If the college students on your campus haven't yet left the dorms for the holidays, they will soon.
As a dorm manager, it might not be a bad idea to use this period of time when the dorms are empty to assess and freshen the dormitory mattresses and replacement mattress covers in each room.
Not only will you have space to do a thorough evaluation, but if your college students are like most, they'll be taking their dirty laundry home with them so mom can wash it. And that means their beds will be free of sheets, blankets and whatever else they wrap them in, making it much easier for you to do your job.
We've established that timing is on your side; now let's keep it that way by following a thorough and efficient checklist of what to assess, what to refresh, and how to do it.
4 Tips to Prep Your Dorm Mattress for Winter Break
1. Let the air in.
When you walk into each dorm room, start by opening the windows. Since taking all of the mattresses outside for fresh air is an unrealistic amount of work, airing out each room is your best option. In the end, you might be surprised by the difference an open window can make on a crisp December day. A little air goes a long way!
2. Flip 'em.
The purpose of flipping the mattress is twofold. First, flipping the mattress over allows you to check for bed bugs. We hope you don't see any critters hiding in your beds, but if you do, you'll want to take action immediately. Also look out for mold, torn vinyl or nylon, stains or other issues.
Second, flipping a dorm mattress allows the mattress to wear evenly. According to best mattress care practices, you should flip and rotate mattresses about once every three months to prolong the mattress’ life.
3. Sprinkle some soda.
If you're up for it, baking soda is a great ingredient for deodorizing mattresses. Sprinkle a generous amount on each mattress, let it sit for an hour or two, and then vacuum it up. Because baking soda is an odor neutralizer, it's not about what you smell when you're finished, but rather what you do not smell.
If you notice a stain while you're freshening up your dorm mattresses, you may be able to get it out by applying a mixture of baking soda, salt, and water.
4. Record your findings.
Do yourself a favor and keep a record of the mattresses that are in poor condition. We're guessing you do this periodically anyway to determine when it's time to purchase replacement dorm mattresses. By noting now which mattresses need to be replaced, you may be able to save yourself some work later when you’re doing inventory at the end of the school year!
Keep us in mind for dorm mattresses.
We want you to have the very best for your college dorms - from mattresses to mattress covers , and if we didn't think our bedding fit that criteria, we wouldn't recommend it! Contact us today with your questions or concerns about outfitting your dorms with the best in bedding, from replacement mattress covers to vinyl and nylon mattresses. We can't wait to hear from you!
