A mattress is arguably one of the most important accessories in the bedroom. But unforeseen circumstances happen such as spillage, floods, rainwater leakages, or a child could urinate on it. If you don’t dry the mattress, it breeds mold and mildew. Regardless of how it happens, you should act quickly to prevent an eventful health risk. Here is a simple guide on how to salvage your mattress.
Whether the mattress is wet from spill or urine, you should ensure you clean it within 24 hours. You need a dry towel, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, vacuum, sponge, and a toothbrush.
How to Dry Mattress
01. Access the damage
If you find yourself in such a predicament, you should access the damage. First, you should remove the mattress cover. Most spillages are minimal, so you can easily salvage the mattress. However, after a flood, you should determine whether you should dry the mattress or dispose it of altogether. If the mattress is soaked in raw sewage or fuel, the best option would be to discard it.
02. Sop up water
Once you’re aware the mattress is wet, you should take immediate action. Try to get as much water as possible from the mattress. Use dry towels to extract water. Then replace with dry ones and continue with the process.
When absorbing the water, the pressure is very important. Sometimes, you may have to stand on the towels to extract as much water as possible. If the spill is minor, use a washcloth or tissue paper to blot up the moisture. You should ensure the cloth you use is clean.
03. Absorb the liquid
While blotting with dry towels will help to remove the moisture from the mattress, you still have to extract the liquid to enable it to dry faster. Because baking soda has absorbent properties, it will penetrate the porous part of the mattress to absorb the excess moisture.
Sprinkle the baking soda on the wet patches and rub gently to work on the internal structure of the mattress. After a few hours, you should vacuum it. Continue with the process until the mattress looks reasonably dry.
If the rain blew from the window and got into the mattress, you should only vacuum the wet part. Before you start the process, you should disinfect the nozzle. Always wait for about 30 minutes before vacuuming the mattress.
Another way of absorbing moisture is by pressing kitty into the mattress. Simply press it around the wet part and clean the area. If the mattress is still wet, you should spread the kitty litter on the problem area and allow it to sit for 1-2 hours.
04.Use dish soap and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains
This step is important if the mattress was soaked in unhygienic water, urine, and any other sort of liquid. If your mattress got wet from clean water, you should ignore the step.
As a general practice, you should remove the stains when the mattress is still wet. First, mix hydrogen peroxide and dish soap in the ratio of 2:1. Next, use a small toothbrush or scrub brush and a cleaning solution. Allow the mixture to sit in for about five minutes and then rinse it off.
If the foam mattress is wet with urine, you should blot the stains with paper towels by pressing on the wet area. You can also get rid of the stain by spraying some vinegar and rubbing it with a toothbrush. If the stain is stubborn, you may want to add some baking soda to the problem area. As the baking soda clumps up, it will easily come up along with the urine and stench.
05. Use alcohol to prevent mold
The next step to inhibit the growth of mold is to use alcohol. You should create a cleaning solution by mixing one part of alcohol with water. Use a rag to clean the mattress. If it becomes too dry, deep it into the cleaning solution. Be sure to wipe all the liquid including the sides. Finally, wring it and wipe all the patches to inhibit mold growth.
06.Use a hairdryer
You should set the hairdryer a few inches from the mattress and focus on the wet spot for 10-20 minutes. Let the mattress cool down before checking the level of wetness. This is because the heat can make your mattress feel dry while it’s not. You may want to test the mattress for about 20 minutes to ensure it’s dry.
07. Use a fan
You should prop the mattress on the wall and blow the web surface. Be sure to leave about two inches of space on either side. Alternatively, you can position the fan at the wet spot for 6-8 hours and allow it to dry completely. It gets better if you have a dehumidifier. If you’re not sure how dry the mattress is, it’s better to over dry rather than to leave it damp.
When water gets deep inside the mattress, it can damage the padding, frame, and springs. Even if the surface looks clean, the inside may still be wet. As a general practice, you should open all the windows to ensure there’s sufficient air circulation in the room.
08.Move the mattress outside
If you can’t dry the mattress from the house, you should move it outside. You should look for a sunny spot where there are no obstructions. Be sure to place the mattress under sunlight under 5 hours. It’s worth mentioning that direct sunlight will also help to remove the smell to a great extent. If it’s cloudy outside, you should prop it up in an area with a breeze.
If the mattress still feels soggy in the evening, you can repeat the same process the following day. As you dry the mattress, make sure there are no sheets/blankets on it.
Time is of the essence when drying the mattress. You may want to look for an alternative place to sleep. Covering it with sheets and beddings can lead to mold and mildew buildup.
09. Dress the mattress cover
You should always dress the mattress with a waterproof cover. This will not only help to prevent spills in the future but also protects it from dirt, dust, and sweat.
10. Final words
Drying a mattress is a straightforward process if you know how to do it correctly. If you don’t take any action, it can develop bacteria, mold, or mildew which is unhealthy to sleep on. Be sure to follow the above steps and you’ll dry your mattress in a hygienic way. If you’re unable to dry it, you can always seek the services of a professional.