Buying a brand new memory foam mattress can set you back several hundred dollars, if not more. This is why taking good care of it can be essential to not only enjoying an improved sleep quality but getting the best bang for your buck as well.
Often, consumers pay more attention to the cleanliness of the bedding to the neglect of the mattress itself. However, this may expose sleepers to dirt and stains that can interfere with the ability to get a good night of rest.
Even for fairly physically good looking mattresses, regular cleaning can ward off exposure to micro-organisms you may not see with the naked eyes yet can be detrimental to a healthy life in many ways.
How Dirty is Your Memory Foam Mattress?
The first step to cleaning a memory foam mattress is to determine the type of “dirt” it is saddled with. This can help in the formulation of the right line of attack to ensure the mattress comes out super clean.
Here are a few of the common unwanted liquids or solids that can come into contact with a memory foam mattress
- Dust, lint, and human or pet hairs
- Fairly simple stains such as food, wine, and sweat
- Difficult stains such as blood
- Urine
- Feces
How to Clean Dust, Lint, and Hairs From Memory Foam Mattresses
Dust, lint, and hairs are common sources of dirt on memory foam. Mattresses in even the cleanest bedrooms can gather significant amounts of dust. Hence, routine sanitizing can make a huge difference in the aesthetic appeal of any mattress.
As a human or pet spends time on memory foam, exposure to some lint and hair can be inevitable.
The good news is that cleaning these foreign particles from your bed can be effectively done by sweeping the surface of the mattress with any handheld or standing vacuum cleaner that features a brush attachment.
To achieve the best results, make sure each of the 6 sides of the mattress is swept. Also, try not to ignore any crevices that may be inherent in the particular model you own.
How To Clean Food, Wine, and Sweat Stains From Memory Foam Mattresses
Everyone knows that eating or drinking in bed is a bad practice that can lead to the risk of staining a mattress. However, we all like to indulge sometimes and this can lead to the risk of spills and resultant mattress stains.
Cleaning food, wine, or sweat stains from a memory foam mattress can be a fairly simple process with liquid detergent or dishwasher. The steps are as follows:
- Strip the mattress of bedding immediately the spill occurs
- Wipe the stained area with a table napkin or paper towel
- Spray liquid detergent or dishwasher on the spot to cover the entire stain, making sure not to spray excessive amounts because memory foam can be difficult to dry
- Pick a clean napkin and scrub the stain gently in slow, circular motions
- Wipe the wet spot with a fresh napkin dipped in clean water to eliminate any leftover traces of the dishwasher
- Leave the mattress alone for a couple of hours to dry completely
- Put bedding back to sleep
How to Clean Blood Stains From Memory Foam Mattresses
Menstrual blood may get into a memory foam mattress when a woman suffers an “accident” overnight. If you’ve recently undergone surgery for any condition or suffered a bleeding injury, the risk of a blood-stained mattress can be high.
Bloodstains can be difficult to remove from memory foam and may require something stronger than regular dishwasher soap so Vinegar solution can be the perfect remedy. Here are step by step instructions to follow:
- Pour ¼ of vinegar and ¾ of water into a spray bottle
- Shake it repeatedly until you’re sure the solution is well-mixed
- Spray the vinegar solution on the stained spot
- Scrub the stained spot gently with a used toothbrush featuring soft bristles
- Dip a fresh table napkin into clean water and wipe any excess vinegar solution from the mattress
- Allow it to dry for a couple of hours before putting bedding back on
How To Clean Urine Stains From Memory Foam Mattresses
Urine can be one of the most difficult stains to remove from a memory foam mattress. Not only can these stains disfigure the appearance of the mattress but the foul stench can be nauseous and long-lasting.
Unfortunately, bedwetting may be inevitable among children and puppies who are yet to be potty-trained successfully. Senior citizens may also have bladder issues that can make wetting their beds a common problem to deal with.
A combination of white vinegar and baking soda is the most effective formula for urine stain removal from memory foam. The instructions are as follows:
- Wear a pair of disposable gloves
- Dip paper towels into the urine immediately to absorb the maximum amount
- Get rid of the wet towels and reach for a fresh pair to continue absorbing as much as possible
- Repeat the process until the maximum amount of urine has been absorbed
- Pour ¼ white vinegar and ¾ water into a spray bottle and spray on the urine-soaked spot
- Leave the vinegar on the mattress for about 10 minutes
- Absorb the vinegar with paper towels
- Pour baking soda on the spot and leave it alone for at least 8 hours
- Vacuum the baking soda completely
- Leave the mattress to dry in the sun or blowdry if possible
How To Remove Fecal Stains in Memory Foam Mattresses
Feces can be another common source of stains on memory foam mattresses. While it may seem far-fetched, fecal accidents happen more often than many of us may realize. These accidents typically involve young children, puppies, and adults who may be battling one serious health condition or the other.
Like urine, cleaning fecal stains immediately can make a huge difference in the results obtained so go ahead and follow the steps below:
- Wear disposable gloves, wrap plastic bags around the gloved hands, and carefully pick up any solid fecal matter that may be present
- Ditch the plastic bag once the messy part is done
- Spray an enzyme-based cleaner such as Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Remover or Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner
- If possible, use the “Stream” instead of the “Spray” settings on spray bottles to add more force to the spraying process
- Leave the cleaner to settle on the spray for like 5 minutes
- Gently scrub the stained spot with a clean rag or paper towel
- Repeat the process until the stain vanishes completely
- Pour white vinegar on the stained spot and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes
- Wipe it with a fresh rug or table napkin to remove the vinegar
- Rinse the area with a fresh, wet napkin to eliminate any left-over traces of the vinegar
- Allow the wet memory foam mattress to dry completely
How To Dry Memory Foam
Whatever the type of stain on a memory foam mattress, getting rid of it may involve water. Speeding up the drying process of memory foam can be vital in several ways and here are a few tried and tested methods to achieve just that:
Sun-drying: Exposing memory foam to the direct sun can be the quickest method for drying. The sun’s strong rays may not only evaporate any traces of moisture quickly but can also serve as a potent deodorizing agent. This can come in handy after cleaning foul-smelling stains such as urine or feces.
Avoid putting the mattress on the bare ground during drying to protect it from dirt, rodents, and other elements that may be present in your balcony or backyard. Also, check the weather to verify that there’s little or no risk of rain especially if you intend to go out while the mattress dries outdoors. You wouldn’t want to come home to a rain-soaked mattress, would you?
Blow drying: A hairdryer can be a good option after cleaning any sort of stains from a memory foam mattress. After setting it to low heat, blow the warm air on the wet spot patiently until it dries up completely.
Ceiling or box fan: The cool air from a fan can catalyze the drying of memory foam after ridding it of stains. All you have to do is place the mattress directly under the ceiling fan or in the path of a box fan to speed up the drying process.
Open bedroom windows: In the absence of a handheld hair dryer or fan, opening the bedroom windows for cool air to circulate on the mattress can also be effective. However, the process might be slower so be patient as the mattress dries completely.
How To Protect Your Mattress From Stains
Stains typically result from accidents and unfortunately, no matter how careful you may be, accidents will always happen. The best way to protect memory foam from stains is to order a waterproof mattress protector.
These protectors can serve as a buffer between the sleeper’s body and the mattress itself. Any spills or accidents may only make physical contact with the protector. The good news is that protectors are quite affordable so you can always purchase a new one when the need arises.
Professional Memory Foam Mattress Cleaning
Are you too busy or lack the energy to clean a dirty foam mattress yourself? If yes, a professional mattress cleaning service can come in handy. These professionals may have tons of experience as well as the necessary equipment to get rid of virtually any type of stain.
A quick search on Google can reveal professional mattress cleaners closest to where you live. Be sure to speak to a couple of these firms to get an idea of their cleaning processes. Also, don’t be too shy to ask for a quote as well as any terms and conditions they operate with.
When Cleaning Your Mattress is Not Worth It
One of the reasons why memory foam has become so popular is the natural built-in properties that promote the ability to contour to each sleeper’s unique body curves. Unfortunately, this property can be detrimental to eliminating stains which may be exceptionally large, dark, or foul-smelling.
In that case, you may have to consider ordering a brand new mattress as the damage can be beyond control.
Conclusion
We sincerely hope you find this memory foam mattress cleaning guide helpful especially the next time you have to get rid of one type of stain or another. In the case of urine or fecal stains which typically come with a foul stench, be prepared to go the extra mile to get a fresh-smelling memory foam mattress again.
Always sun-dry your mattress if possible to remove any traces of odors.