How to Clean, Wash, and Sanitize a Tempurpedic Pillow – Step-by-Step
It is a good idea to clean your tempurpedic pillow to sanitize your sleeping environment, thereby preventing the spread of disease and removing bad odors. However, cleaning a tempurpedic pillow without using the proper technique might ruin your pillow. We’ve prepared this foolproof guide to help you clean your tempurpedic pillow the right way. This guide will also work with any kind of memory foam.
To clean, wash, and sanitize a tempurpedic pillow follow these steps:
Step 1. Wash and dry the Tempurpedic cover.
Step 2. Ventilate the pillow
Step 3. Remove odors from the pillow with a safe chemical
Step 4. Use a towel to remove spills and stains
Per tempurpedic, you should NEVER wash a temperpedic pillow in a washing machine. Once wet, tempurpedic material will lose its shape and become a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew.
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TEMPUR-Ergo Advanced neck Relief Pillow. Available on Amazon. You may also enjoy our article on choosing the right tempurpedic neck pillow size.
Steps to Clean a Tempurpedic Pillow
Step 1. Wash the Tempurpedic Pillow Cover
This is the only step in which you may use a washing machine. Check the tag to see whether there are any rules, such as cold water only. It is recommended that you use cold water and a mild detergent, as you will be resting your head on the pillow. Do not use harsh chemicals such as chlorine, especially if you have sensitive skin, because it may irritate your skin or damage the material of the pillow cover. When the cycle has finished, simply dry the cover out like you would any other laundry.
Step 2. Ventilate the Tempurpedic Pillow
Roll the pillow gently using your hands, and leave it out in a clean, well ventilated area. DO NOT put the pillow in the dryer as this will damage the memory foam. Do not scrub or twist, as the material is delicate, and you will no longer benefit as much from the extra density and malleability of the Visco foam.
Step 3. Remove Odors From the Tempurpedic Pillow With a Safe Chemical Cleaner
Like the cover, do not use harsh chemicals on the pillow, as this may damage the foam. In order to get rid of bad smells, sprinkle baking soda over the foam and let it sit for a day. DO NOT use water, and after twenty-four hours, vacuum the pillow with an upholstery attachment. This is similar to the attachment used for cleaning carpets, but the head is less wide. Using baking soda is a safe way to clean a tempurpedic pillow.
What if the pillow has a bad odor from a liquid? Make a mixture of half water and half vinegar and put them into a spray bottle. Spray the pillow lightly. Wait for 3-4 minutes for it to soak, then dry with a towel. Be careful to dry the pillow completely or there is a risk of mold forming inside the pillow.
Step 4. Use a Towel to Remove Spills and Stains
You must remove any spills and stains as soon as they occur, or mold may develop inside the pillow. Take the pillow out of its case immediately and dry it with a towel. Then leave it in a dry, well ventilated area. If necessary, use a fan to help the pillow dry better.
For stains, mix a small amount of mild detergent with cold water, put it into a towel, and use the towel to daub the stain out of the pillow. Then use a dry towel to get rid of any excess moisture in the pillow.
Machine Washing vs. Hand Washing Tempurpedic Pillows
TEMPUR material should never get wet. Therefore you should neither machine wash nor hand wash your tempurpedic pillow! Instead, follow the steps in the above section. At most, you should use a damp towel to clean your tempurpedic pillow. If your tempurpedic pillow does get wet, you need to dry it out quickly and thoroughly.
What If I Washed My Tempurpedic Pillow? How do I Dry a Tempurpedic Pillow?
To dry a tempurpedic pillow follow these steps:
Step 1. Remove and set aside the cover.
Step 2. Press and roll the tempurpedic pillow gently.
Step 3. Put the pillow in a well-ventilated area.
Step 4. Check the pillow for moisture. If moisture remains, repeat steps 2 and 3.
Washing a tempurpedic pillow will damage the foam material. Wet foam will expand, distort and later crumble, meaning that you will have pockets of destroyed foam inside your pillow, and your pillow won’t be comfortable to sleep on. But fortunately there are ways to reverse or decrease the damage.
Washing your tempurpedic pillow will cause damage because the extra fine foam continually expands and distorts. Reverse this process by using towels to absorb the excess moisture. You will need to use as little pressure as possible, and if the pillow is waterlogged, you may have to leave it in an open and airy place, surrounded by towels. When the towel has soaked up enough moisture, wring it out and replace it with another dry towel. When the pillow is no longer waterlogged, press and roll the pillow gently to remove any leftover moisture. Then continue to let it dry in a sunny, well ventilated space until there is no moisture left.
Memory foam takes longer to dry than other pillows, but a good rule of thumb is 24 hours. Take the pillow inside at night, as, depending on the climate, mildew can form outside in the early hours of the morning. In temperate climates there will be 12 hours per day in which you can effectively dry things, so 24 hours of drying will take 2 days.
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Tempurpedic pillows are designed for all sleeping positions. Image from Amazon.
How to Clean a Tempurpedic Mattress
The steps for cleaning a tempurpedic mattress are similar to the steps for cleaning a tempurpedic pillow. Soak up the mess with a towel, and if there is a lingering smell, leave baking soda on the mattress for an hour, then vacuum it up.
To clean a tempurpedic mattress:
Step 1. Remove, wash and dry the mattress cover
Step 2. Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda and leave for an hour.
Step 3. Vacuum the mattress
Step 1. Remove, Wash and Dry the Tempurpedic Mattress Cover
Completely remove the mattress cover. If you do not have one, you should get one, as it will lengthen the lifespan of your mattress. A waterproof mattress cover like this one from Amazon will be especially useful.
Read the washing instructions on the cover tag. If instructions are not specified, put it in the washing machine on a delicate cycle with cold water. If the cover is made of a heavy-duty material and has no care instructions, put on a heavy cold cycle.
When putting the mattress cover into a dryer, put it on a low setting. But if you can, air drying is better, as it will prevent problems with lint getting on the cover.
Step 2. Sprinkle the Tempurpedic Mattress With Baking Soda and Leave for an Hour.
Make sure the entire mattress is covered with a fine layer of baking soda. This will absorb excess moisture and residues that cause odors. Cornstarch may also be effective. Use a mixture of half cornstarch and half baking soda. Baking soda is a safe way to clean a tempurpedic mattress.
Step 3. Vacuum the Mattress
After an hour, use a vacuum with an upholstery accessory or a handheld vacuum. Do not stop until you have vacuumed up all of the baking soda.
And viola! Your Tempurpedic mattress is clean and free of bad smells!
How to Remove Urine From Tempurpedic Foam Mattress
To remove urine from a tempurpedic foam mattress:
Step 1. Use towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
Step 2. Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of half water and half vinegar and spray the mattress stain.
Step 3. Towel out the moisture again.
Step 4. Continue spraying and towelling until most of the smell is gone.
Step 5. To prevent residual smell, make sure the foam is towelled dry, then cover the area with baking soda.
Step 6. Wait for one hour, or more, depending on how deep you feel the stain is.
Step 7. Vacuum up the baking soda with a portable vacuum or vacuum with an upholstery attachment.
Step 8. Cover the mattress with a mattress protector so that you can simply throw the protector in the wash if this occurs again.
If you don’t already have a waterproof mattress cover, consider investing in one like this one from Amazon.
How to Clean a Tempurpedic Mattress Topper
Like all tempurpedic products, mattress toppers should not get wet.
To clean a tempurpedic mattress topper, follow these steps:
Step 1. Use a handheld vacuum with a brush attachment.
Step 2. Spray the mattress with a safe cleaning fluid.
Step 3. Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda, leave for an hour, then vacuum it up with a handheld vacuum or vacuum with an upholstery attachment.
How to Remove Smoke Smell From Tempurpedic Foam
A major disadvantage of smoking is that it can leave a residual smell in foam and reduce the period of time it can be used comfortably. Fortunately, here are some guidelines on how to clean the smell out of tempurpedic foam mattresses, mattress covers or pillows
To remove the smell of smoke from a tempurpedic foam product:
Step 1. Remove the cover and wash it in the washing machine on a cold setting.
Step 2. Let the mattress, topper or pillow air out in a dry and airy place.
Step 3. Spray the entire mattress, topper or pillow with a safe cleaner.
Step 4. Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress, topper or pillow, and let it soak in for one hour to twenty-four hours.
Step 5. Vacuum out the baking soda with a handheld vacuum or vacuum with an upholstery attachment.
Step 6. If the results are not satisfactory, repeat the process, letting the baking soda sit for a longer time.
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How to Remove Sweat From Tempurpedic Foam
The best way to prevent sweat from penetrating into foam bedding products is to always use covers. Simple pillow covers like these ones from Amazon will work. But in case sweat does get into your tempurpedic mattress or pillow, follow a process similar to that of removing smoke. Since sweat is stronger smelling, you will need to consider incorporating a smell that will mask the sweat odor. Before you let the tempurpedic mattress, topper or pillow dry out with baking soda, dab some essential oils onto the pillow. Lavender oil is said to aid sleep, but you can choose any mild fragrance that will make you feel relaxed and cover up bad smells.
Tempurpedic mattresses provide awarding winning comfort. Image from Amazon.
Spot Cleaning Memory Foam
In order to maintain your tempurpedic mattress, topper or pillow, you can spot clean it every once in a while. 3% Hydrogen peroxide in a bottle with a dropper is good for this because it will enable you to apply a small amount of the chemical to a specific area. Here are the steps for spot cleaning:
- Choose an area you want to spot clean. Perhaps there is a bit of residual odor there and you want to work on removing it.
- Apply a few drops of the hydrogen peroxide over the desired area.
- Towel up moisture.
- Spray the area with water and towel up the moisture again. This is to get rid of the hydrogen peroxide.
- Use soft towels covered in a mixture of boric acid and vinegar to scrub off any stains.
- Spray with water and towel up the moisture to get rid of the cleaning solution.
Which Stain Cleaners Should I Use?
When cleaning foam tempurpedic mattresses and pillows, you should never use harsh chemicals, as these will damage the foam. Here is a list of chemicals you should use and their properties.
Vinegar and Water
A mixture of half vinegar and half water will be effective for removing liquid stains, including urine. This means that you will need to find an empty spray bottle, rather than buying a product specifically designed for the job.
Boric Acid
Boric acid, like vinegar, is acidic. But boric acid is a disinfectant and can be bought as a liquid or powder. Boric acid and vinegar together will work like a detergent. Here’s some boric acid cleaner from amazon.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is not an acid. Rather it is a base, so it is good for cleaning up urine, which is slightly acidic. The only disadvantage is that this solution will result in a white stain on the mattress. After you use hydrogen peroxide, it is wise to use a little water to get rid of the hydrogen peroxide. Here’s some simple peroxide cleaner from Amazon.
Enzymatic Pet Stain Cleaner
When your pet urinates on the mattress, you will need to find a chemical that contains bacteria that will destroy the ammonia residues of pet urine. Enzymatic cleaners like this one from Nature’s Miracle works really well on urine.
If your tempurpedic pillow or mattress cannot be rescued any longer, it might be time for a new tempurpedic pillow :)
If you're looking for more cleaning tips and tricks, you'll want to check out our article on how to make a bed smell good too!