How to Clean Your Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam beds are made from petroleum-based materials which give them contouring, supportive, and pressure relieving properties. Well and expensive things need good preservation. Even though the mattress provides one of the best supports, it can quickly lose the support if not protected well. 

Memory foam is different from other mattress materials. The polyurethane foam absorbs sweat, dead skin, and dust mites, leading to a musty bed that requires a higher level of maintenance. Regular mattress cleaning is good enough to remove dust, odors, grime, and pollen, but not for memory foam mattresses.

In this article, we’ll explain how to maintain your mattress by vacuuming, spot cleaning, and how to quickly dry your mattress. We’ll also discuss how to keep a mattress clean with a mattress protector and give other helpful tips on maintaining your mattress.

Make sure to read and pay attention to mattress instructions as they provide the best guidance. The mattress is too expensive to be ruined and wasted if you ignore the guidelines. 

Never put your memory foam in the washer. Placing it in the washer can cause it to tear and otherwise damage it since memory foam is delicate. You can wash your memory foam with a vacuum cleaner and with careful handwashing.  

A well-maintained mattress can reduce dust mites and other allergens that affect your quality of sleep. Take care of odors that the foam may have absorbed and held on to. Cleaning can extend the life of your mattress since it can eliminate any mold or mildew 

Vacuuming

Vacuum is one of the most effective ways to get rid of the detritus for your mattress. The handheld ones are the perfect size for a thorough clean because anything larger might cause the mattress to rip.

We suggest the frequency is about once a week. 

Do not forget the nooks and crannies as dead skins and bodies build up there. And make sure to vacuum the underside of your mattress every time you rotate or flip it in about once every 3 months. Not every type of mattress can be flipped, but our Hesperis Mattress can. 

If you have a pet, use a vacuum specifically designed to pick up pet dandruff and hair.

Removing dried stains

Once you’ve discovered a stain, it’s best to take care of it right away. We encourage quickly cleaning fresh stains as the spot will lift more easily; however, if you couldn’t get to the spot in time, you can still lift the stain with a little elbow grease.

If you have a zippable mattress cover, we suggest unzipping and looking to see if the stain soaked through and preparing to spot clean the stain both on the mattress and the cover.

Using harsh chemicals such as bleach will damage the foam materials. Instead, use a homemade solution of 1 part mild detergent and 2 parts water shaken in a spray bottle until dissolved. Lightly spray the mixture on the mattress. You only need enough to make the fabric surface lather slightly.

Using too much of the solution can risk the integrity of the materials. A memory foam mattress is like a sponge, absorbing moisture and drying slowly.

If the mattress isn’t able to dry within 24 hours, it may develop mildew or mold.

After spraying the stain, scrub in circular motions with a rag. Rubbing too hard may drive the cleaning solution into the bed and damage the foam.

Once the stain is removed, use a clean damp rag to repeat the circular pattern. For a mattress with removable covers, tossing the cover into the washing machine is the simplest way.

Whenever you get memory foam wet, you want to dry it quickly. Use a small fan or a hairdryer on a low-heat setting to dry the memory foam mattress as much as possible, then leave it in a well-ventilated area to dry. It may take one or two days for the memory foam to fully dry. You can use the hairdryer or fan every few hours to help the drying process.

Don’t use the high-heat setting on your hairdryer to dry memory foam. Additionally, don’t use the hairdryer for more than a few minutes at a time. Excessive heat can cause memory foam to pucker.

Keep the mattress in sunlight. The sun’s rays are deodorizing to memory foam. Placing a foam mattress in sunlight will keep the mattress fresh.

Tough Stains

For tougher stains, a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts warm water will help remove the tougher stains. Bear in mind that hydrogen peroxide can discolor and damage the mattress fabric and void the warranty.

Dip a rag into the liquid and scrub the stain. Wipe away the excess solution with a clean, wet rag. Then press a dry towel to the wet spot to absorb excess water and dry under a fan or in the sun.

Liquid Stains

Spilling a dark color drink can be difficult to clean, but it’s easier if you clean it as soon as you can. Use paper towels to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Repeat until the towels are no longer absorbing moisture.

Mist the area with white vinegar in a spray bottle and then absorb the liquid again with a paper towel.

Sprinkle the wet spot with baking soda and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. The baking soda will absorb the moisture and odor.

Vacuum the baking soda up. If the mattress still has an odor, drag the mattress in the sunlight and sprinkle more baking soda on the spot. This will deodorize the bed.

Using a small fan or hairdryer on low heat can hasten the drying process. Don’t use the blow dryer’s high heat setting or it will damage the foam.

Maintenance Tips

The first tip for better mattress maintenance is protecting your bed from damage and debris. While vacuuming and spot cleaning keeps your mattress clean, mattress protectors will prevent damage and protect against things like dust mites, dust, pollen, and bed bugs.

Waterproof protectors offer protection to those who enjoy snacking and drinking in bed.

Some mattress companies require their mattresses to be protected by a protector or encasement to keep the warranty intact. Most companies state stains or discolorations will void the mattress warranty. We also state that dirt, stains, smells, or bed bug infestations resulting from poor mattress care are not included in our 10-Year Warranty.  

Mattress cleaning is a great way to extend your bed’s life. However, there are other ways to care for your mattress that can also increase its longevity.

Support your memory foam mattress with a solid foundation. Memory foam needs more support than an innerspring mattress. We recommend a base with slats no more than 3 inches apart as the weight of the mattress will spread over a wider space and stop pressure from disintegrating the mattress. We have covered extensively on this topic in this article. 

Sometimes, memory foam simply can’t be saved. Memory foam’s absorbent qualities can make it almost impossible to remove exceptionally large, smelly, or dark stains. If the methods above don’t work for your situation, it may be time to consider replacing your memory foam mattress instead of trying to clean it.

FAQs

How do I protect my mattress from spills?

Consider using a mattress protector that is waterproof, as well as make sure that the protector covers all six sides of the mattress.

How do you get stains out of a memory foam mattress?

Use a damp cloth with some detergent to make circular motions on the mattress stain. 

What causes yellow stains on a mattress?

Possibly sweat. We have outlined some methods for stains as above.