore its loft.
This little refresh will make a big difference in how cozy and clean your bedding feels!
Your Sleep Just Got an Upgrade
You’re officially set up for better sleep. This simple refresh can make a huge difference—not just in how your bed looks and feels, but in how well you sleep at night.
So, when was the last time you cleaned your mattress and pillows? Let me know in the comments!
Sweet dreams!
Shop
Products I used to tackle this week’s home care challenge:
Related Blogs
A week to reset, wrap up unfinished tasks, and make space for what’s next.