Browse By

Can You Wash Foam Mattress Pads?

BedroomStyling is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn and affiliate comission. Learn more.

Can You Wash Foam Mattress Pads?

When you purchase a mattress pad, it can be for a number of reasons. For example, you may have an issue with pain, or are just looking for a more comfortable solution instead of replacing your entire mattress. Your first thought probably wasn’t to worry about how you were going to clean the mattress pad in the event of spills or something else.

In fact, you can’t ma​​​​chine wash a foam mattress pad, at least not in the conventional way. However, there are ways to clean this type of pad, to keep it spotless and something that you’ll want to keep sleeping on.

Ways to Clean Foam Mattress Pads

It’s a good idea to attempt cleaning up a stain immediately after you notice it, especially if you don’t want it to soak in or ruin the whole pad. Here is a list of ways you can clean your mattress pad:

  • Spot clean it: The first line of defense is spot cleaning the pad. Depending on what the stain consists of, you can use soap and water, or laundry detergent and water. Then you just use a rag or paper towels to rub it around and get the water off the top of the pad. If there are any solids, you’ll want to remove them first before using soap and water.
  • Use a cover: May people place mattress covers on mattress pads, so they can keep them clean. Mattress covers sit on these pads like a sheet and can be taken off, so they are able to be washed in a washing machine. This makes the whole cleaning process much easier, so you don’t have to worry about the pad getting permanently damaged.
  • Vacuum it: If there is an excess of lint, hair, or other debris trapped in your pad, you can opt to vacuum it instead of spot cleaning it. This can help keep it clean, especially if dust is a problem in your home.
  • Use oxygen bleach: If soap doesn’t help remove the stain, oxygen bleach may also be able to do the trick. This is the type of bleach that comes in granules and is color safe. It won’t discolor your pad or anything else, since it isn’t like chlorine bleach.
  • Natural cleaning products: If you’re someone who only likes to clean with natural products, two products that are great to use when cleaning mattress pads are baking soda and peroxide. Baking soda is able to soak up liquids and is also a key substance in the removal of odors. Hydrogen peroxide is essential to remove blood stains off of surfaces, especially if they’re made of cloth or soft materials, which fits right in with mattress pads.

The Cleaning Process

A. Cleaning – Vacuum

First vacuum clean the mattress – both sides. This will remove most of the surface dust: skin cells, dust mites and other loose debris. Foam mattress toppers are best cleaned using a vacuum attachment with soft bristles. Vacuum the entire surface of the topper – both sides.

B. Washing – Hand Wash

Using Detergent Solution: Use a fairly mild detergent: one designed for washing baby clothes or hand-wash liquid. Mix two parts of water with one part detergent and put it into a spray bottle.

Spray the mattress topper lightly all over – or even better, work in sections. Split it into four quarters and clean each quarter, one at a time. Do not rub the solution into the mattress – simply spray it and blot it with a sponge. You can rub particularly badly soiled areas gently with a fine brush and then blot it dry.

C. Drying – Dry the mattress topper

Always let the topper air dry. Forced drying, such as with a hair dryer, could ruin its viscoelastic properties. The same applies if you are cleaning a latex foam topper.

More Tips to Clean and Care for a Foam Mattress Pad

You have to make sure that you allow the pad to air dry. You shouldn’t try to put it in the dryer since the heat is too intense. You will have to wait until it dries completely to be able to use it again, so the sooner you clean it, the better.   Some people that use mattress pads switch the position of them from time to time in order to make sure they don’t get stained and to keep them comfortable.

You don’t want them to wear down one side too much, so you may want to do this as well. Another thing that you may opt to do is spray it with something that gets rid of odors. This won’t take out any stains, but it will allow you to lessen any unpleasant smells that you may have noticed.

You should make sure that you are keeping your linens clean as well, so you don’t stain your mattress pad. If you don’t, there may be stains that are seeping through your covers that you haven’t noticed.

Of course, not all stains will be your fault either. Depending on the mattress pad you purchase, there may be stains present from the foam, especially if it is yellow or a similar color. Sometimes the material will start to break down or stain because of things that were done to it at the factory when it was being assembled. However, you can keep track of this, so if it’s unsightly or doesn’t seem safe to you, all you need to do is replace the mattress or purchase a new cover for it.

Be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on how to take care of the mattress pad that you chose. These tips may offer more insight into the cleaning process, and can also tell you how it should be cared for. All products are not designed to last for the same amount of time, so it’s important to know when it will need to be replaced. Of course, some pads are able to be kept for up to 10 years, so they will be with you at least as long as it’s safe to keep a mattress.

There’s no reason not to purchase a mattress pad, especially since there are so many ways to clean it. You have options and some pads already come with their own covers, which make them a breeze to care for. Shop around for a good deal and remember to read reviews to find something that will work well for your bed, especially if you need it to solve a certain problem.

Conclusion

If you’re unsure of whether mattress pads can be washed or not, the answer is yes. They can’t be placed in a washer or dryer, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep them clean. There are plenty of ways to keep it looking new and fresh, and ways to solve stains that may come from a spill or accident.

If you already know how to clean your sofa, or car interior, cleaning a mattress pad isn’t really all that different. The best part is that the cleaning items you’ll need are likely already in your home.

7 Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Often Should You Wash your Memory Foam Mattress Pad?

You should wash your mattress pad every couple months.

2. How to Wash Memory Foam Mattress Pad with Cat Urine?

Follow these easy, no-fuss steps to clean a urine stain right out of a memory foam mattress.

  • Eliminate Moisture: First things first, you’ll want to get as much moisture out of the memory foam mattress as possible. Blot the stain with fabric or paper towels, but don’t scrub — that could embed the urine deeper in your mattress.
  • Cover the Stain With Vinegar: The worst part is over! Once you’ve blotted out all the moisture you can, cover the stain with vinegar and let it soak for about thirty minutes. The vinegar will help neutralize the urine smell.
  • Blot It Out: Back to blotting. Dab the vinegar with a new towel. While you don’t have to absorb all the moisture, make sure to blot out as much as you can.
  • Spray It Down: Fill a spray bottle with half laundry detergent and half water and shake it well. Spray the mixture on to the stain and let it soak for about 20 minutes.
  • Blot It Again: It’s time to blot again! Once the mixture has had time to soak into your mattress, absorb any excess moisture with a rag or paper towel.
  • Cover the Stain in Baking Soda: Don’t worry, we’re almost done! After all that blotting, you’re still going to have a wet spot. That’s where the baking soda comes in. Make sure to completely cover the stain in baking soda and let it sit for 10-24 hours to let it completely soak up any leftover moisture.
  • Vacuum Up the Baking Soda: As soon as the baking soda has a had a chance to soak up any remaining moisture on your mattress, vacuum it up with a handheld vacuum. Make sure to get every speck of baking soda off of the mattress.
  • Prevent Future Stains With a Mattress Protector: The easiest way to get a urine stain out of a mattress? Prevent it altogether. Make sure that another little accident won’t ruin your mattress by covering it in a mattress protector. When it comes to memory foam mattresses, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
3. How to Get Yellow Stains of your Mattress Pad?

You can remove stains from a mattress in easy stages – depending on the kind of stain. A yellow mattress can indicate sweat stains or bedwetting. To clean urine from a mattress you’ll be able to make and use your own cleaning solution.

Put three tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of washing up liquid into a cup. Then mix in some hydrogen peroxide – about 3% of the total – and stir until the baking soda has dissolved.

Transfer the solution into a spray bottle and squirt over the entire stain allowing it to soak completely into the area. Then you’ll need to let it dry which will take a couple of hours. You can blow-dry the mattress with a hairdryer set on low – or position a fan to speed up the drying process.

Cleaning a mattress that has blood stains is slightly different as you’ll need to treat the stain as soon as possible. Spray the mattress with the hydrogen peroxide mix then blot with a clean cloth or towel. Repeat this process several times until the stain has gone. Allow to dry as before.

How to clean mattress stains that are due to vomit needs a different spray solution. Prepare a half and half mix of water and white vinegar and pour into the spray bottle. Apply to the stained area and blot with a clean towel or cloth. Repeat the spray and blot process before sprinkling with baking soda. When thoroughly dry vacuum away the excess baking soda – and let the mattress air dry.

4. Why Did My Pad Turn Yellow After Washing?

Probably you are washing it with other clothes that turn the pad yellow. Try to wash just the pad.

5. How Much Detergent Should You Use When Washing your Pad?

Fill a spray bottle with one part liquid laundry detergent (preferably HE detergent, which will produce fewer suds) to two parts water.

6. How Much Bleach Can I Use When Washing a Memory Foam Pad?

Never use bleach on these pads, as it may ruin the foam.

7. How Often Should You Clean You Foam Pad?

We suggest cleaning your mattress cover once a month.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

>