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Oops! Bad news, you have an odor or stain on your new Memory Foam Mattress.

Now what do you do?

The dense nature of memory foam makes for tricky cleaning. In order to sufficiently clean your mattress, you need to be able to pass enough cleaning product through the stain or odor and be able to rinse the cleaning product thoroughly.

Memory foam has the inherent ability to soak up huge amounts of liquid. Memory foam is typically covered with a stretchable cotton material, but not necessarily water or liquid resistant. It is a good idea if you are worried about incontinence of a child or pet, for instance, to protect your mattress with a water resistant mattress cover. The body of a memory foam mattress is made from several layers of foam, often with varying densities. Most mattresses have 2 to 3 layers, but some may have as many as 8.

The most basic way to keep your memory foam mattress clean is to vacuum it on a regular basis; it is not unusual for dirt, hair or dust particles to find their way onto your mattress and accumulate. You should always vacuum both sides of your mattress. Vacuuming is also ideal for removing many odors such as cigarette smoke, urine and vomit.

Removing Odors from Memory Foam

• Using baking soda, sprinkle a thin layer over one side of the mattress, concentrating on a particular area if necessary, and let the powder sink in overnight. Vacuum entire surface and repeat process on opposite side of mattress. If done thoroughly, this process should take at least 2 days to complete.
• For more stubborn odors, or to really concentrate on a singular spot, create a cleaning solution of ½ water and ½ distilled white vinegar. Using a spray bottle, apply the solution to the area and blot thoroughly. You may wish to use a fan to accelerate the drying process. Repeat on opposite side of mattress if necessary. The vinegar smell should dissipate within a few days and take away the offensive odor. (This method has been reported as being extremely efficient in the removal of pet urine and the ammonia smell it leaves behind. People have also noted after using this method, their pets usually do not try it a second time.)

Try to avoid soaking memory foam, but if you should find your mattress full of liquid, it is best to use the blotting method and to refrain from wringing or twisting the memory foam as it may damage the integrity and structure of the foam.

If you choose to accelerate drying time by using a hair dryer, be aware that high heat may also cause damage to the memory foam.

Removing Stains From Memory Foam

For stain removal, it is crucial to use the spot clean method. The hypo-allergenic nature of memory foam mattresses generally make it unnecessary to clean the entire mattress.

• Using a small cloth, dampen spot with warm water. Then, using a solution of diluted dish soap, begin removal of the stain using a blotting motion and gentle circular motion to lift the stain; try to avoid scrubbing vigorously. You may wish to put this cleaning solution in a spray bottle for better application. Rinse spot by applying a dampened cloth over stain and cleaning solution and blot thoroughly to remove soapy residue. Dry thoroughly by simply allowing mattress to air dry or by the use of fans.
• An alternative to soap is vinegar and baking soda. By using a spray bottle filled with distilled white vinegar, spray area to be cleaned. Let vinegar soak into the stain for approximately 5-10 minutes. Next, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda to the stained area and allow mixture to fizz. Remove stain and leftover residue with a dampened towel using a blotting method. You may need to rinse/blot several times. Vacuum any remaining residue and allow mattress to dry thoroughly.

Try to avoid soaking memory foam, but if you should find your mattress full of liquid, use the blotting method and refrain from wringing or twisting the memory foam as it may damage the integrity and structure of the foam.

If you choose to accelerate drying time by using a hair dryer, be aware that high heat may also cause damage to the memory foam.