How to clean a memory foam mattress topper in just 5 steps and avoid damaging it

Given that we spend hours in bed every day, they can get pretty gross. Despite the bedding on top, memory foam mattress toppers still need regular cleaning.

Keep your foam topper free from germs, dust mites, sweat, and odors with our expert tips and instructions for freshening yours up without damaging it in the process or leaving it open to the risk of mold.

Here, professional cleaners and mattress experts share their cleaning tips to keep your best mattress topper in tip top shape.

How to clean a memory foam mattress topper

Like cleaning a memory foam mattress, cleaning a matching topper requires a gentle approach to avoid any damage to the delicate foam, or encouraging mold growth.

Generally speaking, you want to avoid getting memory foam wet (it is one of the worst mattress cleaning mistakes to avoid), but there are a few caveats.

Here’s how the pros handle the task:

1. Strip bedding

It should go without saying that the first step is to free the memory foam mattress topper from your bed. This means removing and washing bed sheets. There is no point cleaning a mattress topper just to cover it in dirty sheets again, after all.

With the bedding removed, lay your memory foam mattress topper flat on a clean floor (or on a clean sheet) to make cleaning easier. Having a hard surface beneath makers it easier to vacuum and spot-treat any mattress topper stains.

2. Vacuum

Do you vacuum your mattress topper? It turns out it is an essential step to keeping your sleep space hygienic. Use a soft upholstery brush attachment on your best vacuum to gently vacuum the surface of the topper – don't forget to vacuum both sides for a thorough clean.

You should consider vacuuming your memory foam mattress topper every time you wash your bed sheets (every one to two weeks) to get rid of dust mites and the dead skin cells they feed on.

3. Remove odors with baking soda

Cleaning with baking soda is one of the safest ways to remove odors from memory foam mattress toppers without adding moisture.

As with cleaning a mattress, Taylor Riley, professional cleaner and owner of Boom Facility Service Advisors says, ‘Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the entire mattress and letting it sit for 15-30 minutes. Baking soda absorbs the moisture that is necessary for mold or bacteria to thrive. After letting it sit, you can then vacuum the mattress thoroughly to remove the baking soda and lingering odors.’

Baking soda can also help absorb moisture from recent spills before it seeps into the foam and leaves a lasting odor. Simply sprinkle some to cover the spill as soon as you can before the stain dries.

We suggest brushing most of the loose baking soda off the mattress first with a clean dustpan and brush (available at Walmart), as too much fine powder can damage your vacuum and clog the filter. The vacuum can then be used to remove the remaining debris.

4. Spot clean

Christina Heiser, content director at Saatva, the Smarter Luxury Sleep Company begins, ‘Memory foam is the one mattress type you need to be especially careful when cleaning.

'If you get the material too wet, it will take a very long time to dry, and you can increase the chances of developing mold or mildew. To clean a memory foam mattress topper, apply a cleaning solution sparingly to the stain, allowing the solution to sit for a few minutes and then blotting with a paper towel or dry cloth.’

The DIY cleaning solutions you use will depend on the type of stain you need to treat:

• Laundry detergent or dish soap: Dish soap and laundry detergent are best for everyday stains, such as sweat marks or spilled drinks. Combine a few drops of high-quality mild detergent, such as Ecover laundry detergent from Amazon, or Dawn dish soap, from Walmart, with a bowl of warm water. Then, use a clean microfiber cloth to dab at the stain until it lifts away. Never scrub, as this can make it worse and squash water deep into the memory foam.
• White vinegar: Cleaning with white vinegar is best for deep-set stains (such as sweat) or smelly stains, such as urine. Combine equal parts water and distilled white vinegar, from Walmart, in a spray bottle and lightly saturate the stain. Allow it to sit for five minutes before dabbing with a damp cloth.
• Hydrogen peroxide: Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide is great if you need to get rid of blood stains, but it can damage memory foam at high concentrations, so we recommend it only if nothing else has worked. Combine one part hydrogen peroxide, available at Walmart, with two parts warm water and use a cloth to dab some onto the stain.
• Enzyme cleaners: If homemade cleaning solutions have not worked, it might be worth using a commercial enzyme cleaner specifically formulated for memory foam. Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator, from Amazon, is highly rated for being able to break down stains and odors quickly. Apply following the manufacturer's instructions for the best results.

5. Leave to dry

If you have used any liquid to spot-clean your mattress topper, it is vital that you allow it to dry completely before putting it back on your bed. Sydney Decesare, accessories category manager at Mattress Firm warns, ‘Do not tumble dry as high heat can damage the memory foam.’

Instead, where you can, elevate the mattress topper to allow for air flow on both sides (a large clothes drying rack, from Walmart, works great for this), and ensure the room has good ventilation. To do this, open windows to improve ventilation in your home or use the best dehumidifier to gently blow dry air over the topper – much like drying clothes indoors in winter.

If it is a warm, sunny day, consider laying the mattress topper outside to dry on a clean sheet, or on a clothes airer. The sun will help to kill any lingering bacteria and make a mattress smell nice.

Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden recently spilled a large tumbler of water onto her memory foam mattress topper. She says, 'I dried mine within four hours by dabbing gently with a microfiber towel, then putting a dehumidifier next to it.'

She adds it's important to place the side of your dehumidifier that is sucking in air, rather than letting dry air out, to face the wet topper for maximum efficiency as this will pull the humid air away from the space.

FAQs

How often should you clean a memory foam mattress topper?

Cleaning a memory foam mattress topper, like washing a mattress protector, can be a tedious job. Luckily, it usually does not need to be done weekly. Nicole DelMasto-Vickers, associate category manager of accessories at Mattress Firm explains, ‘You should generally wash a mattress topper every three to six months under normal conditions.

'However, your specific usage and sleep habits can impact this frequency. If you sleep hot, and sweat a lot during sleep, you may want to wash it every month or two to prevent odors and moisture build up. If you have allergies or asthma, washing or at least vacuuming the mattress topper more frequently – every two to four weeks – can help reduce dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens.'

Nicole also suggesting giving it a clean after being ill to minimize the spread of germs.

Can you put a memory foam mattress topper in a washing machine?

Water and memory foam absolutely do not mix, warns Ross Pascale, cleaning expert and director of Neeet House Cleaning, so you should never put a memory foam mattress topper in a washing machine.

He explains, ‘While some covers can be washed, the foam itself usually can't. The washing machine's agitation and harsh chemicals can damage the foam's structure and support. It's best to stick to the cleaning methods mentioned above for memory foam mattress toppers.’

For the same reason, you should never clean a memory foam mattress topper with a wet vacuum, or steam clean a mattress topper, says Ken Doty, cleaning expert and COO at The Maids. He explains, ‘The memory foam breaks down its structure and causes it to lose shape. The moisture from the steam can also create a breeding ground for mold and mildew over time.’

With your memory foam mattress topper clean and dry, you can put it back on your bed. We highly recommend investing in one of the best mattress protectors.

This will protect your mattress and your foam topper from accidental spills and is far easier to clean (many covers can go right in the washing machine). It will also help prolong the lifespan of your memory foam mattress topper as it is subjected to less direct wear and tear, and you will not have to use harsh cleaning methods that can weaken the foam over time.