Even with the exceptional qualities of memory foam mattresses, they are not immune to stains.
Whether it originated from body fluids or food, it’s almost unavoidable, especially since we spend one-third of our daily lives sleeping.
Remember that noticeable stains might also void your mattress’ warranty.
That’s just one of the many reasons to learn how to get stains out of memory foam mattresses.
Make frequent cleaning and stain removal part of your cleaning routine to safeguard the longevity of your mattress.
How To Get Stains Out of Memory Foam Mattresses?
Before we get into the instructions, it’s important to address that no single method is effective for all types of stains.
Applying the appropriate cleaning procedure for each type of stain will produce the best result.
Regardless, always remove any solid objects such as beddings, pillows, and debris before you begin cleaning.
Bodily Fluids
Whether it’s from urine, vomit, sweat, or other discharges, removing stains coming from bodily fluids might need a bit of effort.
Step 1: Prepare a Solution
Fill a bowl with cold water. Determine the volume needed by checking the spread of the stain.
Avoid using hot water because it might distribute the stain even more.
To start, grab a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and pour an appropriate amount into a bowl.
Don’t try to put too much, as it might have adverse effects on your memory foam mattress.
Next, add some drops of dishwashing liquid to the solution.
Compared to laundry detergent, dishwashing liquids usually contain antibacterial agents. As such, including it in the solution is more optimal.
Complete the solution by adding baking soda.
Baking soda is a known and proven ingredient for minimizing odors and removing tough stains.
Apply a good amount of soda into the bowl, and mix it gently using a spoon, stirrer, or any other similar objects.
Step 2: Use Dry Towel
In cleaning, a sprayer is an indispensable tool that significantly aids in distributing cleaning agents to our belongings.
However, for memory foam mattresses, it’s not necessarily recommended.
Spraying directly on the mattress might cause it to get oversaturated with the solution, making it difficult to dry.
When this happens, a damp mattress might be the reason for the development of mold.
Therefore, it’s preferable to moisten a towel with the solution instead.
Step 3: Blot the Stained Areas
If the stain is fresh, blot the stained areas using paper towels. Avoid wiping or rubbing the stains to minimize the spread.
You may need to repeat this a couple of times to remove any residual bodily fluids completely.
This step may not be applicable if the stain is completely dry.
Step 4: Dab Over the Stain
Dip a dry towel with the solution you made and rub it gently on the areas with stains.
Avoid soaking the towel because it will quickly exhaust your solution and could result in uneven distribution.
Prepare to use multiple sets of dry towels for this procedure as the stains might be too stubborn, especially if it’s dry.
Step 5: Observe the Progress
It’s advisable to check your progress now and then.
After a series of applying and wiping the solution, rest for a bit and let the mattress dry up to see if there’s an improvement.
Step 6: Apply Laundry Detergent
After the stains are almost invisible, you’ll have to use a different solution to remove them completely.
Mix a cup of water with three tablespoons of laundry detergent until it becomes foamy.
Distribute a good amount on the stained areas and let it settle for at least half an hour.
Then, once you see that the stains are gone, remove the suds by using a damped towel and dry the mattress via the sun or upholstery dryer.
Bloodstains
Removing blood stains from your mattress comes in handy when you have a wound, period leakage, or nosebleed.
Step 1: Use cold water
Applying cold water to fresh bloodstains on memory foam mattresses is a good first step to remove the stain.
Do not soak or over-saturate your mattress while you dab the bloodstain away.
Instead, blot gently with a towel moistened in cold water until the stain completely disappears.
Step 2: Blot the Mattress
After that, ensure that you dry out the mattress with a dry towel or tissue.
If the blood quickly settles, cold water will not be enough to get the stains out.
As such, you need to proceed to step three.
Step 3: Apply Baking Soda
After you’ve applied cold water to the stain, grab a box of baking soda and distribute it to the stained area.
Leave the mattress peppered with baking soda for about half an hour to maximize its moisture-absorbing properties.
Step 4: Remove the Baking Soda
Use a dampened towel and gently press it to get rid of the baking soda.
Repeat the application of baking soda until the stains are almost gone.
Step 5: Clean Up
Remove any residue. Repeat the process until you get rid of the stain.
Food Stains
Eating and drinking in bed is not a recommended practice unless you are suffering from an illness.
One of the rationales is due to the susceptibility of our memory foam mattresses to stains, which could be cumbersome to deal with.
In addition to the stains, the debris from food easily attracts pests, which will ultimately degrade the quality of your sleep.
Follow the steps outlined below to know how to get stains out of memory foam mattresses from food and drinks.
Step 1: Make a Solution out of Detergent and Cold Water
Mix a generous amount of effective laundry detergent and cold water in a bowl or bucket.
The solution is ready once you see suds forming.
Step 2: Apply the Suds to the Stained Areas
Using a clean, wet towel, scoop the suds, making sure to get only the suds and the least amount of water.
Scrub the suds in a circular motion over the stained parts on your memory foam mattress.
Feel free to add more suds if the stains are very visible.
Step 3: Blot the Suds
In regards to removing stains with water involved, always make sure to get rid of excess moisture.
Remove moisture properly by blotting the affected areas with a dry towel or tissues.
Stains from ketchup, mustard, sauces, and oily foods are known causes of stubborn stains.
You may need to repeat the second and third steps if you’re dealing with stains from the mentioned sources.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide (Optional)
If stains are persistent, get a sprayer with hydrogen peroxide and start spraying the stains directly.
Let the peroxide sit for five minutes, and then wipe the area with a paper towel.
Repeat the steps until you see the stains completely unnoticeable.
Old Stains
You can apply two established and effective methods to effectively remove these persistent stains out of memory foam mattresses.
Using Enzymatic Cleaners
There are several types of enzymatic cleaners, all of which utilize enzymes to speed up the removal of stains.
Enzymatic cleaners contain helpful microorganisms that produce enzymes.
These enzymes break down organic compounds in blood, bodily fluids, food, and others.
As soon as the enzymes transform the molecules into tiny bits, the bacteria will take over and consumes them, leaving you with stain-free upholstery.
Overall, when it comes to DIY stain removal, using this product is arguably the best method.
There’s a set of instructions that you need to follow, depending on the brand of your enzymatic cleaner.
While there could be differences, most cleaners will recommend applying the solution directly and letting it sit for some time.
Check the stained areas for improvement, and continue to use more of the product if needed.
Enzymatic cleaners tend to evaporate after a couple of hours of application.
As such, make sure you replenish the stained areas until the dried stain is not visible anymore.
Lastly, use a vacuum cleaner equipped with an upholstery attachment to remove any residue.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide
The use of hydrogen peroxide in the removal of fresh and old stains is the most common method.
Aside from its stain-removing properties, it is also an antibacterial and antifungal solution.
Hydrogen peroxide is also recognized as relatively non-toxic, making it a staple chemical used in home maintenance.
Step 1: Get a Sprayer
Procure an empty spray bottle and fill it with a three-percent hydrogen peroxide solution.
Estimate the volume by assessing the spread of the stain on your memory foam mattress.
Step 2: Start Distributing on the Stained Areas
Carefully spray on the dried stain spots only.
Once done, blot the areas using a dry, clean towel or fresh tissues.
Let the hydrogen peroxide set in the memory foam mattress for about five minutes.
Step 3: Repeat the Process
If you see minimal effects on the stains, you might have to repeat step two until the stain becomes invisible.
Don’t forget to blot and dry before you respray the areas.
Step 4: Dry out the Mattress
After the stains are gone, it’s time to let the mattress dry out.
You can either choose to air dry it or use a blow dryer to speed up the process.
Conclusion
If you regularly encounter stains on your memory foam mattress, save yourself some time and effort by investing in a waterproof mattress cover.
Compared to the memory foam mattress itself, cleaning any stains on the cover is significantly faster and easier.
On top of that, you’ll preserve the quality of your mattress.