How to clean sweat from mattress topper?
November 29, 2024 7:28 AM Subscribe
Hi have an ikea mattress topper stained with lots of sweat stains. How to clean it?
I'd like to donate it to a friend in need, but I wanted to clean it first.
I've tried : dish soap, laundry soap (with optical whitener) and hydrogen peroxide, and finally a high pressure cleaner. I can't see any difference after those methods. Here's the now drenched, still stained result.
Confusingly, the topper has a zipper all around it, but is also top-stitched/tufted through all the layers so when the zipper is open... everything is still one piece and can't be laundered. I even tried cutting through one of top-stitched circles (that look like tufting), but underneath the stitches the fabric is damaged by the needle punctures of the stitching... Even if cut them all, and washed the fabric only, it would look really chewed up afterward.
Also, it's cold and wet, and this weekend looks like the only opportunity without rain for the coming weeks, so i had really hoped to be done with it and have it dried by Sunday night (i'm in the Netherlands, and there isn't sunshine to speak of, to have a bleaching effect).
Any tried & tested tips?
I'd like to donate it to a friend in need, but I wanted to clean it first.
I've tried : dish soap, laundry soap (with optical whitener) and hydrogen peroxide, and finally a high pressure cleaner. I can't see any difference after those methods. Here's the now drenched, still stained result.
Confusingly, the topper has a zipper all around it, but is also top-stitched/tufted through all the layers so when the zipper is open... everything is still one piece and can't be laundered. I even tried cutting through one of top-stitched circles (that look like tufting), but underneath the stitches the fabric is damaged by the needle punctures of the stitching... Even if cut them all, and washed the fabric only, it would look really chewed up afterward.
Also, it's cold and wet, and this weekend looks like the only opportunity without rain for the coming weeks, so i had really hoped to be done with it and have it dried by Sunday night (i'm in the Netherlands, and there isn't sunshine to speak of, to have a bleaching effect).
Any tried & tested tips?
I'd try a cleaner made to spray on, scrub in, dry, brush out -typically upholstery or carpet cleaner. I've used it on car upholstery with some success, esp. to reduce smells. People also spray vodka which will dry fast and remove smells. Then I'd see if I could find a mattress cover for it.
posted by theora55 at 7:40 AM on November 29
posted by theora55 at 7:40 AM on November 29
Where i live (Vienna Austria) i would take it to a laundromat, there is one near me with a very big washing machine and dryer dedicated to such items and launder it on lowest setting (20 Celsius) and dry on lowest until damp and rest dry at home. It probably says not to wash but i have done this and while the tumbling caused some lumpyness once it was dry i was able to shake it in form.
However, for me i had decided before laundering that it was either toss it (the stains were period Blood) or try washing it. So ymmv if you do this to give it away.
posted by 15L06 at 8:01 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]
However, for me i had decided before laundering that it was either toss it (the stains were period Blood) or try washing it. So ymmv if you do this to give it away.
posted by 15L06 at 8:01 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]
Have you tried chlorine laundry bleach? The warmest water you think would be tolerated by the topper and a big glug of bleach (diluted if there isn't a bleach dispenser) in the biggest washer you can find would be my suggestion, as noted above by 15L06. If the washer has an option to spin dry at different speeds, the fastest spin would help remove as much water as possible to shorten the drying time.
posted by citygirl at 8:16 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]
posted by citygirl at 8:16 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]
What is it made of? I agree that it is likely OK to wash in a front-loading washing machine on a gentle cycle with cool water. That's not really much different from washing it by hand, maybe just a little more vigorous. If you can, just put it outside afterwards to dry. I'd spray the stains with a stain remover, let it sit for half an hour or so, then wash using plenty of oxygen bleach (Oxyclean, etc) plus detergent. Repeat if necessary.
Optical brighteners in laundry detergent just make whites slightly whiter looking, they don't do anything for stains.
posted by ssg at 8:42 AM on November 29
Optical brighteners in laundry detergent just make whites slightly whiter looking, they don't do anything for stains.
posted by ssg at 8:42 AM on November 29
If by "mattress topper" you mean a mattress protector, meant to prevent the mattress itself from receiving damage or stains from sweat, skin oils, and other fluids, please do carefully read the laundering instructions on the tag, or consult the manufacturer's website. Bleach and sometimes high temperatures will usually ruin such products.
If instead, it's more of a quilted pad sort of product, bleach is usually an option. Borax often helps with some stubborn laundry problems.
posted by xedrik at 8:45 AM on November 29 [1 favorite]
If instead, it's more of a quilted pad sort of product, bleach is usually an option. Borax often helps with some stubborn laundry problems.
posted by xedrik at 8:45 AM on November 29 [1 favorite]
Sweat is a protein stain, so enzymatic cleaners -- some of which are specifically made for sweat -- are likely to be your best for getting them out.
If the inside of the topper is memory foam, would not recommend chlorine bleach -- bleach will get into the pores of the mattress and eat away at it.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:37 AM on November 29 [5 favorites]
If the inside of the topper is memory foam, would not recommend chlorine bleach -- bleach will get into the pores of the mattress and eat away at it.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:37 AM on November 29 [5 favorites]
Have you tried ammonia (not the gas, but normal ammonia solution)? I have had a lot of success getting rid of body-derived oils, odors and stains in both cottons and synthetics and blends in garments like sports clothes, sheets, and towels by adding a few cups of ammonia to a hot-water wash (in a US-style top-loader where I can add it after the drum is full by opening the lid; in a front-loading washer maybe you’d use the detergent drawer?).
You might try directly applying some ammonia solution to the stained area and working it in with a brush (you’ll want to do this outside!) before washing, but you could also leave the cover to soak, if your washer has that setting, for a longer time to allow the degreasing process to really work. It’s kind of a miraculous product and costs almost nothing — I can get a few litres of it for a dollar or two here in the US.
Interestingly, you can actually use it without any detergent at all because its own chemical properties act on a garment’s oil and grease in ways other detergents do not; oil/grease is not just saponified, as it would be with normal detergent, but changed chemically into other substances that cannot be re-embedded as easily into the garment when the reaction is complete as those oils/greases would be when using something like standard laundry detergent. (It also deodorizes through this process!)
Two things to be aware of: first, ammonia isn’t very nice to work with, so if you have them handy wear gloves when you’re measuring it out; you’ll also notice that the smell is very powerful when you add it to the wash but the smell disappears through the wash process. Second, make sure you don’t combine it with chlorine bleach or any chlorine-containing products. If the mattress cover doesn’t smell of bleach and neither does your wash, you’re good. Store ammonia somewhere other than your bleach, too.
Finally, don’t use a clothes dryer - heat will bake the oils/greases into the fibres of the mattress cover and make it even harder to remove them.
Good luck (and thank you for being a good friend to your friend in need)!
posted by mdonley at 9:44 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]
You might try directly applying some ammonia solution to the stained area and working it in with a brush (you’ll want to do this outside!) before washing, but you could also leave the cover to soak, if your washer has that setting, for a longer time to allow the degreasing process to really work. It’s kind of a miraculous product and costs almost nothing — I can get a few litres of it for a dollar or two here in the US.
Interestingly, you can actually use it without any detergent at all because its own chemical properties act on a garment’s oil and grease in ways other detergents do not; oil/grease is not just saponified, as it would be with normal detergent, but changed chemically into other substances that cannot be re-embedded as easily into the garment when the reaction is complete as those oils/greases would be when using something like standard laundry detergent. (It also deodorizes through this process!)
Two things to be aware of: first, ammonia isn’t very nice to work with, so if you have them handy wear gloves when you’re measuring it out; you’ll also notice that the smell is very powerful when you add it to the wash but the smell disappears through the wash process. Second, make sure you don’t combine it with chlorine bleach or any chlorine-containing products. If the mattress cover doesn’t smell of bleach and neither does your wash, you’re good. Store ammonia somewhere other than your bleach, too.
Finally, don’t use a clothes dryer - heat will bake the oils/greases into the fibres of the mattress cover and make it even harder to remove them.
Good luck (and thank you for being a good friend to your friend in need)!
posted by mdonley at 9:44 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]
Though I have not used it for this purpose myself, hydrogen peroxide was once recommended to me.
posted by spindle at 10:48 AM on November 29
posted by spindle at 10:48 AM on November 29
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far. Maybe it's not clear from my picture, but the topper is about 5cm/2in thick. It's a slab of foam, with a bit of padding and then a thick knit fabric cover. The closest thing currently at Ikea is this one, but mine is an older, discontinued model where the cover does NOT come off (I guess Ikea learned). So, it's huge and super bulky, I can barely lift it on my own when it's dry. Unfortunately, the largest machines available here at the laundromat are 14kg machines, and it doesn't fit even half of my mattress topper. I'm looking forward to any suggestions not involving a washing machine/dryer.
posted by PardonMyFrench at 11:32 AM on November 29
posted by PardonMyFrench at 11:32 AM on November 29
This may be more trouble and expense than you are willing to go to to give away a used mattress topper, but if you happen to have some furniture or carpets that could also stand a touch up, renting a carpet steam cleaner with a handheld wand is likely to be your best bet for a cleaning method. Enzymatic cleaners focused on pet waste are typically available for those machines.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:55 AM on November 29
posted by jacquilynne at 11:55 AM on November 29
In my experience mattress topper foam is very fragile and tears easily. A washing machine would destroy it even if you found one it fitted in, so it's good you're avoiding that.
Give up on removing stains, just focus on getting it smell-free. Squeeze out as much water as you can then see if it smells fresh; if not, try febreze or wash again with a scented soap. I don't think vodka would make any permanent change in freshness. Sorry, no real good ideas here but wishing you luck.
posted by anadem at 11:56 AM on November 29 [3 favorites]
Give up on removing stains, just focus on getting it smell-free. Squeeze out as much water as you can then see if it smells fresh; if not, try febreze or wash again with a scented soap. I don't think vodka would make any permanent change in freshness. Sorry, no real good ideas here but wishing you luck.
posted by anadem at 11:56 AM on November 29 [3 favorites]
At this point I'd be more concerned about all of the water that is likely being retained by the foam, as this will likely become a fertile ground for mold if you don't get it as dry as possible. You should avoid bleach or other harsh chemicals as they will likely react with the foam and destroy it. An enzyme cleaner might be able to do something with the staining, but they're pretty persistent in my experience.
(For the future, definitely recommend using a mattress protector that fits over your mattress topper if you're worried about staining.)
posted by Aleyn at 1:29 PM on November 29 [1 favorite]
(For the future, definitely recommend using a mattress protector that fits over your mattress topper if you're worried about staining.)
posted by Aleyn at 1:29 PM on November 29 [1 favorite]
Enzyme cleaners sometimes partially degrade foam and make it gooey / slimey. I wrecked a foam pad - I guess it contained latex and the enzymes partially ate it. I think you need a good quality wet/dry vaccuum to suck moisture out of it. Also sandwich it between towels and step all over it, to get the moisture out. If it's drenched, it's gonna get moldy pretty fast, and stink! Best bet might just be to give them a fitted sheet to put over it and just pretend it's the new top layer of the pad.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:53 PM on November 29
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:53 PM on November 29
If you can get it dry (which will be tricky but should be your first goal; I like nouvelle-personne's sandwich method), I'd try the spray-on carpet cleaner that comes in a can. (In the Netherlands, Kruidvat has it. Note that you may need multiple cans.)
It's an expanding foam that's meant to get slightly below the surface of the carpet and lift the dirt up as it rises to the top. Then, after a bit of a wait, you vacuum it up. Nothing gets saturated with water, so the carpet / mattress topper dries quickly.
posted by demi-octopus at 11:28 PM on November 29
It's an expanding foam that's meant to get slightly below the surface of the carpet and lift the dirt up as it rises to the top. Then, after a bit of a wait, you vacuum it up. Nothing gets saturated with water, so the carpet / mattress topper dries quickly.
posted by demi-octopus at 11:28 PM on November 29
« Older Tips for post-knee replacement? | Book Suggestion:German-Jewish Intellectuals of the... Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:35 AM on November 29 [2 favorites]