Your bed should be a clean, fresh space where you can unwind and relax at the end of the day and, ultimately, rest and recharge. But, life happens. Whether it's spills and tough stains or just general dust and dirt, your memory foam can get dirty. In this article, you'll learn how to clean a memory foam mattress so that it lasts longer and will continue to give you restful sleep every night.
How to Clean a Memory Foam Mattress: Basic Upkeep
There are a few how to clean memory foam mattress rules you need to keep in mind to keep your mattress clean.
- As a general rule, you should be cleaning your bedding once a week. These are your sheets, pillowcases, and any other item you come in contact with every night. Your sheets collect dust, dirt, dead skin cells, sweat, body oils, and pet dander (if your furry friend is allowed in your bedroom) while you sleep. If once a week seems excessive to you, try not to leave the same sheets on your bed for more than two weeks.
- Another mattress rule of thumb is to rotate your memory foam mattress. Rotate it 180 degrees every 3 to 6 months. Note: Your Leesa Original or Leesa Sapira Hybrid mattress is built from the bottom up and not meant to be flipped! When it's time to rotate your mattress, please take this opportunity to deep clean it. You can use a handheld vacuum cleaner if you want or wipe it down with a clean cloth.
- It's also recommended you purchase a memory foam mattress protector. A mattress protector provides a barrier between life and your mattress. Stains, spills, dust, and dirt stay out. Your mattress lasts longer to help you get your best rest.
Should I vacuum my foam mattress?
Over time, dust mites and dirt build up, not only on your bedding but also on your mattress and memory foam topper. That's why you should vacuum your foam mattress a few times a year. When cleaning memory foam, the rule to follow is to clean and rotate your mattress once a quarter with the change of each season.
How to vacuum a foam mattress
As with most foam mattresses, your Leesa mattress is naturally less prone to harboring allergens and dust mites. However, to keep your bedroom and sleeping area clear of allergens and dust mites, it's recommended you strip your entire mattress and vacuum the whole surface with a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner with its upholstery attachment every 3 to 6 months. Occasional vacuuming of your mattress will keep dust and dust mites at bay. Vacuuming is essential when you have pets that share your bed with you, or even come into your room at all.
How to Clean a Memory Foam Mattress: Removing Liquid Stains
Leesa's beautifully-designed seamless woven mattress cover protects the foam inside from getting damaged or stained (and a mattress protector will protect it even more, including the cover). However, even with all this protection, life happens. What if you spill your coffee in bed? What if your new puppy has an accident? Here's how you can deal with different life stains. There are also stain removal remedies for you to try.
General Spills
For any spill, dab the spot with a clean towel or cloth to absorb as much excess water or liquid as possible—DON'T RUB THE STAIN. Rubbing or scrubbing your Leesa mattress cover or memory foam mattress topper can spread the stain or liquid. It can damage the cover and topper, making cleaning overall more of a challenge.
If you still have a stain after dabbing, there are plenty of ways to remove it. If the stained area is small, spot-treat the area with a cleaning mixture specifically formulated for that type of stain. There are a lot of solution recipes online, or you can try some of our favorite remedies below. Most mixtures are made with everyday household items you already have on hand.
Removing Sweat Stains
Perhaps you or someone you know suffers from night sweats or simply sweats a lot. Don't worry. Sweat stains on your mattress are relatively easy to clean with this simple cleaning solution:
Solution for Sweat Stain Removal
1. Combine three tablespoons of baking soda and one drop of liquid dish soap into a large spray bottle. Add 8 ounces of hydrogen peroxide.
2. Spray the stain lightly. Allow the solution to sit for five to 10 minutes. (Don't leave the solution on for too long as the hydrogen peroxide solution can bleach).
3. After about 10 minutes, dab away all the baking soda and moisture with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel.
Removing Blood Stains
When it comes to blood stains on your mattress, it's important to remember you need to act quickly before the stain sets. Avoid using hot water because it will set the stain. Blood is a protein stain (like any bodily fluids, vomit included). The trick to treating protein stains is to apply a solution that breaks down protein. The recipe below contains baking soda. It alkalizes the blood, helps loosen the stain, and ultimately removes it.
Paste for Blood Stain Removal
1. Mix one part baking soda, and two parts cool water to form a paste.
2. With a cool damp cloth, apply the paste to the stained area of the mattress and lightly dab, working the paste into the stain.
3. Let the paste dry for 30 minutes.
4. Repeat the process with a cool, damp cloth. The water must be cool. Warm or hot water will cause the stain to set, making it more difficult to remove.
5. Lightly dab and press to remove as much of the baking soda mixture as possible.
Repeat this process if the stain isn't gone. Allow the area to dry completely before reapplying. If you have baking soda residue leftover, vacuum your mattress cover with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum.
Removing Urine Stains
If you have small children or pets, urine stains can happen. As with all mattress stains, the sooner you take care of the moisture, the less problematic it will be. With a dry cloth or towel, dab to absorb as much liquid as possible.
However, urine stains are not water. It has to be cleaned well. Otherwise, it will emit an odor when dry. When dealing with a urine stain:
1. Lightly spray the area with distilled white vinegar, and let the vinegar solution sit for just a few minutes.
2. With a clean, dry towel or paper towel, dab the excess solution to dry as much as possible.
3. Sprinkle the damp area liberally with baking soda and wait. (And wait some more). In general, letting the baking soda sit overnight is best to dry the cover and mattress completely. The baking soda will help draw the vinegar and any urine odor from the mattress.
4. Vacuum with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner.
How To Clean a Memory Mattress: Removing Smells
Just like your sheets and bedding, your mattress can develop an unpleasant odor. Whether it's from cuddling with pets or your sweaty partner, you'll want to get rid of the smell for a fresh, clean bed.
Vacuuming your memory foam mattress will immediately help remove any smell from your bed. (You can even temporarily flip your mattress to clean the bottom, remember to flip it back for your best rest). Here are a few other odor-fighters to keep your mattress smelling fresh:
- Distilled white vinegar (in a spray bottle)
- Baking soda (sprinkled onto the memory foam mattress, vacuumed up)
- Corn starch (best for urine stains and smells)
- A mattress cover or protector (to protect your mattress from dirt, stains, and all things stinky)
Can I remove my mattress cover and wash it?
We don't recommend removing your Leesa mattress cover to wash it. Use a mattress protector (and wash it often) and spot treat your cover with a fabric cleaner or mild detergent as needed to keep your Leesa clean and fresh. There's no need to use harsh chemicals.
Life happens with your memory foam mattress, but with proper care, and stain removal knowledge, your memory foam mattress will be your sleep companion for a long time. Looking for a memory foam mattress? Shop Leesa.
FAQs
How do you deep clean a memory foam mattress?
Before you deep clean your memory foam mattress, read the label to determine if it's safe to clean non-professionally. If it is, you can follow the steps below.
Position your memory foam mattress in a well-ventilated area. This will make sure the memory foam dries completely. Moisture can lead to molds and allergens.
Spot Steam to clean the deep stains. Use steam cleaners (handled or full size) to extract deep stains in the mattress. You can choose to add a tablespoon of vinegar and lemon to the steam cleaner solution to neutralize any odors and keep your mattress smelling fresh.
Dry it. Prop your memory foam mattress in a well-ventilated area and make sure it's completely dry. Depending on the size and weight of your mattress, you might need help propping it up.
How do you clean a memory foam mattress that's been peed on?
There are different cleaning processes for cleaning a memory foam mattress depending on whether the urine is fresh or dried.
For fresh urine stains:
Dab the area dry with a towel or paper towels. Try to soak up as much liquid as possible.
Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spray the area.
Dab the area as dry as you can.
Sprinkle baking soda and wait for a few hours until the area is dry.
Vacuum the area.
For dried urine stains:
Make a solution using: 8 ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons baking soda, and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Don't shake the spray bottle.
Spray the area with the dried urine stain until it's saturated. Let's stand for an hour.
Take a damp rag and rinse the area until it's no longer bubbly. Take a dry cloth and dry the site as much as possible.
Leave the mattress in a well-ventilated area until it dries.
Is a memory foam mattress washable?
At its core, a memory foam mattress is polyurethane foam with many polyurethane cells with air pockets between them. While you can spot deep clean your memory foam mattress with a steam cleaner, it's not advisable to wash it. Memory foam product beds are made of several layers of foam, which can trap water. Your memory foam mattress might not be able to dry completely and can develop molds and mildew, rendering it unusable.
Does water ruin a memory foam mattress?
Yes, if the water stays inside the mattress for more than 24 hours. Memory foam is made from polyurethane and is very porous. Its porosity makes it difficult for moisture to escape. This is why a memory foam mattress can look dry on top but still be wet inside. It's essential to pay attention to the drying process of your memory foam. But don't worry, memory foam mattresses are very forgiving when it comes to liquid, so as long as you get it dried as soon as possible, it should continue being a fantastic mattress.
