Can Memory Foam Get Wet? How To Remove Moisture from Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory foams come with a set of instructions. Amongst their dos and don’ts, memory foam shouldn’t get wet. However, accidents may happen and there have been scenarios where people have accidentally spilled water or any form of liquid on their memory foam mattress.

The damage is done, but there are ways you can prevent it from making it worse. Don’t worry; in this article, we shall discuss all the possible solutions to make your memory foam dry if it gets wet accidentally.

Memory foam is made of mainly porous material that fails to hold or soak up the liquid. It lacks the quality of a sponge and thus tends to get wet. Let’s discuss more possible queries related to wet memory foam.

Can Memory Foam Get Wet?

Yes, memory foam lacks the quality of soaking up liquid and so gets wet easily even with an accidental spillage.  Wet base or foam can make you uncomfortable using memory foam like before. It loses its quality if you do not ventilate it properly.

Memory foam can get wet with any form of liquids such as water, tea, coffee, juice, alcohol, etc., If you have pets around at home, their urine can damage your memory foam too.

Urine also causes the memory foam to smell and thus you may have to treat it immediately to avoid bad odor.

Can Memory Foam Grow Mold?

Mold can form anywhere or any place that is dark, warm, and moist. The area underside of your bed is usually dark and thus it is likely that your memory foam mattress can grow mold.

Body sweat also leads to the formation of mold in memory foam mattresses. It is best to avoid the formation of mold or prevent it from spreading with regular cleaning and drying the memory foam mattress.

Most people ignore paying close attention to mold formation that leads to further mold toxicity. It takes about 24-48 hours for the mold to grow on the mattress surface and then it starts spreading quickly.

The major risk with mold is that it hogs on organic material and destroys it by spreading in the other areas like the bed as well. Perhaps, a waterproof mattress cover can help you prevent moisture and thus the spreading of mold.

Recommended Waterproof Mattress Covers:

What Happens When a Memory Foam Mattress Gets Wet?

When you pour liquid accidentally on your memory foam, it fails to soak it up. This is the period when you have to act immediately and work on ways to dry it up.

Ignoring the situation will only make your mattress worse for use. Leaving the mattress wet will make way for moisture to settle.

When your mattress is wet or left wet, the tiny air pockets in the mattress will leave space for water to enter and get settled there. This can turn out to be a breeding place for mildew, mold, and odor.

As a result, the wet mattress will turn uncomfortable and noisy on use. This will also shorten the life of your memory foam mattress.

There are ways you can remove the moisture out of memory foam. We shall discuss it in our next subheading. Situations, where the mattress is wet due to rain or storm need immediate attention too.

It is also likely that the rainwater could be contaminated and may spoil the lifespan of your mattress. Thus, a wet mattress always needs your attention.

How Do You Get the Moisture Out Of A Memory Foam Mattress?

Simple sanitization won’t work; moisture may still linger and breed on your mattress.  Moreover, the adhesives may start weakening losing the layers that were held together.

If you act fast to dry your mattress, you can still save its lifespan. Thus, it is essential to dry memory foam mattress as soon as it gets wet.

Below listed are 5 effective methods to get the moisture out of a memory foam mattress.

1. Minor Spillage

This one is for minor spills. With little patience, you can dry the mattress and prevent it from stinking.

Required Items:

• Washcloth (preferably absorbent) or tissue paper
• Hairdryer

Process:

Apply some pressure with tissue or cloth just as if you are blotting. The force must hold or soak enough moisture from the mattress. After you have blotted the moisture, use your hair dryer at high speed.

Hold the dryer a few inches away from the mattress and apply heat for at least 20 minutes. Let the mattress and wet area cool completely.

Wait for half an hour before you repeat or try another method of drying your mattress. This should work if the spill was minimal.

Precautions:

• Do not be impatient in trying another method or using it until you have given it some time to dry up completely.
• Keep your mattress at a distance of at least 3 to 4 inches from the dryer at high speed.

2. The Flip Method (Traditional method)

This one is pretty simple and traditional. Some people still follow this easy method to dry up the moisture from memory foam mattresses.

Required Items:

• Fan
• Space heater

Process:

You need to flip the memory foam mattress and make it stand properly with some support. Leave space of at least 2 feet on both sides of the mattress.

Bring the fan near the end and blow it on both sides. Some even use two fans to speed up the process for both sides. You may also turn on the space heater at a little distance from the mattress.

Precautions:

• Ensure all the windows of the room are open and your ceiling fans are on so that there is good movement of ventilation in the room.
• Air circulation and room temperature together help to speed up the process of drying for your memory foam mattress.

3. Resting Method

This method is again simple and easy to follow. It may take some time for the drying method to complete, but the results are satisfactory in many cases. Let’s understand the process ahead.

Required Items:

• Concrete Blocks or Sawhorse
• Standing Fans

Process:

Create a platform with the support of blocks or sawhorses under the sun. Rest your memory foam mattress rest on it. Let the mattress dry under the sun’s heat.

The wind and sun together will speed up drying. You may also place some fans near the mattress if the fan cable is long enough to use outside. Repeat the process the next day.

Precautions:

• Let the mattress dry on its own and do not flip until you are satisfied with one side.
• You may follow the process for the other side the next day or at regular intervals for both sides to dry.

4. Vinegar and Baking Soda Method for Urine Wetness

Liquids could be of different kinds. Urine spillage on the mattress by pets or children is the most difficult to remove. It is because the mattress may not only have stains but also smell bad.

Don’t worry, there is a solution to everything. This method will help you to dry up the moisture if the mattress is wet due to urine.

Required Items:

• Baking Soda
• Plain or Clear Vinegar
• Toothbrush
• Hard tissue paper or microfiber towel

Process:

Blot the wet area with a paper towel or microfiber cloth. Press the area gently and let the tissues soak up the entire wetness. Spray some vinegar on the urine area and gently rub it with a toothbrush.

Allow it to settle for 10 minutes. Sprinkle some baking soda on the scattered vinegar on the mattress. Baking soda will clump up and take off the dried vinegar too. This will help you get rid of moisture, wetness, and smell at the same time.

 Precautions:

• This method needs more patience and works as the smell of urine may get trapped along with the stain.
• Allow proper 10 minutes for the vinegar to dry on the urine-stained areas. Use gloves, to avoid urine or vinegar smell on hands.
• The longer you keep baking soda, the better results you will get.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide Method for Tough Stains and Heavy Liquid

Required Items:

• Hydrogen Peroxide (10 ounces)
• Baking Soda (3 tbsp)
• Detergent (3 drops)
• Spray bottle
• Table or Standing Fan
• Mixing bowl and spatula
• Hand gloves

Process:

Mix well the mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and detergent in a bowl. Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the affected area on the mattress.

Spray enough to remove the wet odor and moisture. Switch on the fans and let the window of the room be open. Allow the mixture to dry up for at least an hour.

On drying, the moisture and wetness will be dried too. This mixture will remove the bad smell and prevent mold to breed.

Precautions:

• Remove all the bedding and sheets when you follow the process and put all of these under the sun to dry.

Final Words:

Other than the drying process, you must also follow the right ways of removing the stains. Stains on memory foam mattresses also mean that there is some moisture and wetness left that will leave room for mold to breed.

Other than the liquid, body sweat may also lead to a wet and smelly mattress. Any of the above methods will help you get rid of sweat, stains, and odor.