How to machine wash a mattress topper? It is always nice to rest on a clean and smelling bed.
To enjoy this pleasure, you must maintain the mattress topper well by washing it and removing dust regularly.
Even though hand washing is the most common method, it is also possible to wash it in a machine without damaging it. This is the case for models with natural filling. For the others, you only wash the covers.
Also read: How to choose mattress topper for a heavy person?
Let’s go.
How to clean a mattress topper?
I. The Importance Of Mattress Topper Cleaning
The mattress topper is always in contact with our body. It thus accumulates perspiration, dust, and dead skin. It can become a real nest for bacteria and mites if it is not cleaned regularly.
To have a healthy bed with a good quality of sleep, it is recommended to wash the mattress topper and maintain it daily.
Ii. How Do I Know If A Mattress Can Be Machine Washed Or Not?
Like memory foam and latex mattress toppers, not all mattress toppers can be machine washed. Machine washing can damage the upholstery.
Therefore, this bedding accessory may lose its property which reduces its service life.
Before washing your mattress topper, read the label, it must contain information on the composition of the product. It informs that your bedding accessory can be machine washed or only by hand.
It also gives indications on cleaning techniques: temperature, washing mode, treatment of stains, etc.
The basin indicates that you can carry out a domestic wash. The number inside the basin is the maximum temperature in degrees C at which the mattress topper can be washed.
It can be washed at a lower temperature, but it is the maximum temperature that should not be exceeded. The crossed-out triangle means that no bleach should be used for washing.
Iii. Tips For Washing A Mattress In A Machine
Mattress toppers with wool or feather fillings can be fully machine washed. Below are some tips for washing, spinning and drying depending on the material.
A. Washing The Woolen Mattress Topper
The wool mattress topper is soft and is used for a mattress that is too firm. Wool is a natural material appreciated for its insulating character from heat in summer and cold in winter.
It can come from sheep or alpaca. It is dry cleaning that is recommended for the wool mattress topper, as this helps to preserve its organic qualities. If there are stains, take soapy water and clean them locally.
However, it is possible to clean the woolen mattress topper in a washing machine. Use cold water and mild detergent for washing.
If possible, choose special wool soap and activate the delicate cycle. Spinning is between 1000 and 1600 revolutions per minute.
For drying, know that the dryer is not recommended for wool. It should be air-dried by hanging it on a drying rack or clothesline.
B. Washing The Feather Mattress Topper
The feather mattress topper can last for several years if properly cared for. The way it is washed strongly influences its lifespan. For this, it must be washed once a year.
The maximum temperature for machine washing is 40 degrees. The capacity of the washing machine must be more than 5 kg.
If your machine is below this capacity, go to the nearby laundromat. Also, use mild detergent and avoid fabric softeners. Turn on the delicate setting and the recommended spin is at 1,000 rpm.
To prevent feathers from clumping together or the topper from sagging, try dividing the clumps before drying.
If you’re tumble drying it, use a very low setting. Every 15 or 20 minutes, take out the mattress topper to break up the clumps. This operation is to be done until the feathers are swollen and disperse evenly.
All this has to be done once a year because it breaks the feathers, which reduces the life of the mattress topper.
But the feather model is more conducive to the development of mites, so it must be maintained regularly.
Instead of washing it, you can hang it on the clothesline or drying rack. The wind and the sun will thus ventilate it and eliminate odors in order to keep it clean. This should be done every 4 or 6 months.
Iv. Washing Removable Mattress Toppers
Latex, memory foam, and bamboo mattress toppers cannot be machine washed. If you wash them, they may lose their support capacity and density.
These mattress toppers are most often equipped with a removable cover. When buying, be sure to check this.
The cover envelops the mattress, it serves to protect the bedding accessory from sweat, dust, etc. It is therefore the cover that will be washed.
A. How To Wash The Mattress Topper Cover?
The cover should be washed at least once a month. The washing technique of the cover depends on its material.
The instructions for the different types of fabric must be followed to avoid damaging the product. Fabrics that are not machine washable may stretch or shrink.
If it is cotton, you can wash it at 60 degrees, and between 30 and 40 degrees for wool or synthetic fabric. In addition, a low spin is recommended: 800 revolutions per minute.
Also, use liquid detergent, as it dissolves better than powder detergent when washing at low temperatures.
Some mattress topper covers can be tumble dried. In this case, activate the gentle program. For others, the use of dryers is not possible because the cover may shrink.
If this is the case with your cover, you will need to air-dry it.
B. How Do I Care For These Mattress Toppers?
To keep your mattress topper clean, in addition to washing, you can use a steam vacuum cleaner on the surface to remove dead skin residue, dust, hair, and dirt. Indeed, it eliminates up to 99% of bacteria.
You can also use essential oils to enhance the feeling of cleanliness. A few drops are enough to repel dust mites.
V. Washing Cooling And Heating Mattresses
Cooling and heated mattress toppers regulate body temperature. They are most often made of gel-infused memory foam.
Some models are electric, controlled by remote control or programmable, or even machine washable. For others, it must be removed and it is only the cover that is machine washable.
Most heated mattress pads are machine washable. In these cases, the washing temperature cannot exceed 30 degrees.
To do this, never forget to remove all the electrical cables. Afterward, make sure that the mattress topper is completely dry before reconnecting.
Conclusion
Now you know how to machine wash a mattress topper. Keep in mind that the dryer is not advised for drying wool. It should be air-dried by hanging it on a clothesline or drying rack.
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