How To Clean Your Mattress Toppers

The maintenance of your mattress toppers is as important as the maintenance of your bedding. Keeping it clean and free of stains will ensure that your mattress topper lasts long. Furthermore, a regular clean will also keep allergens away.

Cleaning mattress toppers are not very complicated but can be a lengthy process. This article will provide you with the steps you need to take to clean your mattress toppers and how to deal with stains as well.

Cover it up!

Covering up your mattress toppers might be good for you in the long run. Cleaning out stains and dirt from your mattress topper can be a lengthy process. But you might not have to go through that process if you have a cover for your mattress topper. Covers can come in handy especially when it comes to stains. If your mattress topper has a cover that can be machine washed, it can make your life a lot easier.

This is why we would suggest buying a cover when purchasing a mattress topper. It adds an extra layer of protection against dirt and stains and is much easier to clean. Additionally, you can also buy a pad or mattress protector to keep your topper clean.

A regular clean will keep problems away!

Just like your bedding, mattress toppers also need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Whether it needs a deep cleaning or a general cleaning depends on how dirty it is. We would suggest cleaning your mattress topper at least 2-3 times a year.

Always plan ahead when it comes to cleaning. Mattress toppers can sometimes be heavy and you may require assistance when moving them around. Also, cleaning a mattress topper is a long process, hence the preparation process is important. However, mattress toppers don’t usually require too much cleaning, spot cleaning is what is usually required.

It is important to remember that most mattress toppers come with their own cleaning or washing instructions. So, before you go through the information provided in this article read the care instructions for your mattress topper first. It is always better to stick to instructions given by the manufacturer.

How to remove stains from mattress toppers?

We understand that accidents can happen to result in staining your mattress toppers. The best way to deal with such stains is to try and get rid of them immediately. All you need is a clean cloth, some cleaning solution, baking soda, and a little bit of patience.

Blot the stain with a cloth soaked in the cleaning solution.
Spray some cold water on the area (not too much) and blot it out with a dry clean cloth.
Sprinkle baking soda on the stain to soak up the moisture for at least 8 hours.
Use a handheld vacuum cleaner to clean up the area.

Make sure that you don’t use a harsh cleaning solution as it can damage your mattress topper. Also, ensuring that your mattress topper is dry before being used again is very important. This is why it is recommended to leave on the baking soda for 8 hours. Any mixture left within the mattress topper can lead to mould or mildew.

Cleaners you can use

As mentioned before using harsh cleaning solutions can ruin your mattress toppers. To make things easier for you, here is a list of cleaners you can use-

Vinegar

Available in most households, vinegar can be a really good alternative for chemical cleaners. However, do not use vinegar directly on the mattress topper. Always dilute it with water and then blot it on the area that requires cleaning.

Dish Soap

Sometimes dish soap is good enough to clean out a stain. Mixing the dish soap with water and using the foam to clean out stains is an effective and simple way to clean your mattress topper. However, keep in mind that you’ll need something stronger for set stains or bloodstains.

Enzyme cleaners

These are great for any type of stain. Blood, sweat, tears, or any other bodily fluids that may create a stain, can be cleared out by an enzyme cleaner. Furthermore, enzyme cleaners are easily available in grocery stores, so you don’t have to go looking for them.

Hydrogen peroxide

This should normally be your last resort when it comes to stain removal on mattress toppers. Hydrogen peroxide can be stronger than most other cleaners and can damage your mattress toppers, so use it sparingly. It is usually the best solution for bloodstain removal. Just dab on a diluted mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water to get rid of the stain.

Baking Soda

While baking soda is not your traditional stain remover, it is quite an effective cleaner in general. A normal clean up for your mattress toppers would require baking soda as it is good for absorbing moisture and odour.

Basic clean up

A normal cleanup for a mattress topper is simple but still requires a lot of time. You firstly need to get rid of any dirt or debris on the topper with a vacuum cleaner. This step ensures that all the loose dirt is completely removed. Next, cover the entire mattress topper with a thin layer of baking soda. Using baking soda is better than drenching the entire topper in water and soap and letting it soak; that will take much longer and might damage the topper in the process.

The baking soda needs to be left on the topper for 8 hours or more depending on the size of the topper. After that, it is just a matter of vacuuming all the baking soda out of the mattress topper. If you feel like this process is a bit too difficult for you to carry out two to three times a year, simply vacuum the mattress topper every time you wash your bedding.

Signs that your mattress topper needs a deep cleaning

Since your mattress toppers are usually covered, figuring out whether they need to be cleaned or not can be tricky. Look out for these signs if your mattress topper requires deep cleaning-

Odour

A foul smell is usually an indication of collected dirt or decay of some sort. If your mattress topper has a foul odour, it is time for deep cleaning. Dirt collected over time and moisture can ruin your mattress topper. It also becomes the perfect place for bed bugs to settle in. So, before that happens you should clean your topper.

Stains

Sweat, urine and blood stains are more common on a mattress topper than you think. However, sometimes these stains go unnoticed and seep through your bed sheet to the mattress topper. This can be problematic as stains are harder to remove the longer they are left untouched. So, check your mattress toppers for stains every now and then.

Spills

Liquids need to be kept away from mattress toppers. The moisture can ruin the topper and attract allergens neither of which are good for you.

Deep cleaning

Usually, a deep clean requires the same steps as a normal clean up. But when you’re dealing with odour, stains or spills, there are a few extra steps to the cleaning process. Vacuuming the mattress topper and covering it in baking soda still has to be done. If you’re dealing with a spill and if there is quite a lot of liquid on the topper get rid of that first.

Blot the spill using a paper towel or towel, never rub. Rubbing the spilled liquid will only cause it to seep in further. You can then spray a diluted solution of vinegar and water on the spills or stained areas. If you are dealing with bloodstains an enzyme cleaner would be better than vinegar. Always blot out the excess liquid to make sure nothing seeps in too much. Once the stains are out of the way, a generous sprinkling of baking soda and a nice long wait will do the job. Also, remember you have to repeat the process on both sides of the mattress topper which is why we recommend setting aside an entire day to carry out the cleaning.

These steps should help you keep your mattress topper clean.