You can quickly master how to cut a memory foam mattress in two easy steps. If you’re already familiar with cutting foam mattresses at home, the practices are quite similar. You have nothing to worry about because this article will teach you tips and tricks to avoid damaging your memory foam.
But why should you learn this? You can cut your memory foam mattress to upcycle it or if you want to make a new one. Getting the dimensions you like is best to get the right bed for your room.
How To Cut A Memory Foam Mattress At Home
Step #1. Preparation
Before anything else, please check with your manufacturer before cutting your memory foam mattress if you don’t want to void your warranty accidentally. Once you have the signal, you can prepare a sharp knife, marker, and tape measure. You may need to sharpen your knife to ensure that you’ll cut the memory foam neatly.
There are different mattress sizes, and you can use their standard dimensions as a guide for cutting. You also want to consider where you’ll use the memory foam and how much foot and headspace you have for it. Furthermore, memory foam mattresses vary in thickness, and some may use other materials in their layers.
Some sizes for your mattress include twin, twin XL, king, California king, full, and queen. You must know their dimensions so you can mark your bed accurately. Remove the cover and trace a cardboard template according to the size you’ll cut.
Step #2. Cutting
What if your mattress has a cover? You can cut it with cloth scissors along the short edge of the bed. You don’t need to fully cut the cover as long as you can take out the mattress comfortably.
This way, you can reuse the cover later on by resizing it. Place your bare mattress on a flat and steady surface and position the knife so that it’s parallel to the bed’s height. The emphasis is on not applying pressure when slicing the mattress to avoid differences in the measurement and shape.
For thicker memory foams, your knife might not cut all the way through. To ensure a neat slice, make a shallow cut first and then a deeper cut the second. Some mattresses may also have varying densities per layer, and if yours is too soft, put cardboard on one side to avoid compressing it as you slice.
Is It Ok To Cut A Memory Foam Mattress?
You can cut a memory foam mattress as long as you’re mindful of the warranty and care throughout the process. Furthermore, it’s a great way to utilize some beds that you no longer use or have to make into a different size or shape. Your memory foam will be useful for other areas, and you can customize it for frames.
Types of memory foam densities
To make cutting easier, it’s best to familiarize yourself with different foam densities. For example, soft memory foam is best as padding, while a medium-density foam is better in terms of lifespan. The latter is also useful for babies because it’s not as conforming as high-density memory foam.
Memory foams labeled high and very high densities will have the best lifespan among the other types. They are perfect for beds, sofas, and even vans because they won’t flatten or sag quickly. Please note the characteristics to expect with every memory foam density as a guide when cutting your mattress.
Materials typically mixed with memory foam
You should also know that some memory foam mattresses have other materials besides memory foam. They can affect the cutting, and they include gel and fiberglass. Since memory foam tends to retain heat, manufacturers add gel to help keep it cool.
On the other hand, some mattresses have fiberglass as a fire retardant. Be extra careful with this material, significantly when cutting. Always wear protective gloves and glasses to keep debris away.
What Is The Best Tool To Cut Memory Foam?
The best tool you can use to cut a memory foam mattress is a sharp knife. Some prefer a serrated type because it’s more comfortable for sawing. If you’re worried about the resulting serrated edge, do note that you’ll cover the mattress anyway.
Some other tools that might work are electric knives and shears as long as they can handle the foam. But if you’re cutting a memory foam mattress horizontally, the hot wire might be the most convenient. It will also work if you have a particular shape in mind or if you’re using high-density foam.
You can also use an electric saw if you have no space to work with a hot wire. Follow the guidelines above, and then trim the excess if needed.
Conclusion
Do you need to resize your bed? Then, you must understand how to cut a memory foam mattress correctly to avoid damaging the material. It’s also crucial that you check your item’s warranty beforehand.
You can follow the standard bed sizes’ dimensions and cut a cardboard template for tracing on the mattress. Then, use a sharp knife and be mindful of the materials and foam density. As long as you don’t apply pressure on the foam, and you can be confident that you’ll cut it neatly.