Quick answer: Wipe the frame, boards and rails with a damp cloth and a mild disinfectant. Keep water off the handset and the motor. Check the castor brakes weekly, keep the cranks turning freely, and dry any spill on a powder-coated frame the same day. That is the whole routine.
Daily and weekly
- Wipe boards, rails and the mattress cover with a damp cloth and mild disinfectant.
- Check that the castor brakes still hold on your floor surface.
- Turn each crank through its full range so it does not seize.
- Check the handset cable is not pinched under the frame.
What damages beds fastest
Standing water on a powder-coated frame, disinfectant left to dry on the handset, castors run over cables, and cranking against a jam instead of stopping to find out why. On the coast, humidity plus a scratched frame equals rust, so touch up chips early.
Do not do this
Do not hose down an electric bed. Do not lubricate actuators with cooking oil. Do not remove a rail permanently to make the bed easier to reach: lower it instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean a hospital bed at home?
Damp cloth with mild disinfectant on the frame, boards, rails and mattress cover. Keep liquid away from the handset and motor. Dry surfaces afterwards.
How long does a hospital bed last?
A well-kept manual frame outlasts an electric one because there is less to fail. Both come with a 12-month warranty from us, and both last years when they are kept dry and the castors are cared for.
Ask before you buy
Two minutes on the phone settles most of these questions.
Page updated 2026-09-08. Prices confirmed on the call before dispatch.