If you're a caretaker, parent, or pet owner, you've probably run into the occasional mess on a memory foam mattress. If you're concerned that it has to be thrown out, don't worry⁠—all you need to fix it are some common household supplies and simple tricks. We'll teach you how to salvage your memory foam mattress and clean poop off of it with some key techniques and bed hygiene so it'll look as good as new.

This article is based on an interview with our house cleaning professional, Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids. Check out the full interview here.

4

Spray the memory foam mattress with enzyme cleaner.

  1. Break down the molecules in poop stains with enzyme cleaner. Use an enzyme cleaner that’s specially formulated to tackle stains and odors from bio-waste—an enzyme laundry detergent like OxiClean will work, as well as an enzyme cleaner designed for stains from pets. Spray or sprinkle it on to coat the stains.[5]
    • An enzyme cleaner destroys molecules from poop stains on the surface of your memory foam mattress. If your memory foam mattress absorbs any poop, an enzyme cleaner will also break down those molecules.[6]
    • Enzyme cleaner is usually in spray bottles as well as jars or boxes of powder.
    • Make your own enzyme cleaner with sugar, yeast, water, and fresh citrus peel.
    • Products like OxiClean dilute stains and can even dye a white mattress so it looks new again.
6

Blot the poop stains.

  1. Act quickly and dab stains with a paper towel to remove them. Take out a clean paper towel or cloth. While you apply a light pressure, blot the stains. Make sure to start from the outside of the stain and blot down toward the center—that way, you won’t spread the stain.[9]
    • Cloth rags and microfiber cloths are eco-friendly alternatives to paper towels. Keep a color-coded collection to avoid cross-contamination—for example, use green cloths to clean up bio-waste.
    • Launder reusable rags as separate, color-coded loads in your washing machine. You can also hand-wash them. Kill bacteria and germs by using hot water and detergent.[10]
8

Rub white vinegar into the previously stained areas.

  1. Apply a natural solution of white vinegar to remove any odors. Even if you’ve removed all the stains, there might still be unwanted smells on your mattress. To neutralize and get rid of them, dampen a clean cloth with white vinegar. Use it to blot the affected areas that previously had stains.[12]
    • If you’d like to use a spray bottle instead, mix 1/4 cup (59 mL) of vinegar with 3/4 cup (177 mL) of water and spritz the solution onto the affected areas.
    • To not only deodorize your mattress but also add a pleasant scent, add a couple drops of essential oil to your white vinegar solution.
    • White vinegar removes harsh scents because it binds with odor compounds and traps them so they don’t travel in the air.[13]
11

Air dry your mattress for up to 24 hours.

  1. Use air and direct sunlight to restore and disinfect your mattress. Take the mattress outside so it can receive plenty of sunlight while it dries. If this isn’t an option, then open the windows in your room, plug in some fans, direct them at your mattress, and turn them on.[16] Let the air circulate in your room until the mattress fully dries. Wait up to 24 hours for either method.[17]
    • UV rays from the sun act as a natural disinfectant. If you can’t put the mattress outside, place it near windows that receive a lot of sunlight.
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About This Article

Chris Willatt
Written by:
House Cleaning Professional
This article was written by Chris Willatt and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2015. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018. This article has been viewed 24,384 times.
5 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: June 27, 2022
Views: 24,384
Categories: Cleaning Mattresses
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