Can You Steam Clean A Memory Foam Mattress? (Find Out Now!)

When it comes to comfort, no other mattress beats memory foam mattresses. This is due to the ability to adapt to your body size and shape. However, memory foam mattresses can also get dirty, and if you’re looking to clean them, one question will cross your mind; can a memory foam mattress be steam-cleaned?

A steam cleaner can be used to clean a memory foam mattress. Steam cleaning is an effective method of getting rid of stubborn stains and dirt caught up in a memory foam mattress. It also helps to eliminate mites and germs. Nonetheless, it’s best to be extra cautious as you steam clean your mattress, lest you end up damaging it.

Since memory foam mattresses don’t come cheap, keeping yours clean goes a long way in protecting your investment. Steam cleaning this type of mattress is quite easy, and it shouldn’t take up too much of your time. It’s also an effective, hygienic, and chemical-free cleaning method.

You can only steam clean a memory foam mattress effectively after stripping it bare. It will be easy to eliminate all stains and debris after all the hard-to-reach areas are made accessible. Stripping your memory foam mattress also means removing all the bedding and pillows.

Some memory foam mattresses come with waterproof liners both on top and underneath. If your mattress has these, it’s best to remove them before you start steam-cleaning. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to get rid of debris and stains. To save time when steam cleaning your mattress, switch the machine on while stripping the mattress. This way, the steam cleaner will be ready as soon as you need to start using it.

If your memory foam mattress has a lot of debris, it’s best to vacuum-clean it first before using the steam cleaner on it. Vacuum cleaning takes care of dust and other debris, which a steam cleaner may not eliminate. A small vacuum cleaner can do the job effectively.

For the hard-to-reach areas of the mattress, use a soft hand brush to push off the debris. You can also pick the bigger pieces of debris by hand. While vacuuming your memory foam mattress, do not forget about the corners and sides because sometimes, a lot of debris gets lodged there. The underneath of the mattress should also be vacuumed.

To ensure that your mattress is ready for steam cleaning, vacuum every inch of it. Remember, if you steam clean a memory foam mattress that has dust and other debris, chances are that unsightly stains will appear on the surface.

The steam cleaning job will be easier and more effective if you tackle the big and tough stains first. Getting rid of these stains requires more time and effort than the smaller ones. While dealing with stains, it’s best to remember that memory foam mattresses are more delicate than ordinary mattresses.

Thus, don’t be too aggressive when tackling stains because you may end up damaging your mattress. Also, the detergents you typically use on ordinary mattresses are not recommended for memory foam mattresses. Therefore, be sure to check out the care label instructions on your mattress to have an idea about the best detergent to use.

Stain treatment on memory foam mattresses should start before steam cleaning. To do this:

You should only steam clean your memory foam mattress after you’ve gotten rid of debris and undertaken stain treatment. First, turn on the steam cleaner and allow it to warm up for a couple of minutes. Once you’re ready to start, ensure you cover all areas of the mattress.

To ensure the safe use of a steam cleaner on your foam mattress, ensure the nozzle is held at least six inches away from the mattress. Holding it too close to the mattress may damage it. Similarly, you won’t get rid of all stains and debris if the nozzle is too far from the mattress.

Rather than the steam cleaner from one end of the mattress to another, it’s best to use small circular motions. Pay special attention to the sides and underneath the mattress because a lot of dirt often gets lodged in those areas.

Don’t leave the nozzle over one spot for more than ten seconds to avoid damaging the mattress. Besides damaging the mattress, lingering on one spot for too long means it will get saturated with steam. In addition, the moisture may not dry completely, which comes with the risk of mold infestation once you start using your mattress again.

If you are using a steam mop to clean your mattress, move it up and down throughout all areas of the mattress. While at it, inspect the mop head regularly because it tends to get dirty quickly. If that’s the case, replace it to avoid spreading dirt to the already cleaned areas of your memory foam mattress.

Once you’ve covered all areas of the mattress, allow it to dry before you use it again. The beauty of steak cleaning a memory foam mattress is that it will dry within a short time. So, you won’t have to worry about making do without your mattress.

After steam cleaning your memory foam mattress, it’s best to rotate it. When you sleep on one side of the mattress for far too long, it will wear out unevenly and lose its efficiency. Rotating the mattress ensures even wear and tear.

With typical innerspring mattresses, you can simply turn them over and sleep on the other side. However, this isn’t something you do with most memory foam mattresses. These mattresses come with a top layer for heat management and extra comfort and a middle and bottom layer for support and structure. Even so, just because flipping your memory foam mattress isn’t advisable doesn’t mean you should do it.

Related Questions

How Often Should Memory Foam Mattresses Get Steam Cleaned?

Now that you know about the benefits of steam cleaning a memory foam mattress and how to go about it, it would also help if you had an idea about how often to steam clean a memory foam mattress. Mattresses should be cleaned every time you change your bedsheets.Ideally, this should be done every week. However, this doesn’t mean you must steam clean your memory foam mattress weekly because you might end up damaging it. Instead, whenever you change your bed sheets, vacuum the sides, top, and underneath the mattress to get rid of hair, dead skin, dust, and mites.This lengthens the lifespan of the mattress besides improving your sleep hygiene. On the other hand, steam cleaning should be done twice a year. This way, you get to keep your memory foam mattress in the best condition while avoiding over-cleaning, which could damage it.