Foam doesn't hold up well when it gets wet. It starts getting crumbly and brittle. Think how a kitchen sponge gets after too many uses. There are a lot of air cells in memory foam. Water can get into those cells and mess up the structure. It's recommended to use a waterproof mattress protector over the mattress and any memory foam topper you might have. The warnings against getting the topper wet doesn't apply to just the washing machine. That also applies to perspiration, drinks, or any other "wet spots" that might occur. This will damage the memory foam. That's why you should use the protector and wash that. /reas...Memory foam is a soft urethane foam engineered to spring back more slowly than regular foam allowing it to conform to things resting on it. There is a temperature component to the conforming property so it conforms better to warm surfaces. There are numerous problems with washing the material. It is an open cell foam so all of the cells connect allowing the material to become saturated.
Water, at 64 lbs/cu ft, inside this matrix can make it too heavy to pick up. I imagine the spin cycle on your washer could destroy the machine before it can remove enough moisture. Trying to remove it wet may also tear the foam. Any treatments that were applied to the foam will be reduced or removed. Should you make it through the wash the dry cycle can be equally destructive. If you have one of the gel foam pads the gel component can not stand up to high heat like the foam can. If you compromise the gel cells the comfort level of the foam can go down drastically.If,as you say, the pad has already absorbed enough to be verging on disgusting then you have nothing to lose in the attempt if you monitor your washer and are prepared to shut it off quickly. Some sort of wringer and the hanging it out might be a better choice than a dryer. As far as what else you can do, we have found that a thin high quality mattress cover can keep the topper relatively clean to increase its useful life. Good luck and be sure to video.
NASA -style Memory Foam.Sponge Memory Foam.Nonflammable Sponge Memory FoamGel Sponge Memory Foam NASA-style Memory FoamSponge Memory Foam Nonflammable Sponge Memory FoamGel Sponge Memory FoamMemory foam has an open cell structure. When you wash it the water gets in to all the little holes and doesn't dry. It takes a long time for it to dry out and in the time it takes mold and other things can start growing.The foam is also likely to fall apart.Here is a link to a site that gives suggestions on how to clean memory foam without putting it in a machine. We do not recommend using an electric blanket or heating pad with your mattress. Due to the temperature-sensitivity of the TEMPUR material, adding high heat can hinder its ability to react to your body temperature and conform to your body shape.If you ever do use an electric blanket or heating pad, we recommend limiting its use to 30 minutes, and only on low or medium heat.We do not recommend using a conventional mattress pad or mattress cover with your mattress.
These items add another "layer" between you and the TEMPUR material, reducing its ability to conform to your body.If you use a mattress protector, we offer the MattressProtector by Tempur-Pedic™, which was designed to protect your mattress without impacting the feel or performance.The covers on most of our mattresses can be removed and washed. If you're not sure if your mattress cover is removable, please refer to the tags sewn into the cover or contact our Customer Service department.We recommend a cold temperature setting for machine washing and a cool setting for machine drying. Do not "over-dry" the cover and do not use chlorine products or harsh stain removers of any kind.If you spill liquid on your mattress, please take the following steps. Because the mattress should never become wet, we can't promise that these steps will completely remove the stain or odor.If your mattress has a cover, remove it, wash it in cold water with mild detergent, and hang dry for best results. Never use bleach or bleaching products with the cover.
After the cover has been removed, soak up as much of the liquid using towels as possible. This may require pressing down on the material with the towel(s) to release the moisture.Once excess moisture is removed, let the mattress air dry. To speed up the drying process, place a fan so that it blows on the mattress.Never wash the TEMPUR® material.TEMPUR&trg; material should never become wet. We offer a special wet-safe cover to provide extra protection against liquid spills.Do NOT wash or Dry Clean the TEMPUR-Topper Supreme. The cover can be removed and washed in cold water, dried on a cool setting or air drying which is recommended. Do not use chlorine products or harsh stain removers.Each of our mattresses use our patented, one-sided design that means you'll never have to flip, rotate, or turn it. The TEMPUR material will return to its original shape time after time, year after year.If needed, you can fold your Tempur-Pedic mattress to make it easier to move. Fold it with the TEMPUR® side (top) in.
If the mattress sits in cold weather (below 50°F) folded, do not try to force it to lay flat. It may take a few hours, depending on the temperature of the room, but the mattress will naturally unfold as it warms up.When transporting or storing your mattress, lay the mattress flat—not on its side or folded.The handles included on some Tempur-Pedic mattresses are for positioning purposes only—not for carrying.Got something to say? Join the discussion »I have never used baking soda for cleaning my mattresses. I use it for everything else. I am going to try, though. Next week I am planing deep cleaning so I have a chance to use your method. Great article and informative to everyone , how can clean the mattresses. Thanks to you for sharing this article. Thank you for the tips, now I know how to clean my memory foam with no worries. Thank you for sharing this. My cat peed on my memory foam matterss right where I lay. How should I go about cleaning it/is it salvageable?
Yes, the vinegar solution is great for removing smells! If it's just a faint odor, the vinegar should take it out with the first try. If it's a more pungent odor, or an odor that is more saturated into the mattress, it might take a couple applications of the vinegar solution to remove the smell completely. A faint odor would just be from it being an older mattress. A pungent, saturated odor that might require a couple treatments would be something like pet urine, or spilled perfume. There is an initial vinegar smell, but it does wear off as it dries. If you feel like there's still a slight scent of vinegar, you can set your mattress outside for a few hours to let it air out. 1. Would the vinegar solution / detergent solution remove residual smells? 2. If you were to use the vinegar solution, would my bed end up smelling like vinegar? Use Natures miracle (red bottle) the enzymes will remove the stain and eliminatate odors. Press firmly on the wet spots with paper towels to remove excess moisture, then use baking soda and the hair dryer (l method to