How to Clean Your Mattress Topper

Mattress toppers are great for extending the life of an older mattress or making a firm mattress more suitable to your sleep style — let’s say, for instance, you prefer a softer mattress and you bought one that’s too firm. Or maybe you have guests who prefer a softer mattress than the one in your guest bedroom.

Naturally, mattress toppers, just like your regular mattress, are prone to the same kind of spills and accidents. Here’s how you can keep those mattress toppers (of any material, foam toppers included) clean.

First, a word on the importance of mattress protectors

A mattress protector will save you lots of time and frustration down the road. Tossing a mattress protector in the washing machine along with your sheets is so much — and we cannot emphasize this enough — so much easier than the process of spot treating your mattress or mattress topper. Many mattress protectors will be able to cover your mattress and mattress topper together.

Mattress protectors are so useful, in fact, that we recommend keeping two in rotation. Because Murphy’s Law suggests that the second you remove your mattress protector and throw it in the washing machine, an animal or child (or hey, maybe you!) will spill something or stain the mattress in some way. Buy two; keep your mattress and mattress topper protected at all times.

Cleaning your mattress topper

The good news is, your mattress topper is more moveable than your mattress. Even though foam toppers are heavy, they’re still flexible enough so that you can move them around, which helps when cleaning them up.

Start with your vacuum

Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, and if you can, set your vacuum to low power/suction. Run the attachment firmly along the surface of your mattress topper. Be sure that your vacuum attachments are clean before you start, and empty the vacuum bag if you have one.

Spot treat with baking soda

If you have a fresh spill, soak up as much of it as possible with a dry towel. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain or spill and leave it on for as long as possible — 8 to 24 hours. Once the baking soda is dry, vacuum it up using your upholstery attachments.

For an old, dry stain, create a baking soda paste using one part baking soda and two parts water. Apply the paste to the stain, gently rub it in, and then let it dry. Use a damp towel to remove the residue and blot up any more of the stain. Once your mattress topper has dried, vacuum up any remaining baking soda.

Air it out

Resist the urge to re-make your bed until your mattress topper is completely dry. Foam can take a while to dry out, so you might want to move your mattress topper to a room with good ventilation and fans on at high speed. Moving your mattress topper into a sunny spot will also help dry it out, and the sun’s rays can actually kill some bacteria.

If you find that your mattress topper has been soiled beyond recovery or you need a new mattress altogether, come see the sleep experts at Mattress Man. We’ll answer all of your sleep-related questions and get you back to dreamland in no time.