How to clean a foam mattress topper?

April 2, 2012 9:56 AM

How to clean a foam mattress topper?

I'm going to be moving soon and selling my bed (wooden frame, mattress, box spring, and potentially a memory foam mattress topper). The problem is that over the years the foam topper has become sort of gross - no stains, but there's a lot of lint, hairs, etc. Functionally, it works just fine (and I think it makes the mattress much more comfy), but I'd be reluctant to try and sell it in this condition. Is there any way to clean an item like this?

posted by cupcakemuffin to home & garden (4 answers total)

if it's just hair and lint you can take one of those pet hair removal brushes to it.

Or go old school on it with a piece of packing tape. Just place the sticky side down on the pad and remove. Repeat as necessary.
posted by royalsong at 10:15 AM on April 2, 2012

How about vacuuming it?
posted by mareli at 10:16 AM on April 2, 2012

First vacuum it.

Then pick a day that's going to be warm and sunny, put a solution of diluted white vinegar in a spray bottle, spray it down really well, and then put it outside in the sun to dry.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:23 AM on April 2, 2012

Vacuum and tape, for sure.

Check that the vinegar/sun combo won't degrade the foam cells before doing that part.
posted by batmonkey at 10:53 AM on April 2, 2012