How To Dry A Wet Mattress

Apart from the bed, the mattress is considered as one of the most important accessories within a bedroom. Mattresses are deemed to be at their best when dry but due to some unforeseen circumstances such as spillages caused by pets, floods, or even rainwater leakages, they can become wet.

Tip: Using a Mattress Protector can help keep your mattress from getting wet. 

When faced with such a scenario, it is of utmost importance that you dry the mattress as fast as possible to prevent it from developing mold and a musty odor. For individuals who might be in such a predicament, the following overview on how to dry a wet mattress might prove invaluable.

Materials Required To Dry A Wet Mattress

The following materials are generally required when cleaning a wet mattress.

-Dry towels

-Baking soda

-Rubbing alcohol

-Sponge

-Vacuum

Step 1: Assess The Damage

The first step would naturally be to determine the extent of the damage by the water. For starters, it is advisable to remove any sheet from the mattress and examine your mattress. If your mattress has a waterproof cover, then you are in luck if not you have quite some work to do.

Most spillages are usually minimal in nature but in the event of a flood, you might be forced to consider whether the mattress can be salvaged or disposed of altogether. Flood water contains all kinds of contaminants, from raw sewage to fuel. As such, if a mattress has been completely soaked in this water for some time it would most likely have deep stains and if it is made from foam, discarding it would be the best option.

If your mattress is a victim of a flood or is so far gone and you need a new one then the good news is that there are many affordable mattresses you can buy online. I’m a fan of the Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress*, I recommend you check it out if you need a new mattress.

Step 2: Soak Up The Water

The next step is to ensure that you get out as much water from the mattress as possible. For starters, you should lay the mattress down on a dry surface and while doing so, ensure you do not put it on a carpet or rag.

Using the dry towels, apply pressure on the mattress placing emphasis on the wet areas within the mattress. The primary goal of doing this is to ensure that you extract as much water as possible from the mattress. Wring out the towels and when the water content within the mattress significantly reduces, replace the towels with dry ones so as you continue with the process.

Pressure is critical when soaking up water from the mattress and as such, it would be a good idea to stand on the towels so as to extract as much pressure as possible.

Step 3: Absorb Moisture

The next step of how to dry a wet mattress guide is to ensure that you remove as much moisture as possible from the mattress. Blotting the mattress with dry towels would have removed most of the water but we still need to extract moisture as we can so as to enable the mattress to dry out faster when placed outside.

Baking soda has high absorbing properties, and since it is a powder and is extremely fine, it quickly penetrates the porous form of a mattress and absorbs as much moisture as possible. It also prevents mold growth to a certain extent.

When applying the baking powder onto the mattress, you should sprinkle it evenly on the wet patches and using a dry sponge rub it so as to work it into the internal structure of the mattress. Wait for a few hours and then vacuum off the powder using a vacuum cleaner. You can repeat the process until you feel the mattress is reasonably dry.

You could also grab a Shop Vacuum to soak up the underlying liquids instead of using baking soda. I find the shop vacuum to be more effective at sucking up the water then baking soda. If you don’t have a shop vacuum cleaner or wet/dry vac I recommend you pick one up as they’re great for when things like this happen.

Step 4: Mold Prevention Using Alcohol

The next step is to inhibit the growth of mold using alcohol. This is done by creating a cleaning solution which is basically made up of 1 cup of water mixed with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol. Dip a clean cloth in the cleaning solution, wring it dry and wipe down all wet patches to inhibit mold growth.

Step 5: Drying Mattress

The drying process usually takes place on the outside and as a rule, you should look for a sunny spot free of obstructions to put the mattress. The mattress should be propped up to dry and in the event, there is a breeze, should be aligned in such a way that the breeze blows across the mattress for it to dry faster.

Placing the mattress outside in the Sun is the most effective way to get the rest of the moisture out of the mattress. But if you can’t take the mattress outside then the next best option is to try a dehumidifier. Leave all the sheets and pillows off the mattress and close the door with the dehumidifier on. It’s best to have the dehumidifier near the mattress but not touching the mattress – keep 12 inches away from it.

Soaking up with the towels and then using a shop vacuum should get most of the water out of the mattress. Placing in the sun or using a dehumidifier helps to get rid of the little bit that is left over.

Always Remember This!

I know it sucks when your mattress gets wet and it can feel like you have many hurdles to jump through to make it sleepable again. But this could be a good thing for some people. If your mattress is over 5 to 7 years old then it could be time for a new one and skipping all these hurdles might not be worth it. If this old wet mattress was giving you back pains or sleeping issues then it could be another sign that it’s time for a one.

I know mattress buying is not fun and they can be expensive, but there is a better way. You can buy affordable Mattresses like the Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress online here* and not have to deal with pushy salesmen or even leave your home. The mattress gets delivered to your door and no more worrying about your old stinky destroyed mattress. Just make sure to get a Mattress Protector this time or better yet a Mattress Encasement* to fully cover the mattress.