Okay, let’s be honest: Accidents happen, and you can end up with a wet mattress!
Maybe you forgot to close the window on a rainy day or accidentally spilled a late-night drink. If you don’t act quickly, you will soon end up with a mold-infested mattress.
Luckily, you are in the right place! Using a few handy tricks, you will have a dry and clean mattress in no time!
Why Should You Act Quickly?
Wet mattresses are everyone’s worst nightmare! If you don’t act quickly, you will end up with a soggy mattress. Any liquid that soaks into your mattress is a hazard and needs to be dealt with promptly.
A study by the National Library of Medicine revealed that mold growth in mattresses might result in Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). The disease can cause coughs, shortness of breath, and a high fever.
Additionally, if your mattress is equipped with metal elements, such as springs and coils, it will experience rusting after coming into contact with the excess moisture. Your mattress will lose its support and contouring at a higher rate if it doesn’t have a waterproof mattress protector.
How Can You Dry a Wet Mattress Fast?
Now that you know acting quickly is crucial, let’s look at some ways you dry your wet mattress fast.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
Baking soda can do more than just improve your baking! It is an excellent absorbent and will suck up the moisture even if you have a completely soaked mattress.
Sprinkle a generous amount on the wet area, and let the baking soda sit for a couple of hours. It will speed up the drying process and eliminate moisture from the deeper layers.
Pat the affected area after a couple of hours. If the mattress surface is dry, you can use a vacuum to remove the baking soda.
Why use baking soda?
It’s useful when you have smaller spills and works great at removing unpleasant smells.
Use baking soda to remove the unpleasant smells the next time you have a stinky bed from a bedwetting accident.
Use Kitty Litter
Clean kitty litter can get rid of moisture from deeper layers of the mattress quickly and easily.
The primary purpose of kitty litter is to contain your cat’s poop, urine, and smell.
Cover the wet areas with a generous amount of kitty litter. To quicken the drying process, cover it with dry towels too!
The kitty litter will need up to 24 hours to do its magic and to aid the process, you can apply some pressure to push the litter down. This will allow it to absorb more moisture.
Purchase a Wet-Dry Vacuum
If you are someone who experiences quite a lot of spills, investing in a wet-dry vacuum might be worth it!
A wet-dry vacuum is good at removing dry dust and is also ideal for removing wet spills.
Its function is no different than a conventional vacuum cleaner. However, instead of bags, it uses two separate containers to collect dust and water.
Use a Hair Dryer
Hair dryers are not just good at drying hair but can also come in handy when you have an occasional spill on the mattress.
Mattresses layers absorb moisture quickly. Start by propping the mattress against a wall to allow some space behind it.
Hold the air dryer at some distance from the affected area. It’s an effective drying method because it increases air circulation.
Remember never to use heat on your air mattress, as it could damage it. Instead read our guide on how to clean an air mattress.
Don’t Use the Max Setting
Memory foam mattresses are equipped with sensitive fabric. Prolonged exposure to heat can damage the fabric and alter the foam’s structure.
Use a lower setting and if the hair dryer comes with the function of cold air circulation, use it instead!
Typically cold air movement tends to develop a higher pressure. Instead of evaporating the moisture, it is pushed out!
Keep Your Distance
Being too close to the mattress can result in uneven drying and can ruin its structure.
For better results, maintain a distance between the mattress and yourself. It will promote even drying and result in minimal damage if any!
Put the Mattress under Direct Sunlight
This method will only work if you have access to direct sunlight. The season and location significantly affect how much direct sunlight you’ll have, which will, in turn, affect your drying time.
Direct sunlight is the perfect substitute for mold because it acts as a natural disinfectant.
The National Library of Medicine research says that prolonged sun exposure is excellent at getting rid of fungal contamination.
How Long Should it Remain in Direct Sunlight?
For the best result, leave your soaking mattress outdoors as much as possible. The sunlight will get rid of the excess liquid in no time!
Use a Fan
If the mattress is soaking wet and the moisture has reached the opposite side, consider drying it with a fan.
Prop your mattress against a wall and allow some room behind it. Make sure it’s at least 3 feet (1 meter) away to allow more air circulation.
Set the fan on high and keep checking on the mattress regularly to observe its progress. Keep changing the fan position to hit all the wet spots.
Don’t Flip the Mattress or Place the Fan behind It
While it might seem productive, it will achieve the opposite. The fan’s wind pushes the water towards the opposite end of the mattress (which then evaporates).
Changing the direction (fan or mattress) will push the water back in and increase drying time.
Hire a Professional Restoration Company
If you haven’t got the time or don’t want to go through the hassle of drying a mattress, consider hiring a professional restoration company.
They will completely dry the mattress and get rid of any underlying problems, such as growing mold or structural damage.
Even though it will cost you money, hiring a Professional restoration company can save you from damaging your current mattress or having to buy a new one.
Conclusion: How to Dry a Mattress Fast?
Hopefully, this article has equipped you with the skills necessary to dry a mattress faster.
Remember to act in a prompt manner and use a combination of the different methods to decrease the drying time.
Once you are done drying, don’t forget to disinfect the mattress!
If there’s still lingering moisture, get in touch with professionals to help you!