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How to store a mattress topper
You can use a mattress topper for a wide variety of reasons. Mattress toppers can dramatically change the firmness of your mattress. Besides, a firm or medium mattress topper can reduce spinal mismanagement if you use a soft bed. Depending on your mattress firmness your sleeping position can differ.
Finally, with proper care, you can extend the life of mattress toppers. But how to store a mattress topper? Follow the steps, and I can promise your topper will sustain many years.
My doctor forbids me to sleep on a too-soft mattress after meeting him several times with back pain. Too soft mattresses can sink your spine into the mattress and cause the spine to fall out of alignment through the night. That happened to me, and therefore, I have been using mattress pads for a long time now.
At first, I had to buy toppers frequently, and finally, I realized that I could not correctly store them. With some care, you can extend the lifespan of your mattress toppers by a great deal. But that will only happen when you store them properly.
Let’s find out how to store a mattress topper properly.
How to store a mattress topper?
Knowing how to store a mattress topper or which side goes up can and will help you sleep in comfort for a long time. You should keep the topper clean to minimize any potential damage that can occur from mold or dirt.
You should vacuum seal instead of saran wrap. In a nutshell, you must know the proper way to store your topper or mattress pad properly in a vacuum bag.
Before you store a mattress topper you need to thoroughly clean the mattress topper and let it dry. Once that is done you need to roll the mattress topper and put it inside a vacuumed sealed bag. Finally, you need to store the mattress topper in a cool and dry place.
How should you clean memory foam mattress topper
Remove the bedding
The first step of cleaning a mattress topper is to remove all the bedding. Don’t forget to remove mattress protectors and sheets.
Vacuum
After removing the bed, use a vacuum cleaner to clean the mattress. Suck up the dust, dirt, and other unwanted things by using the vacuum hose attachment. Make sure you clean everything properly with the vacuum cleaner.
Remove stains
Sometimes your stains can have stains. You should spot those areas and clean those areas with any stain remover or mild liquid detergent. I recommend using a soft-bristled brush or washcloth to work the stain.
Remove any remaining blot with soap and water or sprinkle baking soda using a towel. Repeat the same process to ensure the topper is clean.
One important note: Do not pour abundant liquid soap directly on the foam or use much water. Because if you don’t remove those, the liquid will stay inside the topper and cause mildew or mold in the future.
Treat the odor
Obviously, many of them will acquire bad odors from our bodies after using them for a long time. If human beings like us sleep on that, that is absolutely normal. I recommend getting rid of the odors to keep your topper fresh when you store a mattress topper.
Sprinkle some baking soda over the top of your topper. Mix baking soda and water and gently rub to remove particularly stubborn stains. Baking soda can absorb odor and is a very good ingredient to clean a mattress topper.
Air Dry
When you use baking soda to clean your topper, you have to give proper time to dry up the liquids. DO NOT fold or roll it before you are 100% sure that the mattress topper is fully dry. That will allow bacteria or mold.
Rolling the mattress topper
After cleaning your mattress topper, you should roll it up. Why should you roll it? Because when your mattress topper is stored, you don’t want it to occupy more space in your storeroom.
Besides, rolled toppers don’t have any crease, which can damage toppers.
Are you thinking of folding them? I suggest you NOT FOLD your mattress topper as folding will change the initial shape, damage the foam, and develop creases. Therefore, folding the mattress topper is not a good idea.
I typically use ratchet straps to secure them after rolling. This way, the topper will stay rolled when you put them inside the storage bag. In addition, ratchet straps keep toppers safe inside a protective storage bag even if you don’t vacuum properly.
Placing in the storage bag
After rolling the topper, you have to protect that from dust, water, or any unwanted things that can damage your topper. That’s why you need a protected storage bag.
Most toppers come with a protected storage bag. You can store that and use it later to store a mattress topper. If you have lost the bag, you can purchase a long plastic storage bag from the market.
But the bag must be dirt, dust, and liquid protected. Otherwise, your topper won’t stay clean, and bugs can destroy it.
Place inside a protective or vacuum storage bag
If you used plastic bags or vacuum-sealed bags to store a mattress topper, it would be helpful. A plastic storage bag will protect your topper from dust, dirt and keep it away from moisture or other stuff that can damage it.
I always keep the original protective storage bag that came with the topper and store it. If you have the original bag, you also should use that.
A good plastic bag for a mattress topper should have a vacuum seal because it can keep the dirt out.
In case if you have lost the original bag the topper came in, you can use a plastic mattress bag. But don’t forget to seal it properly. If you don’t have a large plastic mattress bag, you can wrap the topper in protective plastic and use heavy-duty tape to secure it.
Both ways are good to store toppers properly, and the protection level depends on how efficiently you can do that.
Vacuuming or sealing mattress pads
Now it’s time to vacuum and seal your mattress pad. This process depends on the type of storage unit you have used in the previous sections. Here are the steps you should follow:
Get heavy-duty duct tape and seal the storage bag with that. The duct tape and the ratchet straps are good enough to keep the storage bag and the rolled topper closed and safe. I always twist and roll the opening of my bag and make a little knot. This helps me to tap it quickly and effortlessly.
If you are using a vacuum-sealed bag, you should vacuum seal it. How should you do this?
The best way is to attach the vacuum hose to the vacuum storage bag’s valve. The vacuum cleaner will suck the air and make the bag air-free. Quickly close the valve then so that no air can enter. For double protection, you can seal the bag with duct tape. That will make the bag 100% protected from the outside air.
Store a mattress topper in a safe area
Congratulations! You have done all the hard work, and now it’s time to properly store your topper in a safe area, a dry and cool environment, to be precise.
I always store my topper in a climate-controlled environment. Because the cool and dry area is the best condition to prevent your mattress topper from growing mildew or mold, on the other hand, a humid condition has more possibility to grow mildew or mold inside your toppers.
So, find a proper place in your home which is dry and doesn’t have any chance to catch humidity. It can be a bedroom closet, spare bedroom, storage units, etc. While finding a storage place for your mattress topper, the only thing you should consider is that the area must not contact dust; liquids have no business there.
Another excellent option is opting for a climate-controlled unit. A climate control unit is an ideal storage device to store memory foam, furniture, or things safe from the surrounding conditions. These units keep your bed, toppers, and other things safe from liquids, humidity, dust, and other unwanted items.
Frequently Asked Questions on Storing Mattress Toppers(FAQs)
What is the average lifespan of foam mattress toppers?
A good quality memory foam mattress topper should sustain around 3 to 5 years. After that, it depends on the level of use, which will vary from man to man. But if your’s one last long please don’t blame me, as I don’t sleep on your topper.
If you are an idle person and can afford to sleep eight hours a day, you have to replace it earlier than people who sleep five or six hours a day. Besides, if more people use the mattress, the life span will also be reduced.
Basically, the more you use it, the earlier you have to change your mattress topper.
Is it good to vacuum seal memory foam mattress toppers?
Yes, you can use vacuum-sealed bags for storing your memory foam topper. You will get two advantages from these bags. First, these bags save space and keep the dust and dirt away. In most cases, good-quality toppers come with vacuum-sealed bags. One crucial piece of advice for storing your topper, even in a vacuum-sealed bag, is that you should be aware of the time. Yes, you can keep that for a long time, but it can curve the mattress topper if you keep it for an excessive time.
Can I fold or roll the topper up?
Mattress pads are designed to be put flat horizontally. Therefore, if you fold it, that can result in damage. Folding the mattress topper can create cracks, create permanent creases, and ruin a good night’s sleep. When you store it, store the topper upright or lengthwise. Then, roll it up tightly in a vacuum-sealed bag, securing it with ratchet straps or secure tape to protect the material and preserve it from the elements.
Mattress pad and mattress topper- What is the difference?
The basic difference is the thickness. The thickness of the mattress pad is less than one inch. So you can wash it with a washing machine, and it also protects your mattress from liquids and spills. On the other hand, toppers are much thicker than pads and offer more protection wear to the mattress. In addition, Toppers enhance the feeling of comfort when you lay on the mattress and provide support.
Most toppers are built with the same materials used in mattresses. Therefore, they are not easy to clean, like pads. Mattress toppers need vacuum sealing and are stored in kept in storage bags.
When must you buy a new mattress topper?
They are durable and sustain 3 to 5 years if you use them taking proper care. But over time, it wears down naturally. So, if you find you are not getting the comfort you used to be getting earlier, you should change the topper. Another thing is the odor. Gather odor from human bodies is regular stuff, and if your topper stinks, it is not healthy to sleep over it.
Final words
Now, I have been using a mattress topper for a long time. They don’t only protect your mattress but are also healthy for your body. Though the average lifespan is three to five years, it can be damaged and unusable much before that if you don’t take proper care of it. Also, proper storage saves mattress toppers from dirt and dust mites.
So, properly storing your mattress topper is vital to expand its lifespan. But if you don’t know how to store a mattress topper properly, there is a high chance you can ruin it. Mattress toppers stored in a large plastic mattress bag or any other good storage bag must be well protected from dust and dirt.
I hope my experience on this topic and storage tips have helped you to learn the storage process. And now you know how you can store your mattress topper with proper protection.
