It’s not enough to just wash your linens once a week; you also need to think about what’s below them. To offer another layer of comfort and support, mattress toppers are placed on top of the mattress. Although they have several advantages, it can be more difficult to remove odors and stains from mattress toppers.
Like any other type of bedding, mattress toppers require routine cleaning. Although your sheets are supposed to protect them, the truth is that mattress toppers can readily gather dust mites and other allergens without your knowledge. A dirty mattress topper can not only be unhygienic, but it can also affect how well you sleep.
However, it might be difficult to determine how to properly clean mattress toppers because putting them in the washing machine carelessly can really harm them. We detail the procedures you must follow in this extensive guide to safely wash your topper at home.
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When Do You Need To Clean Your Mattress Toppers?
Did you know that there are dust mites residing in at least one bed in four out of five US homes? We’re not kidding; it’s true! Research indicates that an average old mattress or topper may contain up to 10 million dust mites. That is due to the fact that beds make excellent habitats for these small animals, who flourish in a warm, damp atmosphere.
A variety of things, including dust mites, dead skin cells, sweat, mold or mildew, and other things, can breed in your mattress topper over time. Even while it might not seem significant, all of that accumulation can have a negative effect on your health and quality of sleep.
Have a look at some of the most evident indications that your mattress topper needs to be cleaned:
1. Unpleasant Odor
If there are a bad smell Mattress toppers may begin to smell bad, especially if they aren’t cleaned frequently. It’s time to get the cleaners out if you smell musty when you’re lying down.
2. Spills and Stains
Accidents happen, but it’s crucial to clean up liquids on your mattress topper right away. Otherwise, they may result in odors and even long-lasting stains.
3. Color Change in Material
Your mattress topper may be becoming yellow or brownish because of a buildup of dirt and dust. This is not only ugly, but dust mites and other allergens can cause respiratory issues, which is bad for your health. Its natural hue can be revived with some thorough cleaning.
4. Sneezing and Coughing When you Lie Down
This is a symptom that the allergens that have accumulated in your topper, like dust mites, may cause an allergic reaction in you.
5 Steps For Cleaning a Memory Foam Topper
You have probably used vinegar and baking soda in cleaning solutions that are both efficient and easy to use. Along with this, you’ll also need the following for your mattress pad cleanup:
- a spot-free spray bottle
- cloth for wiping away extra liquid (or two for cleaning up a fresh liquid stain)
- an absence
- It’s time to strip the bed, set the mattress pad on a flat table, and start once you’ve gathered your supplies.
Step 1# Prepare Your Vinegar Solution
Scientists have found that vinegar solutions work best the day they are produced after testing a variety of household cleaning products. Hence, produce a new vinegar cleaning solution before you start cleaning to get rid of bacteria, germs, and stains on your mattress topper.
In your clean spray bottle, combine one part white vinegar and one part water. If you’d like, you can add a few drops of your preferred essential oil, but use them carefully because they can be potent and if you can taste the eucalyptus while you’re trying to sleep, it might affect how well you sleep.
Step 2# Use a Towel to Blot up Recent Liquid Stains
Before using your solution to treat a fresh liquid stain on your mattress topper, you should dab up any remaining liquids with a cloth. Don’t try to reuse that damp towel during the following step; instead, immediately place it in the laundry basket.
Step 3# Spray the Mattress Topper
Spray your freshly produced vinegar cleaning solution onto the mattress pad stain. The mattress topper should be fully dampened, but you don’t want to go overboard and leave it dripping wet.
This could be a fantastic opportunity to clean the entire pad if you’ve never cleaned your foam topper. You can concentrate only on the damaged region if you’re only attempting to remove a recent stain that has occurred outside of your regular cleaning routine. Use a new towel to dab up any extra liquid after completely dampening the pad. Don’t stress about getting this exact; the following step will remove any remaining moisture.
Step 4# Sprinkle Baking Soda and Wait
Spread baking soda liberally on your mattress topper (or simply the trouble spot), and then let it sit for at least eight hours. It’s ideal to start this project early in the day so you may return to the comfort of your mattress that same evening because the baking soda must sit.
Step 5# Vacuum, Re-Assemble, and Stay Healthy and Stress-free
After the leftover liquid and aromas have been absorbed by the baking soda, vacuum your mattress topper with a handheld vacuum cleaner before putting your bed back together. After that, you’re free to resume your regularly planned activities: a restful night’s sleep on a new foam mattress topper!
3 Mistakes To Avoid While Cleaning Your Foam Mattress Topper
When washing mattress toppers, make sure to stay away from these blunders. It’s crucial to clean your mattress topper for two reasons: to keep it in good shape and to safeguard your health. Yet, a lot of people do blunders that can harm their mattress toppers or even jeopardize their health.
- For your mattress topper, avoid using harsh chemicals or bleach as these can harm the fabric. Use lukewarm water and a mild detergent if you need to spot clean.
- Never reposition your mattress topper before it has dried completely. If at all possible, let it air dry away from direct sunlight in a well-ventilated space.
- The manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed when washing your mattress topper. Knowing what you’re working with before you begin cleaning is vital since different materials call for different cleaning procedures.
Useful Tips to Care for Your Memory Foam Mattress Topper
The best approach to keep your memory foam mattress topper clean is to avoid stains in the first place while learning how to wash a memory foam mattress topper is helpful. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say.
1. Add Mattress Protector
To assist get rid of stains and odors, mattress protectors are covers that fit over your mattress topper. It is simple to maintain your mattress topper dry and clean because it can be placed in the washing machine with the rest of your bedding.
2. Safely Storing the Mattress Toppers
You should be able to store a memory foam mattress topper when it’s not in use in addition to learning how to clean one. To prevent dust or debris from accumulating, we advise keeping your mattress topper in a vacuum-sealed bag.
3. Change the Mattress Cover
Mattress toppers, as we previously discussed, are normally made to last 3–4 years, depending on maintenance and quality. When it’s time to replace it, it’s crucial to act quickly. Consider replacing your mattress topper sooner if you discover that it is too dirty to clean or that it doesn’t support you as much as you would want.
Wrapping it up:
There’s no reason not to occasionally give your bed some tender loving care now that you know how to properly clean a mattress topper. We hope that our comprehensive guide has helped to make the process quite simple and uncomplicated, whether your old mattress topper is starting to smell a little strange or you simply want to give it a nice deep clean before storing it away.
