How To Get Rid Of Odors Coming From My Mattress Topper?
You’ve found this article because your mattress topper gives off a strong smell that bothers you. Why is the smell of a new mattress topper unpleasant? How can I get rid of the odor?
In this article, we’ll explain the origin of memory foam odor and methods and best practices to eliminate it.
TO REMEMBER
- The cause of the smell: Chemical product, the composition of the foam, the novelty of the product, presence of dust mites, spilled liquid, perspiration…
- The solution: Start by airing it out for at least 48 hours. If the smell persists, opt for white vinegar, baking soda, or essential oils.
- The odorless mattress topper: Avoid mattress toppers made with chemicals, such as polyether and polyurethane foam, and cold foam mattress toppers.
- Other advice: Opt for a mattress protector; it will protect you from all liquid stains and sweat, making it easier to take care of your bedding.
Summary
1 Why does my mattress topper smell toxic?
1.1 The smell of my new mattress topper is unpleasant
1.1.1 The composition of your mattress topper
1.2 The smell of my old mattress topper is unpleasant
1.2.1 Presence of dust mites and other bacteria
1.2.2 Stains caused by spilled liquid
1.2.3 Our own body odor
2 Odorless mattress toppers, do they exist?
2.1 How do I remove the smell from my new mattress topper?
2.2 How do I remove the smell from my old mattress topper?
2.2.1 Clean your mattress topper with white vinegar
2.2.2 Sprinkle your mattress topper with baking soda
2.2.3 Use an essential oil-based air freshener
3 How to choose the right odorless mattress topper?
3.1 Memory foam mattress topper and odor
3.2 The importance of CERTI-PUR certification
4 Tips for a pleasantly fragrant bedroom
5 Conclusion
Why Does My Mattress Topper Smell Toxic?
There are many types of mattress toppers on the market. You can find top-of-the-line mattress toppers and less qualitative mattress toppers likely to contain chemical substances that can cause:
- Bad smells
- Nose and throat irritation
- Increase in allergic symptoms
-
Airway obstruction
Whether you get a new or old mattress topper, both can have a toxic odor.
To avoid this, here are the different reasons that affect the smell of your mattress topper.
The Smell of My New Mattress Topper is Unpleasant
Sometimes a new mattress topper can smell bad, but where does this chemical smell come from? Several mattress topper foams are on the market, and some of them, including polyurethane foam, contain chemicals that give off a particularly unpleasant odor.
The Composition of Your Mattress Topper
In order to meet flammability standards, some mattress toppers also contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which generally give off a strong unpleasant odor.
VOCs can have adverse health effects:
- Eye irritation
- Airway mucous membranes
- Heart and nervous system disorders
- Nausea
Some VOCs, such as Benzene, are also carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction. However, don't worry, this concerns specific mattress toppers marketed by little-known brands only.
Whether you choose a soft mattress topper, a firm mattress topper, or even a foldable mattress topper, make sure the mattress topper in question is made with quality materials that do not contain harmful substances.
In addition, your mattress topper can preserve your health and is more sustainable for the planet. For this, we strongly recommend that you opt for CertiPUR-certified mattress toppers.
Please note that a mattress topper is rolled, compressed, and sealed for a period of time. Therefore, it’s normal to smell peculiar when unpacking for the first time. For this reason, we advise you to leave your mattress topper in the open air for 48 hours before installing it.
➡️ To learn more, read our article: How to install a mattress topper?
The Smell of My Old Mattress Topper is Unpleasant
To prevent this from happening, we share the reasons for the appearance of bad smells. This way, you can enjoy your odor-free mattress topper! Please note that the ultimate solution is to clean your bedding regularly to take care of your mattress and avoid unpleasant smells.
The Presence of Mites and Other Bacteria
Dust mites and other bacteria love to grow in bedding. They develop quickly and easily during the night due to heat and humidity. Several symptoms can testify to their presence: rhinitis, skin irritations, conjunctivitis, asthma, or dry cough. To choose the right mattress topper, we advise you to opt for a hypoallergenic mattress topper with good breathability. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, dust mites also seriously damage your mattress topper over time, losing its effectiveness and releasing foul odors.
Stains Caused By Spilled Liquid
Midnight snack? Breakfast in bed? Many of us, at one time or another, have eaten in our beds. At first sight, this is not a problem, but accidents happen very quickly.
Over time, the accumulation of stains is likely to impact your comfort. If your mattress topper starts to sag from too many spills, your hygiene may also be affected. Dust mites that love humidity may multiply, not to mention foul odors that can reduce your well-being.
Suppose you’re clumsy or accident-prone. In that case, nothing is more effective than a mattress protector to avoid the accumulation of stains and to continue sleeping on an odorless mattress topper.
Our Own Body Odor
Many studies have shown that, on average, we spend a third of our life sleeping. Therefore, any odors or perspiration we give off while we sleep impacts the mattress topper, hence the importance of regularly airing out your room.
In addition, even without necessarily not realizing it, we all sweat at night. Our sweat gets absorbed into the mattress topper, which forms stains, releasing a bad smell.
Did you know? 🤔
On average, a person loses 200ml of sweat per night. This nocturnal sweating is completely normal and helps to cool the body containing heat. You can't imagine sweating so much during the night, which is why it is essential to protect your mattress.
A healthy lifestyle, a breathable mattress topper, and a waterproof mattress protector will increase the life of your mattress while absorbing your sweat. This remains the best solution to limit foul odors in your room.
➡️ To find out more, read our article: How to improve sleep quality
What If I Can’t Get Past The Smell?
Whether new or old, you appreciate the comfort provided by your mattress topper, but the problem is its unpleasant odor. This smell is clearly preventing you from taking full advantage of all the benefits it is ready to offer you.
➡️ To find out more, read our article: 10 good reasons to buy a mattress topper
After explaining the potential reasons for bad odors from your mattress topper and offering solutions to avoid these foul odors, keep reading for more tips and advice to help you get rid of these unpleasant odors that impact your mattress and your quality of sleep.
How Do I Remove the Smell from My New Mattress Topper?
It’s normal for particular odors to arise when a mattress topper is removed from its packaging. This is why we advise you to leave the foam portion of your mattress topper in the open air for 48 hours once unpacked.
Is the smell still there? Here are two tips to remove the odor from your new mattress topper:
- Add light fragrances to your mattress topper: make the smell disappear with air fresheners or essential oils.
- Buy indoor plants: they eliminate bad smells and toxins while beautifying your room.
If the smell still doesn't go away, we advise you to use the tips to eliminate odors from an old mattress topper (vinegar, baking soda, essential oils) that we will discuss coming up.
Finally, if the bad smell persists, it may be due to the poor quality of your mattress topper, which undoubtedly contains harmful chemicals that are hazardous to your health. In this case, we advise you to change your mattress topper entirely.
The cause of a smelly bed can also just be from an aged mattress. If your mattress is old, it needs to be cleaned/ replaced if the scent does not disappear.
How To Remove Odors From My Old Mattress Topper?
We have given the various reasons causing the unpleasant smell of an old mattress topper and some alternatives to limit the risk of these bad smells appearing. Now we will share tips for properly maintaining your mattress topper so that the foul smell it gives off disappears.
Clean your mattress topper with white vinegar.
To remove the smell from your old mattress topper, you must first clean it to remove all the stains that give off bad odors. For this, we advise you to opt for white vinegar!
Cleaning a mattress topper with white vinegar is a straightforward process:
- Mix white vinegar and water equally
- Soak a sponge with vinegar mixture, wring it out, and rub the stained area of the mattress topper with the sponge.
- Rinse the mattress topper with a bit of water and let it dry.
To remove blood, we advise you to opt for a mixture of sparkling water and hydrogen peroxide and agitate the stain with a cloth soaked in the mixture.
Sprinkle your mattress topper with baking soda.
If odors persist, do not hesitate to sprinkle your mattress topper with baking soda, which helps remove odors and stains.
Cleaning a mattress topper with baking soda is also a simple process:
- Pour baking soda powder on your mattress topper (about four tablespoons for a single bed).
- Leave it on for 4 to 8 hours.
- Lightly scrub the baking soda with a brush.
- Use a vacuum to remove any remaining baking soda particles.
Pro tip: add a few drops of essential oils to the baking soda to dissipate bad smells!
Use Essential Oil-Based Air Fresheners
Finally, in addition to the other methods mentioned, you can also use a deodorizing spray made up of a mixture of essential oils. This method also makes removing foul odors from your mattress topper possible. The most effective essential oils for fighting bad odors are lemon, lime, rosemary, lavender, orange, and tea tree.
Very easy to use; just spray your room, then air it out for about 30 minutes.
Using these three tips, the bad smell of your mattress topper will eventually disappear, giving way to soft and pleasant nights and improving sleep quality.
Otherwise, the mattresses and mattress toppers you have are likely too old, and we advise you to renew them to once again benefit from absolute comfort.
How To Choose The Right Odorless Mattress Topper?
As we have seen before, there are mattress toppers made with chemicals, like polyether foam and polyurethane foam, but also mattress toppers made with cooling foam are likely to give off more odor than other mattress toppers. So if you are looking for an odorless mattress topper, we advise you to avoid these three mattress toppers and materials.
Shape and odor memory mattress topper
Memory foam toppers are best-sellers on the market for all the advantages they provide to their users: comfort, quality of sleep, and the fight against back pain; this mattress topper is the one you need!
➡️ To learn more, see our article: How To Improve Sleep Quality?
Memory foam mattress toppers from Viscosoft may give off an odor at first. This is completely normal! However, unlike some mattress toppers found on the market, they are not dangerous and do not contain any toxic or harmful substances to your health.
This smell can be unpleasant, but it’s harmless and disappears very quickly once the mattress topper is aired out for at least 48 hours. All of these tips will allow you to deal with annoying smells quickly!
The Importance of CERTI-PUR Certification
As mentioned before, it’s vital to choose a CERTI-PUR mattress topper or an organic mattress topper to ensure it does not contain substances harmful to your health or the planet’s health.
The Serene Hybrid memory foam mattress topper is a best-seller and is Good Housekeeping's “Best Bedding Award Winner.” This topper provides soft comfort and releases pressure points while being CERTI-PUR certified. The Serene comes with a 300-thread count plush, down alternative pillow-top cover, providing a smooth and silky feel.
Tips For A Plesanantly Fragrant Bedroom
Now that you have an odor-free mattress topper, you can finally enjoy and relax in your bedroom. Maximize your well-being by adding a light fragrance!
Lastly, here are some tips for a bedroom that smells good so that you will feel better and more at peace, which will help you sleep.
- Ventilate your bedroom regularly
- Washing bedding weekly
- Remove the dust in your room
- Use flowers or plants for natural detoxing
- Use a natural linen spray
- Use an essential oil diffuser
- Use natural wax or soy candles
➡️ Read more on this topic from our friends at The Spruce:
Conclusion
It’s normal for a mattress topper to give off odors at first. This is because it is rolled, compressed, and sealed for a period of time. So, when unpacking for the first time, you don't need to worry if you smell something peculiar. Ensure that the smell disappears after leaving your mattress topper in the open air for 48 hours. If this is not the case, use our previous tips! Cases of mattress toppers that give off a harmful and toxic odor for your health are still rare. However, if you want to be sure that you aren’t taking any risks concerning your health, opt for a CERTI-PUR certified mattress topper, and have the guarantee of a quality product that was not derived from harmful materials.