Spills, sweat, and other mishaps can happen to a bed, along with the need for period cleanings. If you have a mattress topper on your bed, it will often be the surface most impacted by everyday use.
We wrote a guide to cleaning your mattress topper. As for whether you can put a mattress topper in the dryer after cleaning it, the short answer is: it depends. Both the type of topper you have and your reason for cleaning it will determine the best ways to clean and dry it.
Check out our tips for determining whether to put a topper in the dryer.
Mattress Topper in the Dryer: Should You, or Shouldn’t You?
Your best option for determining how to clean and dry a topper is to read the packaging and label or check the manufacturer’s website for cleaning instructions. If you can’t access that information, then having some idea of the composition of your topper will help you decide whether it can safely go in the dryer. For example, a down or down alternative topper is fairly easy to distinguish from a latex or foam topper.
Mattress Toppers In the Dryer: Yes or No?
Following are some general guidelines for the most common types of mattress toppers, whether they can go in the dryer, and why:
- Latex – blended, 100% natural, or organic – No – Not heat-resistant, too bulky
- Foam, including gel foam and synthetic latex – No – Not heat-resistant, too bulky, motion can break down foam
- Wool – No – Risk of shrinkage
- Down and synthetic down – Yes, on low heat
How to Dry a Mattress Topper Without Using a Dryer
In most cases, a spot cleaning of a deeper spill or stain or a general surface cleaning is sufficient to clean a mattress topper. If you have a memory foam, gel foam, latex, or hybrid topper, here’s how to dry them after cleaning without using a dryer:
- Use clean absorbent cloths or towels to soak up any excess liquid.
- To dry a topper indoors, place it on the floor and run a fan or two over it, flipping it to ensure both sides get enough airflow. If possible, raise the topper off the floor to allow air to flow all around it.
- While some people prefer drying a topper outdoors in the sun, sunlight can damage some materials, including latex.
If you have a wool topper, check the manufacturer’s recommendation for cleaning, as liquids can shrink wool.
Other Mattress Topper Maintenance Tips
Aside from cleaning and drying your topper, here are some tips to help keep your topper in tip-top shape:
- To decrease wear and indentations, regularly rotate your topper.
- Put a breathable but protective cover on your topper.
- Place your topper under a mattress protector to minimize the effect of spills and sweat.
- When cleaning bedding, vacuum the surface of your topper to remove dust and dander.
