If your mattress smell like fish then there can be many reasons like body fluids, age of the mattress, sweat, urine, material inside of your mattress, or natural oils from your body.
According to statistics, an average American approximately sweats 26 gallons of sweat in his/her bed in a single year.
This means your bed can be the paradise of bacteria.
Another reason may be an off-gassing smell from your mattress so if your mattress is new then the mattress can emit an off-gassing smell which we will talk about in a bit.
But As you can see there can be many reasons why your mattress smell like fish so you need to know the what’s the main reason behind this.
And In this article, we will discuss proven ways to get rid of the fish smell in mattresses.
Let’s get started.
3 Reasons Why Does Mattress Smell Like Fish
Here are some main reasons why your mattress smells like fish.
Reason 1: Off- Gassing Smell
If your mattress is new and if your mattress already smells like fish it’s because of VOC (Volatile Organic Compound).
All new mattresses are manufactured with this VOC compound and when you unbox your mattress then it can emit a strong unpleasant smell which is also called an off-gassing smell.
So if your new mattress smells like fish then there is nothing you can do but wait until the off-gassing period of the mattress is completed.
Meanwhile, you can put your mattress in another room until it completely emits the off-gassing smell.
But if your new mattress is still smelling like fish after days then there may be a problem with your mattress, you should contact the support team of your mattress.
Reason 2: Bacteria Growth
As I said before, Mattress can accumulate lots of sweat, dead skin, and body fluids over time.
And those can result in a smell like fish from your mattress.
Bacteria can cause by moisture under your mattress or accumulated dirt, debris, dust mites, and other body fluids.
Reason 3: Your Mattress is Old
Another common reason why your mattress smells like fish is that your mattress is old and already accumulated millions of debris and sweat.
So in this case you can either purchase a new mattress or if your mattress is not older than 7 to 8 years then you can deep clean your mattress.
But if your mattress is older than 8 years then you should purchase a new mattress if not then stay tuned for ways to clean the fish smell from the mattress.
Also Read: Mattress Smell Like Rotten Eggs? (Reasons & Solution)
3 Proven Ways To Get Rid of Fish Smell From Mattress
Here are some 3 proven ways to remove the fish smell from the mattress.
Way 1: Laundry Detergent Method and Baking soda
As you know baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer but removing millions of bacteria and dust mites from your mattress is not the work of baking soda alone,
You need to dilute some laundry detergent in baking soda before you spread it over the mattress.
You can also get laundry detergent in a spray bottle for ease of use.
Way 2: Vinegar Method
This is another proven method to get rid of the fish smell from the mattress,
Here are the things you will need
Step 1: Remove all Bedding and wash them
Remove all bedding like comforters, sheets, pillows, and mattress protectors and throw them into the washer and put it on a gentle cycle with mild detergent.
You need to clean other bedding before you start cleaning the mattress.
Step 2: Create a Vinegar Solution
Once you removed all bedding, mix equal parts of water with equal parts of white vinegar and mix them well.
And pour the solution into the spray bottle but make sure you do not shake the solution.
Once you create a solution, spray the solution on the overall mattress but do not over-saturate the area.
Let the solution sit for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 3: Sprinkle Baking Soda
After 20 to 30 minutes, sprinkle some amount of baking soda on the top of your mattress and leave it for at least 6 to 8 hours.
after 6 to 8 hours, you can vacuum up all baking soda particles from the mattress.
You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda for a great fragrance.
Way 3: Enzyme Cleaner
The main reason why your mattress smells like fish is that there is bacteria growth caused by body fluids, sweat, and debris.
And the enzyme cleaner can kill all bacteria and removes protein from body fluids in your mattress.
Once you remove them your mattress can become clean and smells fresh.
Step 1: Create A Solution
Mix ⅓ part of the enzyme cleaner into ½ part of the water and mix them well.
Pour the solution into the spray bottle, but do not shake the spray bottle.
Step 2: Spray the Solution and wait
Now, spray the solution on the affected parts of your mattress first then you can spray the solution on the entire mattress.
Do not over-saturate your mattress just spray until your mattress becomes damp.
After spraying the solution, at least wait for 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 3: Absorb the Solution and Let it Dry
Now, take a paper towel or clean cloth and absorb the excess solution from the mattress.
After that air out your mattress until the mattress becomes completely dry.
You can add a few drops of essential oil for a great fragrance.
How to Protect Mattress From Smelling Like Fish
Here are some ways you can protect your mattress from bacteria and body fluids in the future.
1. Always Vacuum Up and Deep Clean Your Mattress Regularly
Mattress can accumulate lots of dead skin and body fluids over the years so you need to vacuum up your mattress and clean your mattress regularly.
You should at least vacuum up your mattress once a week and deep clean your mattress twice a year.
Because keeping your mattress clean is so important.
2. Use a Waterproof Mattress Protector/Cover
If you want to keep your mattress safe from all types of bacteria and fluids then you have to use a waterproof mattress cover on your mattress.
If you use a waterproof mattress cover then there is no way your mattress can accumulate sweat, debris, dead skin cells, and body oils.
You can wash your waterproof mattress cover once a week to keep them both clean and safe.
Final Words
If your mattress is smelling like fish and if your mattress is not new then you can use a white vinegar solution with baking soda to get rid of that smell.
But if you have a new mattress and it’s smelling like fish then it may be because of the off-gassing smell.
So in that case air out your mattress or keep your mattress in another room for a week because the off-gassing smell will fade away.
If you have any questions regarding the fish smell in mattresses then you can ask them in the comment section of this article.
