If you’re a first-time memory foam mattress topper user, you may wonder, “how to put memory foam a mattress topper on the bed?”.
If you don’t know how to put it on correctly, you may position it awkwardly, leading to problems such as:
- Decreasing mattress lifespan
- Back, shoulder, and hip aches and pain
- Financial hardship from breaking guarantees / missing refunds
Not only that, an incorrectly positioned mattress topper causes sliding. And we all know that the whole point of buying a mattress topper was for a good night’s sleep.
Not to get up to fix your bed multiple times into the night, right? And yes, back problems are real since an uneven and awkwardly placed mattress topper strains your back while you lie down. Not great!
But don’t worry yet, because we’re about to teach you below how to properly position your new memory foam mattress topper on your bed.
How To Put Memory Foam Mattress Topper On Bed?
Step 1: Place The Topper In Your Desired Place
Before you do anything, find a place where you desire to use the memory foam mattress topper. This room also has ample space for the mattress topper to lay flat undisturbed for many hours.
We recommend your bedroom because transferring it to your mattress is pretty easy. But, if there’s not enough space, then perhaps your living room?
Below, we’ll cover why you need a flat surface for your mattress topper.
Step 2: Unbox The Mattress Topper
Unbox your mattress topper by using scissors. This is important since using a knife to cut through the packaging can penetrate the box deep enough to cut the mattress topper itself.
Make sure to proceed with caution when cutting the plastic packaging. If you don’t, you risk ruining and possibly voiding your warranty.
Step 3: Place The Mattress Topper On A Flat Surface
After unboxing your mattress topper, lie on a flat surface on the memory foam mattress. Ensure the flat surface is clean and out of the way of pets and young children who can cause accidental damage.
If you’re wondering why you need to place it on a flat surface, this is to ensure the mattress topper can optimally expand (foam-based mattresses and mattress toppers are compressed while packaging and need to expand to reach their actual shape) and air out.
Step 4: Place In A Well-Ventilated Area To Air Out
New memory foam mattress toppers have that “new smell” directly from their production. This new smell is called “off-gassing” and has the same chemical composition as new car interiors.
And yes, they’re harmful to your health when you inhale the chemicals, even though they smell pleasant at times.
To deal with this, leave your mattress topper on the flat surface in step 2 and wait for 24 hours. This will help to reduce or possibly remove that new chemical smell. If you want to completely remove the smell, leave your mattress topper for 48 hours to 72 hours at the most.
Step 5: Place The Topper On Your Mattress
After your memory foam mattress topper has aired out, you can remove bedding accessories. These include pillows, bed sheets, mattress pads, mattress protectors.
Step 6: Finishing Touches
After laying down your mattress topper evenly on your bed, you can proceed with the finishing touches. What are they, you ask?
Well, it’s just making your bed again. Attach your bed sheet, pillows, mattress pads, mattress protectors, and everything you need to sleep peacefully and restfully.
If you have a mattress protector, lay it on top of the mattress topper to protect your mattress and memory foam mattress.
Do You Have To Let A Memory Foam Mattress Topper Air Out?
Yes. New memory foam mattress toppers need to air out to remove VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are bad for respiratory health.
This is the “new smell” we’re talking about in step 4. New synthetic materials emit VOCs, including your memory foam mattress topper.
According to the American Lung Association, breathing in VOCs can irritate your nose, throat, and eyes. It can cause nausea and difficulty breathing and damage the central nervous system.
The excellent news is that VOCs are not permanent. They go away as time passes as these organic compounds gradually decompose to thin air. The only thing you need to do for a new memory foam mattress topper is air it out.
Cleaning your memory foam mattress topper is also recommended, but doesn’t require as regular cleaning as a feather mattress topper.
And what does airing out mean? Put your mattress topper in a well-ventilated area to help remove the off-gassing smell:
- Outdoors (if you have a clean environment)
- Indoors (well-ventilated room with windows open)
Does A Mattress Topper Go Under A Mattress Protector?
Yes, your memory foam mattress topper should go under the mattress protector to protect the topper and mattress from getting wet and stained.
If you don’t know what a mattress protector is, it is a light fabric with water-repellent or waterproof features. This product protects your bed from staining from moisture-related causes such as sweat, urine, food & drinks, and vomit.
With this in mind, putting your mattress protector on top of your mattress topper would protect your mattress and your mattress protector from liquid staining.
How Do I Keep My Memory Foam Mattress Topper From Sliding?
Mattress toppers slide off your bed, which is a well-known fact. Memory foam mattress toppers are no exception to this fact, so here are some tips to keep your mattress topper from sliding off your bed:
- Use Tight-Fitted Sheets – tightly fitted bed sheets that hug your mattress and mattress topper together so they don’t slip away from each other.
- Use Sheet Suspenders – these are elastic bands that you clip at the edges of your mattress topper and connect with the mattress so your mattress topper won’t slip. And then you tuck it underneath, so it’s secured.
- Use Safety Pins – we’re guessing you already know what a safety pin is. Hence, you need to buy large pins at about 5.5 centimetres in size and secure your mattress topper by pinning it on your mattress.
Which Side Should I Use In An Egg Crate Memory Foam Topper?
Your egg crate memory foam topper should be used with the egg crates pointing up. If you have this memory foam mattress topper type, keep the points of the egg crate pointed upwards where you’ll be lying down.
The egg crate side relieves pain and pressure on your back.
It also promotes better air ventilation, which is great since memory foam has heat retention properties. Suitable for people who sweat excessively during the night.
Can You Put A Memory Foam Mattress Topper On An Adjustable Bed?
No, you cannot put a memory foam mattress topper on an adjustable bed. Doing so will damage your memory foam mattress topper.
Why? Significant, sudden, or sustained movements in an adjustable bed may create creases and folds in your topper. This degrades the structural integrity of your mattress topper.
Yes, you can put a memory foam mattress topper, but ONLY if you remove the mattress topper before adjusting your bed.
Remember, repeated folding through bed adjustments can damage memory foam mattress toppers.
Should You Flip A Memory Foam Mattress Topper?
No, flipping your memory foam mattress topper is counterproductive. Most memory foam mattress toppers only have 1 comfort layer, where you lie down and sleep.
Flipping it to the opposite side wastes your money as you won’t reap the benefits of your memory foam mattress topper.
But do note that there are dual-layered memory foam mattress toppers where both sides can be used as comfort layers.
So if you have a dual-layer memory foam mattress topper, you can flip it over to your preference. But if you only have a one-layered topper, you will damage it and waste away your money.
Should You Use A Mattress Pad With A Memory Foam Mattress Topper?
Ideally, you shouldn’t use a mattress pad with a mattress topper or any other mattress topper. If you’re wondering why, let’s have a quick rundown of a mattress pad’s purpose and a mattress topper’s purpose.
A mattress pad is a soft fabric that you place on top of your mattress to alter the firmness of your bed. However, it’s nowhere near as comfy compared to a mattress topper.
Mattress pads are often thin and soft, giving your bed more softness, much to your preference. On the other hand, a mattress topper is like a mini-mattress you place on top of your bed, helping change its firmness.
Think of the mattress topper as the game-changer. So when you use a mattress topper and mattress pad, it’s overkill and can even be counterproductive since both have different firmness and features.
You choose a mattress pad or a mattress topper, but if you decide to use both, you should place the mattress pad on top of your mattress topper.
