Can the foam mattresses be washed?Updated 5 months ago

We have two types of foam mattresses—pillow style, which is made from shredded foam, and orthopedic style, which is made from solid foam. Our shredded-foam pillow mattresses can be machine washed, but our solid-foam orthopedic mattresses cannot be machine washed. It is important to confirm your bed's mattress type before proceeding.

If you have our shredded-foam mattress (it will have a liner with sewn-in channels with foam pieces sitting loose inside), you can machine wash on a delicate cycle with cold water. Do not attempt to remove the foam beforehand; it is meant to stay in the liner.

1. Make sure the mattress has enough room in the washer and dryer to move around. If the mattress is squeezed in too tight, it may open up, get damaged, or it may even damage your appliance. 
   • If the fit seems too tight, we recommend taking it to a laundromat and using one of the XL/commercial/industrial-sized washers there. 
   • If you need to add any extra items to balance the load, use towels or blankets. Do not add any delicate items, or clothing that has zippers, buttons, or clasps.
   • Any normal detergent should be fine. You can also add 2 tablespoons or so of distilled white vinegar to help deodorize the bed
   • Do not use fabric softener, and avoid highly concentrated bleach
   • If the liner's zipper opens easily, we do not recommend attempting to machine wash the mattress. While using a safety pin or duct tape to secure the zipper down might help, these methods may come undone in the strain of the wash, allowing the mattress to open and foam to escape. 
2. After washing, machine dry on low heat until the interior is completely dry. This may take several cycles.
   • Never put the cover back on to a mattress that is still damp inside, as this can result in the growth of mold and mildew. 
   • Do not air dry. The foam will dry too slowly, which may encourage the growth of mold or mildew.
   • You may need to fluff the bed up a bit afterwards by shaking it out to help re-distribute the foam evenly.

If you have our solid-foam orthopedic mattress (the liner has no channels and can be completely removed from the liner), the bed should not be machine washed. Ideally, you should not get it wet at all. If it is starting to smell, you can machine wash the liner and deodorize the mattress. 

1. First, unzip and remove the liner. The rezip the liner to close it and machine wash in cold water on a delicate cycle. 
   • Add a minimum of two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to the wash in addition to your detergent to help remove odors. 
2. Machine dry the liner with low heat until fully dry, or air dry. 
3. For the foam, leave it in a dry, well-ventilated area to air out. 
   • Do not allow your dog or any other destructive pets near it during this time, as the foam can be easily damaged when uncovered. 
   • Sprinkling baking soda throughout the top and bottom of the mattress prior to airing out will help eliminate odors.
   • Allow the mattress to air out for at least six hours, but the longer the better. A full day or more is heavily recommended for beds holding stronger odors. 
   • Once it has had a chance to air out, shake out the baking soda as best as possible and return the bed to its cover.