Make your bed every morning and smooth the topper with your hands for a flat, even surface come nightfall. A memory foam mattress topper adds a plush layer to your bed that conforms around your body to create a cocoon-like effect. But cold weather makes it difficult for the foam to release the indentation left by your sleeping form, and if you place the topper over a lumpy or sagging mattress, it imitates the shape of the mattress just as easily as it does your body, resulting in a lumpy, uncomfortable surface. For the best results, address the problem from two angles. Give the memory foam the space it needs to regain its shape and treat the underlying issue causing the uneven surface. Remove the memory foam topper from your bed. Take this opportunity to vacuum your mattress with an upholstery brush attachment, removing dirt and dust mites. Relocate the mattress topper to a warm room and lay it flat on the floor. If you see any noticeable lumps or indentations, massage the area with your hands to warm up the material, smoothing it out.
The material is flammable, so do not use an iron, hair dryer or other appliance to heat the foam. Memory foam responds well to the heat of your hands. Let the topper sit for 24 to 72 hours: The more distorted the surface, the longer it needs to release the lumps and indentations. Memory foam naturally reshapes itself when left alone on a flat surface. The warmer the room is, the faster the process will go. Rotate a single-sided mattress 180 degrees, moving the current head area to the foot board. This prevents uneven wearing in the mattress, and any indentations causing lumpiness will work themselves out over time, provided the mattress itself isn’t damaged. Repeat this process every 4 to 6 months. Flip a double-sided mattress over and rotate it 180 degrees. This moves the flat, smooth surface previously sitting on the box spring or platform to the top and the lumpy side of the mattress to the bottom, while relocating the head of the mattress to the foot. The weight of your body and the flat surface of the box spring or platform will smooth out lumps on the previously slept-on side over time.
Rotate the mattress again in 4 to 6 months, and flip it over every 8 to 12 months. Cut a piece of plywood to the size of your mattress and place this in between the box spring and the mattress. A worn box spring causes sagging and promotes the creation of lumps in the mattress; the plywood acts as a solid, firm barrier, increasing support. Remove the pillow-top portion of the mattress, if possible, and machine-wash it according to the care directions on the tag. Dry the pillow-top on low with two to three tennis balls to flatten out any lumps. Reinstall it on the bed. Adjust the temperature in your bedroom if possible, at least during waking hours. An excessively cold space causes the memory foam to seize, making it difficult for it to return to its normal, flat form during the day. During the day, open curtains, allowing sunlight to naturally warm the space. Temperature preferences are personal, so use your best judgment. If your mattress is in good condition, yet the memory foam still shows your body shape after sitting all day, adjust the temperature by 2 to 4 degrees and gauge the topper's response.
Things You Will Need Vacuum with upholstery attachment Measuring tape 1/2-inch plywood Table saw Laundry detergent Clean tennis balls References Sleep Innovations: Frequently Asked QuestionsSTL Beds: Top Ten Problems With Memory Foam Photo Credits Andrew Olney/Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a Correction Originally developed by NASA in 1966, memory foam, or temper foam, is used in mattresses and mattress pads because of its unusual viscoelastic properties. It is soft, absorbs impact, warms with heat and conforms to the shape of the body providing support when sleeping. When pushed into shape, memory foam will retain that shape for a period of time; however, because of its open-cell construction, the foam will return to its original shape, allowing creases, lumps and bumps to disappear. Spread out the mattress cover on a flat surface, and allow it to stand for 48 to 72 hours. The memory foam, without any exterior pressure, will return to its factory-original shape. Apply light heat to the lump by laying on the area with your body and letting it absorb some of your body heat.
Massage and shape out the lump when the foam is warm. Leave the mattress topper alone to return to its original shape by following Step 1. Flip the memory foam mattress pad over, and use it flipped for a few weeks, working out the lump periodically as the mattress pad warms to your body temperature. Never apply direct heat from an iron or other device to the mattress topper; memory foam contains combustible components and may ignite. NASA: Forty-Year-Old Foam Springs Back With New Benefits Healthy Foundations: Care and Use Instructions You May Also Like Learn how to cut memory foam using ordinary tools, with additional tips for getting clean, straight cuts. Whenever you order or buy a new rug, assuming is has some size to it, you will get the rug in a... Memory Foam was originally created by NASA as a material to help astronauts handle the pressure during take off. Memory foam, a polyurethane foam with chemicals added to increase its elasticity and viscosity, is a product that is designed to conform...
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Over time, however, that mattress may develop lumps that could make you feel more like the sleep-deprived main character from “The Princess and the Pea.” Rather than replacing that lumpy nightmare of a mattress, return it to a usable state with a little hands-on care involving a mild workout. The Beatdown Some pillow-top mattresses have a removable pillow layer for more manageable cleaning and maintenance. Look for a zipper along the mattress, pulling the pillow layer out of its pocket, if possible. Hang this pillow pad out over a clothesline and beat it with a clean broom, covering the entire area of the pad. If the pad is permanently affixed to the mattress, beat down the mattress with the broom while the mattress is on the bed after removing all bedding. In the Rotation Rotating a pillow-top mattress helps prevent lumps and sagging spots. Since a pillow-top cannot be flipped like a traditional mattress, rotation is the best option for keeping the mattress in tip-top shape, comfortable and free of lumps.
Turn the mattress so the area at the foot of the bed becomes the area at the head of the bed every couple of months. Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' With all the bedding off the mattress, roll around on the bed from top to bottom, bottom to top, and side to side, acting as a human rolling pin to roll away those mattress lumps. If there are kids in the house, this is a project they’ll most likely love to do, with no complaints. Roll around for five to 10 minutes to smooth the pillow top. An actual rolling pin also comes in handy over specific lumpy areas. If necessary, set up the mattress vertically against a wall with a friend holding it up as you roll the lumps smooth, using gravity to help work the pad fibers back into place. Wash and Fluff A removable pillow-top pad often is machine washable. Wash it according to the care tag, then place it in the dryer with a few clean tennis balls, which help fluff up the pad and remove lumps. Hang it over a sturdy clothesline after drying, then feel it with your hands, smoothing areas that need it by rubbing them between your hands or by beating it with a clean broom.