How to Get Smells Out of an Air Mattress
An air mattress either reeks of new vinyl out of the box, or smells musty and mildewed after being stored damp. Both are fixable. Air out the new-vinyl smell, or wipe down and fully dry a musty one, and it freshens.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why an air mattress smells
New vinyl gives off a strong plastic smell for a while, which fades with air and time. A mattress packed away even slightly damp grows mildew in the folds and seams, and stored in a basement it picks up musty odors.
Either way the smell clings to the smooth vinyl. Matching the fix to the cause is what clears it.
How to fix it, step by step
- Air out a new one. Inflate it and let it air in a ventilated room or outside for a day or more, and wipe it with a vinegar-and-water solution. The plastic smell fades with airflow.
- Wipe down a musty one. Clean the whole mattress with a solution of water and white vinegar, or a little dish soap, to kill mildew and lift the smell.
- Spot-treat mildew. For visible mildew, wipe with a vinegar solution or a diluted bleach solution, testing first, then wipe clean.
- Dry it completely. Dry the mattress fully, including the folds and seams, before deflating, since trapped moisture regrows mildew.
- Store it dry and sealed. Once bone dry, store it somewhere dry in a sealed bag or bin, not on a damp basement floor.
Drying before you fold it away is the key. Mildew comes back from moisture trapped in the folds, so a fully dry mattress stored sealed stays fresh.
Keep it from coming back
Always dry the mattress fully before storing it, and keep it sealed and off damp floors.
Air out a new one before use, so the vinyl smell is gone before the first guest.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With the mattress smell handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your home, Retail Therapy fits well. It is juicy and bright, with red currant, peach, and amber, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the plastic smell out of a new air mattress?
Inflate it and air it out in a ventilated room or outside for a day or more, and wipe it with a vinegar-and-water solution. The smell fades with airflow.
How do I get mildew smell out of an air mattress?
Wipe the whole surface with a vinegar solution, spot-treat visible mildew, and dry it completely, especially the folds, before storing.
How should I store an air mattress?
Fully dry, in a sealed bag or bin, somewhere dry and off the floor, so it does not pick up moisture and mildew.
Why does my air mattress smell musty?
It was likely stored with a little moisture in the folds, which grew mildew. Clean it, dry it fully, and store it sealed.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
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