Rubbing alcohol is acknowledged as a great disinfectant to fight germs and eliminate odors. It is inexpensive and widely available at many stores, so many people use it on mattresses to prevent bed bugs and pests.
What happens when you spray rubbing alcohol on your mattress ?This post will help you if this problem is confusing to you. Continue reading to discover the final answer and pros and cons:
Can I Spray Rubbing Alcohol To Disinfect The Mattress?
Yes, it can help disinfect mattresses. Because rubbing alcohol evaporates fast after you spray, it doesn’t damage your mattress or its cover.
Sleeping on a clean bed can help you have a decent night’s sleep. However, dust mites, bacteria, dead skin cells, or perspiration residue may be present on or beneath the surface, leaving a dirty mattress.
Even if you have new sheets on your mattress, you may still be vulnerable to dangerous viruses or germs. This is when isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol comes in handy.
It is also quite efficient at removing body odors, unpleasant smells, viruses, and bacteria from your skin and various surfaces. The aroma will also help discourage the bug from laying eggs in your vicinity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an alcohol concentration ranging from 60 to 90% for disinfection.
When shopping for an item for your mattresses, you might look for one that contains at least 70% ethanol or 90% isopropanol.
However, safety precautions must be taken when sanitizing your mattress with this liquid. Alcohol, as we all know, is highly flammable and can constitute a fire hazard in your room. Ensure to dilute it with water evenly.
This will assist in cleaning the bed while also preventing fires. Also, open the windows to allow the highly flammable fumes to escape.
Why Shouldn’t Alcohol Be Used On Mattresses?
Because it evaporates quickly, rubbing alcohol won’t damage your sheets. However, it’s not strong enough to kill all bed bugs, and it could also be a fire risk:
Not Effective To Kill Bed Bugs For Good
Alcohol can only kill bugs when sprayed directly on them. Bed bugs are difficult to identify and expose because they can hide in small holes in your mattress, electrical outlets or in secluded places.
This disinfectant is difficult to use in some places, so it’s hard to kill bedbugs that you can’t see.
Researchers experimented with two items containing high levels of isopropyl. One item contained 50% alcohol and the other 91%. Both failed to kill half the bedbugs.
Bed bug infestations can develop rapidly – an average female can lay 250 eggs during her lifetime – and removing only half the population will not solve the problem.
Flammable
Alcohol is flammable, and this is the main reason why you should not use it to kill these bugs.
Even though it dries quickly, spraying it onto upholstered furniture and fabrics such as carpets, clothes, or beds can cause a fire. The vapors in the air are extremely flammable.
In the media, there have been many accidents that involved alcohol and furniture.
Ways To Use Alcohol To Disinfect Mattress (Step-by-Step)
Here are some steps you should follow to maximize its effects on your mattress:
Step 1: Quickly take off all pieces of pillows and bedding from the mattress to increase the contact surface and clean them with warm water.
Step 2: Prepare a bit of baking soda and sprinkle it on your mattress. Baking soda can absorb moisture and helps you eliminate bad odors, so let it sit for 20 minutes.
Step 3: Vacuum the mattress to get rid of any dust particles, dead skin, and leftover baking soda.
Step 4: Combine equal parts of isopropyl alcohol (70% or 90%) and water. Spray the liquid liberally on the mattress, scrub with a rag/cloth, and let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
Step 5: After sanitizing your mattress, cover it with a topper or a bed sheet.
How Long Does It Take For Alcohol To Kill Bed Bugs?
The condition of your mattress and the time required to disinfect it are factors that will determine how long it takes. After spraying the bed with alcohol, leave it for 15 minutes. After 10–20 minutes, the substance starts to be effective at disinfecting your bed.
It is important to note that a 70%-90% solution of isopropyl is not effective in killing bugs. Alcohol can only be used directly on the bug.
This disinfectant kills only about 25% of bed bugs. A study found that bed bugs sprayed with alcohol survived four days after the treatment.
This strategy will not work to eliminate these little pests. Spray alcohol every few minutes if you want to see quick results. However, the smell of alcohol will make bed bugs leave within one or two hours.
You may have to clean your mattress more than once if it is very dirty. It is best to wash it in warm, soapy water and let it dry for several hours before you sleep.
Read more: Is It Safe To Buy A Mattress From Goodwill
Conclusion
Alcohol can be used to clean your mattress, and in some cases it is even beneficial. Although this substance is excellent for disinfecting mattresses and is effective in preventing bed bugs, it is not the best way to control them.
This substance helps to eliminate dust particles, dead cell and germs and can make your bedding smell good. Do not forget to dilute your solvent with water.
Alcohol can be combustible. Disinfect your bed with extreme care. If you follow the instructions, your bed will smell great.
For more methods to clean a mattress properly, check out this tutorial video:
