Foam mattresses lose their color with time and appear yellow. Therefore, they require proper maintenance and cleaning to remain fresh and intact for a long duration.
Why Do Foam Mattresses Turn Yellow? Foam mattresses turn yellow if you use toxic detergents or concentrated solutions for their cleaning. In addition, low-quality products can give a yellowish appearance due to oxidation. Furthermore, stains of blood, urine, vomit, debris, sweat, oil drops, and spots of spilling of liquid can cause this problem. It also happens due to moisture exposure and infrequent cleaning of the mattress.
You can prevent your foam from being yellowish by washing the stains instantly by using steamers, stain removers, and vacuum cleaner or covering them with a protector.
Use of toxic detergents
Many people use cleaning agents to remove dirt and stains from their beds.
However, detergents have varying strengths to pull out the stains and dirt from a deep surface.
The detergents containing toxic chemicals like an excess bleaching agent can damage your soft mattress.
In addition, they can have a harsh impact on the material leading to their discoloration.
You can eliminate the detrimental effects of toxic detergents by replacing them with a gentle cleaner. Home-made detergents like diluted baking soda or vinegar solution are the best option.
Additionally, dishwashing soap is a good alternative for cleaning the bed. Spray the detergent solution on the bed, gently rub the foamy surface to clean it, and air dry it.
Poor cleaning
Great care is required to keep the mattress clean; otherwise, it looks pale and dull when its color fades.
In addition, some yellowish stains can appear on the foam if you ignore their regular cleaning.
In addition, a dirty or stained bed contains dirt and dust mites inside it. Body repairs in the night time and dead skin falls off the body onto the bed.
It can get spots when your children play with your pets and toys on it or rub their dirty hands on it. So it needs regular cleaning after every 5 months to keep them fresh and pleasant.
Furthermore, you can use vacuum cleaners and steamers for quick and efficient cleaning.
Aging and low quality
Some old mattresses turn yellow, and you can relate it with its quality as a foam of low-quality material can get yellow stains on its surface.
These are made of polyurethane material that provides a cushioning effect and comfort.
However, the springs inside the bed can get rusty, creating yellow spots on the top surface.
Covering of wool, cotton, or other textiles are present around these coils. In addition, some foams contain flame retardant chemicals or formaldehyde to produce stains.
Stains can appear on the bed top if the quality of polyurethane is not satisfactory. A low-grade mattress is unable to bear the effect of bleaching agents.
You can resolve this problem by selecting good quality or a certified product that can tolerate stresses like the toxic effect of bleach.
In addition, you can look at their properties and cleaning methods so you can use them to enhance their life.
Excessive use
Most people eat and drink on their beds and spend their days and nights on them.
In addition, children play on them with their pets and their There are chances that it gets dirty frequently due to its excessive use.
One of my friends is doing a home-based job, and he spends most of his time on the mattress.
As a result, the bed gets dirty often, and he needs to clean it every month to avoid staining or the appearance of yellow stains.
So, it is evident that everything needs proper maintenance, mainly when you use it regularly.
You can use any other furniture in your house for sitting, or you can clean it regularly to avoid the stains on it.
Oxidation of mattress
The polymer material inside the foam gets oxidized by reacting with air.
It is a natural process like aging that is difficult to avoid. Its color indicates that your bed is old and needs a replacement.
High temperature, pollution, and the emission of gases by motors are the factors that can cause oxidation.
However, you can prevent the oxidization of foam by avoiding their direct exposure to sunlight.
Body oils and Sweat
The body starts producing Sweat when the external temperature environment increases. You can transfer the sweat drops on the mattress when you are lying.
The spots are not visible initially, but they keep building up and appear yellow after some time if you do not wash them.
Similarly, the body oils can go deeper into the memory foam and appear as stains after accumulation. Both sweat and body oils give a terrible odor, seem unpleasant, and allow bacteria to grow.
Use mattress protectors to avoid entering oils and sweat drops into the memory foam. Furthermore, you can wash the sheets regularly if you use body oils daily.
Blood and urine stains
Bedwetting can leave stains of urine on the surface of the mattress that gives a bad smell and looks nasty.
In addition, vomit leaves stains on the mattress that needs to be removed quickly by dabbing with a sponge and then cleaning it with a cloth.
Similarly, blood stains can turn yellow if you do not clean them immediately. Your foam can get blood stains if an injured person lies on it or urine stains are present after bedwetting.
You can use cleansers biologically designed to degrade the proteins present in blood and urine stains. After that, you can easily peel them off the sheet.
In addition, you can also use stain removers or bleaching agents to clean them.
Liquids spillage
The spilling of liquids like soft drinks, coffee, and tea can leave stains on the foam. These stains can appear yellow when you ignore their cleaning.
I am a little careless and sometimes, I spill the tea on my bed while having breakfast, so I need to wash my mattress sheet repeatedly.
You cannot avoid spilling on the bed if you have children and pets at home, but you can protect the bed with a cover. Moreover, you can wash the stains promptly with a suitable detergent.
Exposure to moisture
The moisture present in the air can also affect your foam, and discoloration occurs. In addition, the moisture allows bacteria and molds to grow, damaging the foam.
Memory foams are more prone to mold and mildew growth because they can lock moisture and has a spongy structure.
In addition, it provides warmth to mold and creates an ideal environment for their growth.
So, you can prevent mold growth by providing proper ventilation and drying them properly after washing.
In addition, it avoids the formation of yellow spots that indicates that molds are growing.
Damaged mattress protector
Protector is a thin and breathable material that can lock moisture inside effectively. They provide comfort and protection from damage due to spilling and stains.
The moisture or spilling drinks can get inside the foam when any damage or tearing occurs in the protector of the bed.
You can protect your mattress from damage by taking care of its protector.
Do not allow your children to play over it and change the protector immediately in case of its tearing.
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