The first step to do is to remove and clean your beddings. This includes:

– duvets
– bed sheets
– pillows and pillowcases
– blankets
– mattress toppers
– mattress covers

This is the first stop for sweat, food stains, saliva, and more. By removing the beddings, you’ll uncover the surface of the mattress, and seeing any disgusting stains.

Vacuuming your foam mattress helps lift small debris and dirt that may cause allergies. Suppose you’re experiencing sneezing at night and in the morning, especially when in bed. In that case, it could mean that your foam mattress needs vacuum cleaning. The following can be potential allergens:

– food crumbs
– dust
– dry skin and hair shedding
– pet fur
– small insects
– dust mites
– bed bugs

If you have a vacuum, that’s great – grab that and then follow the next steps.

– It would be good to use the brush nozzle for this. This would help lift up some dirt already deeply seated on the mattress surface.

– Vacuum all of the mattress surface area.

– Make sure to get in between the creases of the corners and edges where dust and dirt can build up and settle.

If you don’t have a vacuum, you can shake off the dust and dirt on the mattress surface by doing the following.

– Have an assistant help you get the mattress in a slanted or upright position.

– Shake off the dust and dirt on the mattress surface and let them fall on the floor, which you can just sweep later.

Notice that your foam mattress smells funky. It may be due to accidental spills or body sweat accumulated from years of use. Depending on the intensity of the funky smell, we’ll share some methods to remove the smell on your mattress.

For a Mild Smell, Use Baking Soda.

Mild funky smells would come from accumulated body odour or sweat. Baking soda is a classic ingredient when it comes to deodorising. It helps absorbs the odour on your mattress and freshen it up.

To start,

– Sprinkle baking soda on the surface that you want to remove the smell.
– Let the baking soda sit for at least an hour; the longer, the better. This is to allow maximum absorption of odour on the area.
– Remove the baking soda on the mattress surface using a vacuum cleaner, or you can just brush off the baking soda.

For More Pungent Smells, Use an Enzymatic Cleaner.

A strong funky smell may come from human or pet urine, sometimes even vomit. Whatever it is, an enzyme-based cleaner help breaks down this smell. We have a quick-and-easy guide to clean pee from a mattress.

How do they work?

Enzyme-based cleaners contain enzymes that break down molecules found in organic stains or dirt like:

– urine
– faeces
– blood
– food
– vomit

Every cleaner has different strengths, so check the instructions on your cleaner before using them. You can check out enzyme cleaners like Trade Chemicals and Simple Solution.

One of the most vital pieces of advice in cleaning your foam mattress is that you can’t leave it wet. Why?

Mould grows in a moist and humid environment. Perfect for mould.

A study in 2019  found that women are at higher risk of asthma when exposed to mouldy odours. So mould is something you don’t want to mess with on your foam mattress. Some long-term effects include:

– trouble sleeping or insomnia
– issues with memory loss
– short concentration times
– bouts of depression and/or anxiety
– cramping of muscles
– gaining bodyweight
– issues with light sensitivity
– loss of hair

So, if you’re wondering if you can wash a foam mattress in a washing machine?
The answer is no, you can’t wash a foam mattress.

If you need to clean a specific mattress area, spot clean using these methods:

– Using vinegar solution
– Using baking soda and vinegar mixture
– Using hydrogen peroxide
– Using enzyme cleaner

Tip: In removing any stain, make sure you dab and not rub to avoid getting the stain deeper into the mattress.

Method 1: Using Vinegar Solution

– Distilled vinegar acts like acid to break down stubborn stains on your mattress. To use this method,
– Mix equal parts of distilled vinegar and water. You can use an empty water spray or put it in a mixing bowl.
– Using a clean cloth, carefully dab the mixture into the stain.
Repeat this until you lift all the stains.

Method 2: Using Baking Soda and Vinegar Mixture

When baking soda and vinegar are combined, the acid in the vinegar breaks down the baking soda, producing carbon dioxide gas that can aid in the removal of dirt on the surfaces.

To do this method,
– Sprinkle baking soda on the stained area and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
– Dab small amounts of vinegar on the baking soda. You’ll see the magic when it starts to fizz.
– Using a clean cloth, remove the mixture to lift the stain.
– Repeat the steps until the stain is completely removed.

Method 3: Using Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a colourless all-purpose cleaner. For this method, we’ll be using only 3% hydrogen peroxide solution like Care+ and SafeSol. This can usually be bought in supermarkets in the cleaning section. To start:

– Spray onto the stained area if the area is large. Otherwise, you can apply using q-tips first. Hydrogen peroxide can cause bleaching, so carefully applying with q-tips will control the application if you’re not fond of discolouration.
– You will see bubbles forming. After the bubble reaction, wipe the stains with a clean cloth.
– Repeat as necessary to lift all the stains.

Method 4: Using enzyme cleaner
Similar to what we did in removing the funky smell earlier, refer to the enzyme cleaner’s instructions for cleaning. Some enzyme cleaners come in powder form like Amazon’s, while some are in a spray bottle for convenience.

Now that you’ve cleaned one side check any spots that need cleaning on the other side. Repeat Step 2 to Step 5 for the other side of the mattress.

Note: This step only applies to two-sided mattresses where you can use both sides in sleeping. If you happen to have a one-sided foam mattress, e.g. you own a hybrid mattress, you can skip this step.

This means you can’t clean a pillowtop mattress with this step. Remember that hybrid mattresses have different layers, varying from polyurethane, memory, and latex foam. Learn how to clean memory foam mattresses with this step-by-step guide.

As mentioned earlier, dry your foam mattress completely after your cleaning sessions. Even a little moisture can lead to unwanted mould growth.
There are two ways to do this:

Method 1: Sundry the Foam Mattress

This is the best way to fully dry your mattress, especially if you’re blessed with sunny weather.

– Exposing the mattress to the sun’s UV rays and heat removes any moisture remaining in the mattress. UV rays also kill the smell-causing germs in the mattress, helping to deodorise your mattress from any smells.
– Set up chairs or tables outdoors where your foam mattress can be laid.
– Place a protective sheet underneath so your foam mattress won’t get dirty if it falls down.
– Leave the foam mattress in the sun for a few hours (as long as it is sunny).
Flip it halfway so that both sides of the mattress can be dried out.

Method 2: Using a Hairdryer, Vacuum cleaner, or Fan

If you’re not blessed with sunny weather, you can use:

– a hairdryer
– vacuum cleaner
– or fan to dry out your mattress.

Although this will take much longer than the first method, it is essential not to skip this step.