Therese asked: How do I clean a memory foam topped mattress? It is urine stained and non-turnable.
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The tricky part about cleaning memory foam is that it holds water and, as a result, is very difficult to dry. When you use this cleaning method, for best results, take care not to wet the mattress any more than necessary. You’ll have to do a little extra work to get it dry again, but for the combination of stain and odor removal it will be well worth the effort.
You Will Need:
- 1 quart hydrogen peroxide
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 tablespoon liquid dishwashing soap
- Bucket or bowl
- Clean spray bottle
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Make a solution of the peroxide, baking soda and dishwashing soap. Mix it together in the bucket or bowl, agitating only lightly to avoid making too many suds.
- Pour the solution into the spray bottle.
- Spray the stain with the solution. You’ll need to apply more of the solution to heavier stains, particularly if you’re dealing with urine stains which have soaked into the foam. Only wet as much of the surface as necessary.
- For a thorough, deep clean, press down on the foam on the wet spot to help distribute the cleaning solution into the mattress where the urine or stain has soaked through.
- Allow to air dry, uncovered. You will need several hours up to several days for the spot to dry fully. For help in speeding the drying process, see the additional tips and advice below.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Peroxide is a bleaching agent and may discolor the foam surface. If slight discoloration will bother you, spot test first.
- There are several ways you can help the mattress dry more quickly. The easiest is to set up a fan to blow over the wet area. Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer to apply air and heat. Do not leave the hair dryer on unattended, you’ll have to hold it over the wet spot while using it. Another option that can be used in conjunction with the fan or hair dryer is to press a clean, absorbent towel over the spot. This will soak up some of the moisture, but wait at least an hour after you initially apply the solution to give it time to work.
- If you need to use the mattress before the spot is fully dry, lay a folded thick towel over the wet area, under the mattress sheet. As soon as you get out of the bed, strip the bedding back so the mattress is once again exposed to the air. Do not use a mattress protector until the spot is fully dry.
- For general cleaning, lightly mist the entire surface and allow to air dry, uncovered, for at least a day. If the mattress is used daily, mist it first thing in the morning and set fans up to help dry it throughout the day.
I took the foam topper outside on the deck and poured hot vinegar & water over the stained part. I wanted to wash the urine completely out of the topper.
I then rinsed it with plain water, squeezed out as much moisture as possible, then suspended the topper with the wet part getting maximum air circulation for about a week. this solved the problem I’d been having with my cat being attracted to a urine smell (from a previous animal) in the mattress.
My foam topper is king size, so I imagine it would be easier for a smaller size.
I put Wisk, peroxide & baking soda in my garden sprayer and attached the hose. I put the memory foam on my hammock and hosed it down. while I came in the house to get more baking soda, my son took the memory foam and threw it in the pool and was floating on it. I was so mad, but it turned out to be a good thing. We turned it over a few times until the solution I sprayed on it was out. Then we rolled it up and took it to the steps and rolled it onto the pool deck. I left it there for 2 hours the we picked it up and moved it back onto the hammock. It will remain on the hammock until it is completely dry. It is so hard to handle and it gets so heavy. I would recommend treating it and just throwing it in the pool.