From The Straits Times    |
Review: Mattress cleaning services

While they may be difficult to spot, there could be up to two million dust mites sharing your bed with you. Shuddering at the thought? So when was the last time that you’d given your mattress a good clean?

How frequently should your mattress be cleaned? Experts share that two to four times a year is ideal; your pillows and bolsters should be changed every two years. If you’re an allergy sufferer, opt for latex mattresses. These are best for people with allergies as they are dense and do not have air pockets that trap fine dust, unlike spring and foam ones.

Think it’s high time for your mattress to get a good wash? Look to the services of these companies; they can get your mattress well-vacuumed and freshened for you. We tried out three Singaporean mattress-cleaning services to find the most effective and efficient team to beat these tiny menaces.

Who's sleeping with you?
Give your mattress the good wash that it needs with
these Singapore cleaning services. Image: Corbis

1. WE LOVE: DE HYGIENIQUE
VERDICT: 9/10. Professional and thorough.

This is the only company that dry-cleaned the mattress. The 20-odd kg Potema – an industrial-strength vacuum cleaner-cum-sterilising machine vibrates to loosen dust in the mattress, then vacuums it up.

At the same time, it emits a blue ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. The two-man team cleaned the mattress section by section. They used a sanitising spray on the mattress, pillows and bolsters to retard the growth of dust mites at the end of the session.

RESULTS: The mattress did not look visibly cleaner, but they showed me a convincing, palm-sized amount of fine dust vacuumed from just a section of it. I like that the mattress was dry after the cleaning session, and even after a sanitising spritz. The slight alcoholic scent from the spritz dissipated after five minutes.

SERVICE: The team called to say that they would be 10 minutes late due to the rain. They were friendly and the head of operations, Fendi Zhang, impressed me with his mattress cleaning knowledge.

WHAT WE LIKED: The team offered lots of useful tips; I learnt that sunning soft toys is the best way to kill the dust mites on them.

For further enquries, visit www.dh-asia.com or call tel: 6749-1950. Rates range from $42 (single) to $60 (king-sized).


2. CLEANHOMES

VERDICT: 8/10.
Competent and friendly, with no harsh chemicals used.

Before they started, the three-man team gave a detailed rundown of the cleaning process. They first used a powerful vacuum cleaner to clean the sides of the mattress – I could see the water in the vacuum cleaner getting darker as it sucked up the dust. They then steamed the mattress thoroughly, especially along the rims and corners; they also flipped the mattress over and cleaned the bottom and sides. Finally, they sprayed the mattress with an organic anti-mite solution.

RESULTS: The mattress looked refreshed and the anti-mite solution left a subtle pleasant scent, but it did not linger. The mattress was slightly damp, and they advised me to dry it under a fan for about an hour.

SERVICE: Although they were 15 minutes late, the team were friendly and very professional; they were knowledgeable and could answer my queries.

WHAT WE LIKED: The team texted me 40 minutes before arrival to inform us that they were on their way.

Go to www.cleanhomes.biz or call 6406-2062 for more information. Rates start from $90 (single) to $128 (king-sized).


3. CRUSADE SERVICES

VERDICT: 8/10.
Patient and thorough, but pricey.

The two-man team arrived with three machines. They vacuumed and steamed the mattress, sprayed it with an antibacterial and eco-friendly solution and used a hand pad to wipe it clean, section by section.

They then used another steaming machine to clean the mattress again. Finally, they closed the bedroom door to give it an anti-bacterial treatment to protect it from dust and mould.

RESULTS: The mattress looked and felt much cleaner, but it was slightly damp after the cleaning. There was also a faint but bearable chemical smell. I could see substantial dust in the dust bag of the vacuum cleaner.

SERVICE: The team were very polite and professional, and took time to explain the cleaning process before starting.

WHAT WE LIKED: The supervisor took the initiative to clean the bed frame.

Find out more about Crusade Services by visiting www.crusade.com.sg or call 6296 4156. Rates start from $120 (single) to $180 (king-sized); minimum charge of $250.

All product and pricing information was correct at the time of the magazine’s publication. We advise readers to check with the store for the latest availability and pricing information.

This article was originally published in SimplyHer February 2011.