Disinfectants degrade mattress surface fabrics making them more difficult to disinfect over time.17,18 For example, a 2-year-old mattress may require more rewetting than a 1-year-old mattress, increasing the time EVS staff take to turn a room. Eventually, the fabric may break down to the point that fluids and pathogens can freely enter and exit the mattress core, making the mattress impossible to disinfect.