How To Remove Mold From Memory Foam Mattress: 7 Easy Steps

Knowing how to remove mold from memory foam mattress can help you clean your bed without damaging the foam inside. The process is simple: vacuum the bed, soap the moldy area, rinse, dry, and apply baking soda.

While the process is easy to do, there are a number of things to consider since one wrong move can cause harm to the foam. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about removing mold from your memory foam mattress.

how to remove mold from memory foam mattress

 

Steps To Remove Mold From Memory Foam Mattress

 

Step #1. Prepare your materials

Not all makers build memory foam mattresses the same. It would be best to read your mattress’s home care guide or manual to help you know what to do and what to avoid when cleaning.

However, in general, you should avoid using harsh chemicals and a lot of moisture when cleaning memory foam.

Before you begin cleaning your mattress, you have to prepare the equipment you need. For cleaning materials, you will need a vacuum, sponge, two pieces of cloth, dish soap, and baking soda.

Since mold can cause adverse health effects, it would be best if you wear personal protective equipment. If you work on mold unprotected, you may experience mild symptoms such as a runny nose to more serious effects such as nausea, wheezing, and other intense reactions.

At the very least, you should wear a filtered face mask or respirator and a pair of gloves. Goggles can also help prevent spores from entering your eyes and protect them from irritation.

The mask you wear depends on how long you will stay around mold. If you have multiple things to clean and will be exposed to the spores for hours, check this article to know what kind of respirator you will need for mold.

 

Step #2. Remove bed sheets

Your next step would be to remove your bedsheets. You should store your sheets in a trash bag and seal them until you are ready to wash away the mold.

This act would prevent the mold spores attached to your sheets from spreading.

 

Step #3. Vacuum the surface

Now that the mold on your mattress is exposed, you should get a vacuum with an upholstery filter and cover the entire surface. If you vacuum the entire surface, you ensure that most if not all fungal spores are removed and will not come back.

Once you are done vacuuming, it would be best to place the vacuum bag inside a trash bag and shut it tight to prevent spreading spores.

 

Step #4. Soap the moldy area

With the spores gone, you can thoroughly clean the mold-affected area.

Put two tablespoons of mild dishwashing soap into a gallon of water. Mix the solution until it produces soap suds.

Dip your sponge onto the suds only and sponge and wipe away at the mold. Dishwashing liquid will help kill the fungus and remove all the spores attached to it.

In addition to dishwashing liquid, you can also use a solution of water and white vinegar to kill the mold attached to your mattress. It would be best to avoid wetting or using harsh chemicals on your memory foam mattress, as the foam absorbs water easily and will damage it.

 

Step #5. Rinse by blotting

After soaping, you should get a clean piece of cloth, dip it into water, and wring out as much excess moisture as possible. Wipe and blot the soaped area to remove the suds.

 

Step #6. Dry the area

Now that the area is clean, you should use your other clean piece of cloth and dab it onto the wet area. This act will absorb as much of the water as possible.

Afterward, you can use an electric fan or dehumidifier to help speed up the drying process. Alternatively, you can also open a window to let in the fresh air that will aid in drying your memory foam mattress.

 

Step #7. Sprinkle with baking soda

Now that the area is clean and dry, you should sprinkle your entire memory foam mattress with baking soda. Baking soda will put any remaining mold into an alkaline environment that is deadly for fungi, killing them.

Baking soda also serves as a deodorant that will remove any mold scent and make your bed smell clean and fresh. Let the baking soda sit on your mattress for a few hours.

After enough time has passed, you should thoroughly vacuum your mattress to get rid of all of the baking soda. You can then place new sheets and enjoy your clean, mold-free bed.

After cleaning your mattress, you should keep aware of your surroundings in case mold reappears or shows up somewhere else. To help you find mold growth, check out this useful article about looking out for signs of mold in your apartment.

 

Conclusion

Mold spores are everywhere, which means they can grow almost anywhere under the right circumstances. With this in mind, knowing how to remove mold from memory foam mattress becomes essential knowledge.

With a simple seven-step method involving vacuuming, soaping, rinsing, and drying, you can help clean out your bed while keeping it usable for years to come.

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