I tried a mattress vacuum – and was horrified
While it often gets overlooked, the mattress is one of the most important surfaces to clean in our homes. That’s not surprising when you consider how much time we spend in bed, secreting sweat and oils, and attracting dust mites on a regular basis.
If we do get around to cleaning it, most of us will give our mattress a once over with a standard handheld vacuum, but a relatively new appliance designed just for this job has seen a lot of attention recently. Mattress vacuums feature UV lights and promise to give your mattress the deep clean it’s been needing – but how essential are these appliances? I gave one a go to see how it fared.
What is a mattress vacuum?
A mattress vacuum is a small handheld vacuum designed specifically for the task of cleaning your mattress and upholstery, in order to remove dust mites and allergens. Its key feature is a UV light to help sanitise the mattress as you vacuum, with the aim of killing any lurking bacteria in the process. The UV light, or more specifically UV-C light (which features a shorter wavelength), works by altering the DNA of any bacteria in its presence, preventing it from reproducing and therefore breaking its life cycle.
Depending on how much you want to spend, a range of extra features are also available, including dust/dust mite sensors, rotating brush bars, vibrating agitators and hot air vents. But, at its core, a mattress vacuum is designed to provide strong enough suction to collect dust while emitting UV rays to kill bacteria.
It functions much like a standard handheld vacuum, complete with a removable dust canister and (sometimes) a HEPA filter, but it tends to be corded rather than cordless (although both types are available).
How I found using a mattress vacuum
I tried out the Hoover HMC5 to see how it performed compared with my cordless vacuum cleaner. It was easier to use than I imagined, especially considering it comes with some of those extra features, including a dust sensor and a roller that beats the surface for a deeper clean. You plug it in, press the power button and you’re good to go.
The performance on my mattress was admittedly a little hit and miss. The main problem was that I struggled to press down the vacuum’s wheels hard enough to activate the UV light (the light won’t come on unless the wheels are pressed in). I think my mattress was partly to blame for this – because it’s a typical sprung mattress, it has buttons and indents, so it’s not a flat surface. To fix the problem, I pressed one hand on the side of the vacuum head, although the excess pressure did make my hand ache by the end.
I use a mattress protector on my mattress at all times to keep dust at bay. I wash that periodically but even so, the mattress vacuum managed to collect an impressive amount of dust here, filling the canister to about 1/4 capacity. The dust sensor stayed green throughout, thankfully (it changes to red where there’s an excessive amount of dust). A humidity reader and heat vent is also included, which could be handy for helping to dry the mattress out immediately after use, preventing bacterial growth.
I moved on to my cushions and sofa. Again, it was a little awkward to get the UV light to activate on the soft surfaces, but there was plenty of dust here, which the machine picked up quickly, although the dust sensor stayed green. I didn’t think I’d find a lot of dust in these places, but the canister was pretty full by this point.
I wanted to give the mattress vacuum a real test, so I pulled out my bedside cabinet and gave the carpet underneath a quick go with it. The dust sensor immediately shone a bright red as I cleaned the surface. But the difference the vacuum made was impressive and fast, and the light soon changed back to green. On the whole, I was pretty disgusted by how much dust I’d collected in such a short time, even before I tackled the carpet; it made me realise how important it is to break from our regular cleaning routines to vacuum our mattresses and upholstery.
Handheld Mattress Vacuum Cleaner
What to look for when buying a mattress vacuum
If you're interested in buying one, mattress vacuums start from as little as £30 and go as high as £160. So there’s quite a price gap depending on whether you want those extra features or indeed a stronger suction performance.
Check and compare the vaccuums’ kPa suction rating; this can range anywhere from eight up to 17 kPa, with the higher rating giving you a stronger suction performance. The wattage can also help guide you. Models range from 100 up to 700 watts, with the higher giving you more power. Pay attention to the design, too; you want a wide head with a large cavity to pick up dust effectively. The wavelength of the UV rays is given in nanometres (nm), and this tends to be 253.7 for mattress vacuums.
If you want to know what those extra features can deliver, here’s a breakdown:
Dust and dust mite sensors: These tell you how dirty an area is based on the size of the particles collected. Some models, such as the Hoover HMC5 and the Jimmy BX7 Pro Mattress Vacuum Cleaner feature an indicator that changes colour when there’s a greater density of dust, so you know where to focus your efforts.
Rotating brush bar: These work in much the same way as they do on a vacuum cleaner. A brush bar rotates in the head of the device to help collect residue that clings to the surface.
Vibrating agitator: Also known as tapping, this essentially helps to agitate and dislodge both dust and dust mites through vibration. It can work in conjunction with a brush bar.
Hot air vent: Some models can also vent hot air, reaching temperatures as high as 60 degrees to kill dust mites and bacteria at the surface level and beneath, as well as dehumidifying at the same time.
Ultrasonic: This emits an ultrasonic sound during use to disrupt the growth cycle of dust mites.
Mattress vacuum versus regular vacuum
So is it worth switching from a regular vacuum to a mattress vacuum when it comes to cleaning your mattress? The latter arguably does provide a deeper clean, with the addition of the UV rays eliminating unseen bacteria, but a standard vacuum will pick up dust effectively too, and save you from storing an additional appliance.
If you’d normally use a cordless handheld vacuum, a mattress vacuum may provide you with more power (depending on the model). Corded vacuums generally offer a stronger performance compared with cordless – I noticed the difference when trying out a mattress vacuum for myself.
There’s also the fact that if you suffer from allergies, a mattress vacuum could alleviate this by providing a better performance against dust mites, although you’d likely need some of those extra features to do this, such as the heat function and the vibrating agitator.
The dust or dust mite sensor sounds like a useful addition, but it’s only going to shine in truly problematic areas. Considering how little dust a mattress collects, it’s unlikely to have much use here. But it might open your eyes if you’ve never cleaned your mattress before.
If you’re keen to try a mattress vacuum out, make sure you invest in one that meets your needs, with a high enough power rating for good suction and a convenient design. Look out for any of those extra features you might want, too. Otherwise, your usual vacuum may provide a similar performance on dust and dust mites.
Hybrid Essential Topper
Score: 93/100
This topper uses Simba's patented mattress tech, which combines a layer of supportive springs and a layer of foam. One of our panel said it felt like they had “a whole new mattress” and praised the comfort offered by our joint winning topper.
Hybrid Mattress Topper
Score: 91/100
This is another hybrid topper that offered an extra layer of support to our mattress. Our panel praised the comfortable, firm design. We also approved of its sustainable credentials – it's made in the UK from 100% recyclable materials.
Self Heating Double Mattress Topper
Score: 89/100
This is one for those who like a really cosy sleep set-up, thanks to its self-heating capabilities – it uses heat-reflecting foil and has a thermal lining. It's also hypoallergenic and a lot more affordable than many on our list.
The Topper Mattress Topper
Score: 89/100
This memory foam topper is made from sustainably-sourced bamboo, and it moulded nicely to our testers' bodies for a comfy night's sleep. It was also quiet at night and the adjustable straps mean it's a good fit and doesn't move around.
Supreme Goose Down Mattress Topper
Score: 89/100
This Dusk topper is another that nails the 'sleeping on a cloud' brief thanks to its two-tiered approach. There's a layer of goose down on top and fluffy feathers on the bottom, for sink-in softness. It was a hit with our panel.
Premium Topper
Score: 88/100
This premium topper is 9cm thick, so should revive a tired mattress. It doesn't have straps but you should be able to hold it in place with a fitted sheet. Our panel loved the supportive, sink-in design and said it helped them sleep better.
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