In addition to being a pain, a wet mattress encourages the growth of mold and mildew. How to dry a mattress faster? Regardless of how it became wet, you can quickly and effectively dry your mattress with a few easy steps. To dry your mattress as rapidly as possible, use direct sunlight and airflow. After that, cover the mattress with a waterproof cover so that you may throw it in the washing machine the next time it becomes wet.
Table of Contents
Which Type Of Mattress Dries The Fastest?
If you need to dry a wet mattress fast, one of the first things to do is to look at its type. Your mattress’s construction choices may speed up drying or, on the other hand, may slow it down.
Here is a table showing how the type of mattress affects the drying time.
Memory foam
Super comfortable mattresses are typically made of memory foam. However, because of how readily they absorb moisture, their porous, soft materials can also be a drawback. It’s best to take quick action if you spill something on a memory foam mattress to keep it from sinking into thick layers where it will be difficult to remove. It’s better to cover memory foam mattresses in a waterproof mattress protector because they typically take the longest to dry and may still retain some moisture.
Innerspring
Coil core and a thin comfort layer are typical components of innerspring mattresses. A few inches of foam rather than an entire mattress must be dried out thanks to the construction’s simplicity, which reduces drying time.
Pillow Top
The coil or foam construction of pillow top mattresses can affect how quickly they dry. The pillow top, on the other hand, is usually made of fiberfill, which is typically very hygroscopic and may absorb the majority of liquid, making it simple to dry, especially if it’s detachable.
Latex
Latex has a structure similar to that of memory foam. Since latex mattresses are typically denser and heavier and the water doesn’t soak into deeper layers, drying times are shortened. A latex mattress can be dried out using an absorbing material or a wet-dry vacuum.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses, in most cases, feature a coil unit as a core layer. Along with giving a hybrid its distinctive bounce, the coil layer encourages air circulation between the layers and facilitates drying. In addition, the coils in hybrid mattresses are typically covered in a material that can absorb moisture and keep them from rusting.
Items You’ll Need
- Towel or absorbent material
- Cat litter, a hair dryer
- Blocks of concrete or sawhorses (optional)
- Extending cables (optional)
- Dry-wet vacuum fans
How To Dry A Mattress Faster?
Cleaning Dirt & Removing The Mattress
Begin by removing the mattress and cleaning up any dirt. Use heavy-duty plastic bags to dispose of plaster or drywall if there has been significant damage. To avoid the growth of mold, wash the mattress right away. If you had to turn off the water supply to the entire house, hang the linens outside until you have time to wash them.
Soaking Up The Water
Use fresh towels to absorb as much water as you can from any small wet areas on the mattress. When the towel becomes too wet, press it firmly into the mattress and replace it.
If your mattress is incredibly wet, press down with towels after sprinkling kitty litter on the affected area. Kitty litter will facilitate greater water removal and hasten drying. To get saturated cat litter out, use a shop-style vacuum.
Sucking Up Water With A Wet-Dry Vacuum
Wet-dry vacuums can also be used to dry your mattress. To remove as much water from the mattress as possible, move the hose across its surface. Up until you run out of water, work in sections while going from left to right and top to bottom.
Removing Stains With Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap
It’s best to get rid of stains while the mattress is still just barely damp because drying can cause them to set in. Scrub the stain with a mixture of two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part liquid dish soap using an old toothbrush. Make sure to cover the entire stain with the mixture, then let it sit for five minutes. A damp cloth should then be used to clean it. See more about How To Wash Throw Pillows In Easy Tips?
Drying It With A Hairdryer
The mattress should then be dried using a hairdryer. For ten to twenty minutes, move the hairdryer back and forth over the moist area while keeping it a few inches from the mattress surface. Let your mattress cool for a few minutes before checking to see if it’s still wet because heat will make it feel dry even when it isn’t.
Proping The Mattress And Using A Fan
The interior of the mattress may be wet even though the exterior feels dry. Place a fan so it can move through the moist area and lean the mattress against a wall or other sturdy surface. Make sure there is at least 2 feet of room on either side of the mattress. After it feels completely dry, place the fan in the wet area and run it at high speed for 6 to 8 hours. If you have a dehumidifier, place it close to the mattress and run it continuously while it dries. Your mattress should never be left slightly damp; it is always preferable to overdry it.
Moving It Outside
Move your mattress outside to dry whenever it is practical. In addition to accelerating drying, sunlight and fresh air also help prevent or even get rid of moisture. It should be raised to improve airflow and let in as much sunlight as possible. To hasten drying and avoid mold and bacteria, you should still use fans.
Disinfecting Your Mattress with Alcohol
Once your mattress has dried, you must disinfect it by mixing rubbing alcohol and water in equal parts. Apply it uniformly over the whole mattress using a spray bottle. Make sure to clean in between seams and underneath rivets. You can use a rag to clean it if you don’t have a spray bottle.
Every Few Months, Air Your Mattress
Use the time you will be away from your house for a few days to air out your mattress. While you’re away, take off all the sheets and other bedding and let the mattress air out. If possible, leave the curtains open so that sunshine can enter the room and eliminate any bacteria that may be present in the mattress.
Use A Mattress Protector That Is Waterproof
In addition to preventing spills from penetrating your mattress, a waterproof mattress protector also stops the mattress from absorbing sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria. To ensure you never have to worry about a damp mattress again, cover your mattress with a nontoxic, hypoallergenic, waterproof protector once it has been cleaned and dried.
Other Mattress Drying Tips
To eliminate any bacteria that may be present, open the shades and let the sunlight in. This is a great way to dry and disinfect a used mattress. But occasionally, cleaning and drying a mattress is out of the question because the underlying issue was more serious than you anticipated or it is simply too expensive. In either case, you can get your mattress taken care of by a reputable restoration business.
They are experts in water damage and can prevent you from needing to buy a new mattress. They are capable of sanitizing, drying, and cleaning a variety of mattresses. To clean an old mattress, as well as help aid in moisture removal, sprinkle baking soda on your mattress.
Sprinkle baking soda in a thin, even layer across the entire mattress surface. Though you can leave it on for up to 24 hours, give it at least 30 minutes to sit on the bed.
Utilize the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove the baking soda. If your mattress has two sides, flip it over and carry out the same procedure on the other side. Baking soda has the added advantage of being a great DIY mattress deodorizer. Use baking soda to eliminate any musty smells from your mattress.
Warnings
- For health reasons, mattresses that have been totally immersed, such as during a flood, should be replaced or cleaned by a restoration business.
- Any mattress that exhibits mold or mildew should be replaced.
Conclusion
A wet mattress quickly develops a musty odor and may even start to develop mold inside it within a day or two. Naturally, not every damp mattress can be saved. If there was a flood, there was probably biohazardous material, hazardous chemicals, or fuel in the water where the mattress was submerged. In that situation, mold from unattended moisture could enter the mattress even if you were able to thoroughly sanitize the interior of it. Mattresses that don’t completely saturate, such as those that are damp from spills, water leaks, water used to put out a small fire, or other causes, can still be utilized, provided you act promptly and thoroughly dry them.