With Spring around the corner, spring cleaning is now in full swing, but experts are warning that there is one part of our home that too often gets forgotten about.

Typically, a spring clean is associated with the larger, more time-consuming jobs, such as clearing out the garage or scrubbing grouting, but there is one item in the household that homeowners should be looking to clean more often – your bedroom headboard.

Failure to clean our headboards can trigger allergies, and experts have warned that too many of us do not know how to do it properly.

Sarah Dempsey, a cleaning expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk, explained: “As we sleep and sit up in the bed, our heads and bodies tend to rub against the headboard. Natural oils from your skin and hair can leave yellow staining and a greasy residue.

“Dust, dead skin cells and pet dander settle on and get caught in the fibres of the upholstery, which encourages mites and aggravates allergies.”

This is what you need to know about cleaning a headboard.

How to clean your headboard

Sarah said: “The first thing you should do to clean any headboard is to vacuum it off to remove the dust and dander.

“Use the upholstery attachment and crevice tool to ensure you get in every nook and cranny.

“A fabric headboard can usually be cleaned with a steam cleaner or spot cleaning machine.

“Alternatively, you can use warm water and a mild detergent. You can carefully work this into the board with a cloth and follow with a dry cloth to absorb as much of the moisture as possible.

“To ensure the headboard dries fully, open the window and bedroom door to aid air circulation.

“For velvet headboards, it’s best to check the manufacturer’s care instructions first. If it’s suitable for cleaning with detergent, make sure you dab rather than rub with your cloth to prevent damaging the material.

“For suede and leather, you’re best using a specialist cleaner as water and steam could damage the headboard.”