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There are some ways in which your Tempur-Pedic mattress is unique, that is, different from other mattresses out there. I’ll explain how to clean Tempur-Pedic mattresses, why you have to do some things a certain way, and what you should never do in order to avoid damaging your mattress or the cover.
What you need
To clean a Tempur-Pedic mattress, you’ll need:
- one or more clean towels (paper towels might work)
- a spray bottle of enzyme cleaner or white vinegar
- baking soda
- vacuum cleaner
Depending on the type of accident (spillage, urine, vomit), you might also need:
- rubber gloves
- a plastic bag to throw away paper towels
Steps for how to clean a TempurPedic mattress
The most important thing to remember is that most Tempur-Pedic mattress covers can be washed and the mattress itself should never get wet/washed (like all memory foam mattresses).
- Step 1: Remove all bedding
- Step 2: Spot clean stains on the mattress cover
- Step 3: Remove and put the mattress cover in the washing machine
- Step 4: Dry the cover
- Step 5: Vacuum the surface of the mattress
- Step 6: Remove any smells with baking soda
Step 1: Remove all bedding
To reach the mattress surface, you need to remove all bedding – comforters, pillows, and sheets. Put all sheets in the dirty laundry so you can start off with clean ones after your mattress is freshened up.
Step 2: Spot clean stains on the mattress cover
Look at the entire surface of the mattress cover and pay attention to any yellow stains, whether it’s the original cover or the Tempur-Protect mattress protector. Those stains might be just a faint shade of yellow or seem like a slight discoloration, but you should remove them nevertheless because those bad boys build up over time to form smelly, almost impossible-to-remove orange stains.
Spot-clean the surface with an enzyme cleaner spray (shake the bottle before applying the product).
You don’t need to soak it up, but if stains are harder to remove, you can spray some water to slightly dampen the fabric first. After 10-15 minutes, blot out the enzyme cleaner with a clean towel.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda on top of the cover, adding more in areas with stronger stains. Then spray white vinegar on top and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
Step 3: Remove and put the mattress cover in the washing machine
Lucky for you, Tempur-Pedic mattress covers are easy to remove.
Just unzip the top half of the cover and remove it. The bottom half is non-washable and non-removable. And I’m saying lucky for you because Tempur-Pedic mattresses are known to be super heavy, and it’s one of the common complaints about them.
Then read the instructions on the sewn-in tag.
Your particular model might have some special instructions that are different from what you see in this article. Put it in the washer. Use a mild detergent (no bleach/chlorine-based cleaners or fabric softeners) and wash on a delicate cycle.
Extra tip: never take your cover to dry-cleaning. Dry-cleaning chemicals are too harsh and can damage materials used in Tempur-Pedic covers. For example, they can ruin the cool-to-touch technology.
Step 4: Dry the cover
Line dry the cover. That’s what Tempur-Pedic recommends.
But if you have to use a dryer, put it on a delicate cycle and lowest heat setting. It will take a while, but that’s how it has to be. You could combine the dryer and air drying. It could be the best option because you should be careful not to over-dry it in the machine.
Extra tip: You can use an electric fan to speed up the drying, but never apply heat to your mattress or its cover. This means no blowdryers as the heat can permanently damage the fabrics of the cover and disfigure the foam in the mattress.
Step 5: Clean/Vacuum the surface of the mattress
Your mattress cover alone isn’t enough to stop dead skin cells, dust mites, germs, sweat, and other such things from reaching the mattress.
Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the mattress surface. This will remove some of the odor an older mattress might have developed and make it feel much fresher.
Tips for big spills: If you spilled something, blot out all the excess moisture you can with a clean towel. You may need to press it down to absorb it better. Then let the mattress air dry.
Do not attempt to wash the foam/the inside of the mattress. This material should never get wet anyway, so if you did spill something, just rely on blotting and drying. Reapply the spray-bottle enzyme cleaner if it’s something really nasty, but don’t make it too wet.
Step 6: Remove any smells with baking soda
While your cover is still in the washer, sprinkle baking soda on the surface of your Tempur-Pedic mattress and leave it for about an hour or until your cover is dry and ready to go back. This will treat any lingering odors. Vacuum the baking soda up from the mattress before you return the cover.
Tips for big spills: Baking soda can help speed up the drying process, so feel free to sprinkle some onto the wet spot.
How to clean urine stains from your Tempur-Pedic mattress
Cleaning urine can seem arduous, but if it makes you feel any better, it is much easier than cleaning vomit from your mattress, for example.
With urine, it’s necessary to act fast because there’s a lot of liquid and you don’t want it to penetrate deep into the mattress.
These are the steps:
- Remove and wash the bedding
- Absorb the liquid
- Spray an equal mixture of water and white vinegar on the stain or spray some enzyme cleaner
- Let it soak
- Cover the spot with baking soda
- Vacuum up the baking soda
- Let the mattress dry
The same goes for pet urine. You might have to be more careful cleaning cat urine from your mattress because they tend to have highly concentrated urine which has a strong smell and leaves darker stains.
Tempur-Pedic care instructions: How to keep your mattress clean
There are some ways in which you can keep your mattress clean.
Your mattress has “personal hygiene” rules that can help it last longer and not develop any stains and smells for years and years to come.
Change bedding frequently
What “frequently” means depends on who sleeps in the bed and how often. There are people whose skin produces more oily substances. Some people sleep in their pajamas, and some without them.
In general, you should change your sheets every week. But, if your sheets develop yellow stains after a couple of nights, you might have to change them more often.
This is because sweat and grease transfer to the mattress more easily when the sheets are all soaked up in bodily fluids.
On the other hand, if you sleep in your pajamas, shower regularly, and generally don’t sweat, you could maybe go for about 10 days to two weeks without changing them.
Vacuum the mattress regularly
If this is possible, vacuum the mattress every time you change sheets.
You could also have some enzyme cleaner ready just in case you need to spray it onto any new stains. Use your regular vacuum cleaner, or get a small handheld vacuum that you can keep under the bed.
Make sure your bedroom isn’t too humid
Watch the room humidity levels.
People who live at the beach have probably already lost this battle before even trying to do anything because of how humid their homes are. But still, you could get a dehumidifier for the bedroom or find another way to keep it dry.
Mattresses can soak up the humidity from the air and remain damp inside for a long time. This causes mold and mildew to develop.
Make sure the bedding is dry before placing it on the bed
Never put wet or damp bedding on any mattress, including the Tempur-Pedic mattress. This means everything – the mattress cover, the Tempur-Protect cover, the duvet, the duvet cover, the sheets, pillows, and pillowcases.
Everything has to be 100% dry when you make the bed.
Don’t rely on it drying on its own after it’s already on the bed. First of all, your bed is having a hard time drying out from your sweat and moisture which accumulates overnight while you’re sleeping. When you put damp bedding, you’re making it much more difficult to dry, but you’re also making it easy for bacteria and mold to grow.
FAQs
Most Tempur-Pedic mattress covers are washable, but some models might have non-removable covers. You’ll find that information on tags that are on the cover itself. If you’re washing the cover in the machine, you should use cold settings and mild detergent. Avoid harsh stain removers and other chemicals at all times. Air drying is the best option, but if you have to put it in a dryer, go with the cool setting.
A brand new Tempur-Pedic mattress smells bad because of off-gassing. This means that the new foam material releases gas which comes from certain volatile chemicals, known as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). We have an in-depth overview of this phenomenon and its toxicity. Your Tempur-Pedic mattress can smell bad if it’s old and dirty or has been damp for a long time.
Conclusion
Tempur-Pedic mattresses typically come with an easily removable top cover, but you can also buy a protector from them. Both are machine washable in cold water with mild detergent, but you should read the care instructions on the label just in case.
Prior to machine washing, you should spot-clean the mattress.
You can sprinkle baking soda and vacuum Tempur-Pedic mattresses with the cover off, but you cannot wash the mattress. In case of a large spill, blot out the excess liquid and let it dry, but never use high heat for drying.
Your mattress will last longer when you take care of it.
Keep your sheets clean, vacuum the mattress regularly, and make sure it’s dry at all times.
Next step: Read our guide to the most luxurious mattresses. If your TempurPedic is dirty beyond repair, it may be time for a new mattress. We tested luxury models from leading brands so you can decide for yourself which one is right for you.
There are also several mattresses that are similar to Tempur-Pedic. If you aren’t sure whether the brand is right for you, take a look at the competition before making your final decision.
With over 5 years experience writing about sleep and mattresses, she's considered one of the go-to experts on the topic.
She likes cycling, nature, art, and languages. She pays special attention to providing you with accurate and useful information when it comes to your sleep quality.
After solving her personal sleep and tiredness problems, she is on to help others by sharing this invaluable information.
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