A practical guide to washing every layer of your Newton crib mattress - the cover in the machine, the Wovenaire core in the shower, and stains spot-cleaned safely - without using heat that ruins the foam.
The Newton crib mattress is built to be cleaned - both the polyester cover and the food-grade Wovenaire® core are fully washable. The catch is heat. Hot water, hot dryers, hairdryers, and direct sunlight all permanently damage the spun core. Get the temperature right and the rest is straightforward.
Below is the full routine: a 30-second answer up front, then step-by-step instructions for the cover, the core, and the most common stains (pee, spit-up, blood, poop). Every step matches Newton Baby's official care guidance.
For a traditional Japanese-style bed, the steps differ - see how to clean a japanese futon mattress.
The core is the white spaghetti-like layer underneath the cover. It's roughly 90% air, which is what makes it breathable - and also why standard washing-machine agitation is a bad idea. The official method is to rinse it in your shower or tub.
For day-to-day messes you don't need to wash the whole mattress. Catch the stain early and most clean up cleanly with cool water alone. Always blot inward toward the center of the stain - rubbing pushes it deeper into the fibers.
Strip the cover, blot the wet area on the core with a dry cloth, then rinse that section under cool running water. For dried-on smell, an enzyme cleaner labeled for baby or pet fabrics works better than vinegar - enzymes break down uric acid, while vinegar only masks it temporarily.
Same airflow rules apply across mattress types - here's the full guide on how to dry a bed mattress fast.
Blot first, then dab with a cool water + mild detergent solution. Rinse the area under cool water and air-dry. Don't let milk dry in - it's the most common cause of lingering odor.
Cool water only. Hot water sets blood proteins. If the stain is dried in, dab with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution diluted 1:1 with cool water, then rinse. Test on a hidden spot first.
Scoop solids first. Rinse the area under cool water from the back of the core through to the front (gravity does most of the work). Follow with a mild detergent rinse and air dry on its side.
Drying is the longest part of the process and the biggest temptation to take a shortcut. Don't. The fastest safe method is a box fan blowing across the side-standing core in a room with the door open. Pressing the core between dry towels also pulls a lot of water out before you stand it up.
What you cannot do: hairdryers, heaters, ovens, dryers, or direct sun. Anything above roughly body temperature softens the Wovenaire fibers and they'll re-set in compressed shapes. The mattress will look fine but lose firmness in those spots - a real safety issue with infants.
Yes. Both the polyester cover and the Wovenaire core are designed to be cleaned with water. The cover goes in your washing machine; the core gets rinsed in the shower or tub. The only universal rule is no heat.
Plan on 4-8 hours for the core in average indoor conditions. With a box fan blowing across it in a ventilated room, 3-4 hours is realistic. In humid summer weather, leave it overnight. The cover dries in under an hour on a tumble-dry-low cycle.
No. The Wovenaire core is roughly 90% air and machine agitation crushes the spirals into permanent flat spots. Always rinse it by hand in a tub or shower.
Blot the wet area, rinse with cool water through the core, then treat any lingering smell with an enzyme cleaner made for baby or pet fabrics. Vinegar masks the odor briefly but doesn't break down the uric acid that causes it. Air-dry the core on its side.
No. Even on a cool setting, hairdryers concentrate enough heat to soften the Wovenaire fibers. They re-set in compressed shapes and you'll feel firmness loss in those spots. A box fan is the fastest safe option.
The cover gets washed every 2-4 weeks or any time it's visibly soiled. The core only needs a deep rinse seasonally - every 3 months - or whenever a leak gets through the cover. Spot-clean any stains as they happen.
It's optional. A breathable, Newton-compatible encasement reduces how often you need to deep-clean the core, but the mattress is designed to be safe and washable on its own. Skip waterproof covers that aren't certified breathable for infants - they cancel out the airflow that makes Newton mattresses different in the first place.
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Banner Mattress EditorialThe Banner Mattress editorial team publishes independent mattress reviews, buying guides, and sleep-health advice. Since 2018 we've tested 1,000+ mattresses and 3,000+ pillows, sheets, and bedding accessories in our review lab - every recommendation is hands-on, never sourced from vendor talking points. Affiliate links may earn us a commission, but never change what we recommend.
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