How to Clean a Tempur-Pedic Mattress (2026): Cover, Spills, Stains & Urine

A Tempur-Pedic mattress can last 10-12 years, but only if you clean it correctly. The single rule that matters most: TEMPUR® foam should never get wet. Machine-wash the removable cover, blot - never soak - any spill on the foam, and use baking soda for routine freshening. This guide walks through the cover wash, spot cleaning, urine and yellow-stain protocols, and the maintenance habits that protect your warranty.

The 30-second answer

• Cover: unzip, machine-wash cold, mild detergent, air-dry. Never bleach or dry-clean.
• Foam: vacuum monthly, sprinkle baking soda, vacuum again. Never wash, soak, steam, or apply heat.
• Spills: blot immediately with a dry cloth, then air-dry fully before re-covering.
• Stains: spot-treat with a damp cloth + mild detergent on the cover. For urine or yellow marks, use a hydrogen-peroxide + baking-soda paste - sparingly.

Have a soft top layer or quilted surface? See how to clean a pillow top mattress from pee.

What to do before you clean anything

Strip every layer of bedding (sheets, mattress protector, pad). Open a window. Inspect the mattress for the small white care label sewn into the seam - older Tempur-Pedic models (pre-2018) sometimes have non-removable covers, and the wash steps below don't apply to those. If you're not sure, check Tempur-Pedic's own product-care page for your model.

Step 1 - Wash the removable cover

Almost every Tempur-Pedic mattress sold since 2018 has a fully zippered, machine-washable cover. Unzip it from each corner and carefully pull it off the foam core. Tempur-Pedic recommends washing every 1-3 months.

• Machine-wash on cold (60°F / 15°C max) with a mild or natural detergent.
• Run a delicate or gentle cycle. Do not overload the drum.
• Hang or air-dry. If you must use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and remove while still slightly damp.
• Never use bleach, chlorine, fabric softener, or harsh stain removers - they degrade the cooling fabric.
• Never dry-clean. The solvents react with the cover's stretch fibers.

While the cover dries, leave the foam exposed in a well-ventilated room. This is the perfect window to deodorize.

Step 2 - Vacuum and deodorize the foam

Use a hand vacuum or your upright's upholstery attachment. A soft brush head is critical - stiff bristles can pull at the open-cell foam. Vacuum the top, sides, and seams.

1. Sprinkle a thin, even layer of baking soda over the entire surface.
2. Let it sit for at least one hour - overnight is ideal if humidity is high.
3. Vacuum it all up, working in slow overlapping passes.
4. Flip the mattress on its side (if you have help) to vacuum the bottom and the bed slats below.

Don't use scented carpet powders - the perfume binds to the foam and you can't rinse it out.

Step 3 - Spot-clean spills (the right way)

If the spill is on the cover and you caught it fast, you can usually unzip and wash. If it has soaked through to the foam, follow this protocol - it's the closest you can come to "washing" TEMPUR material without voiding the warranty.

1. Press a dry, absorbent towel firmly onto the wet spot. Replace it as it saturates. Keep going until almost no moisture transfers.
2. Lightly dampen a clean cloth with cold water and a drop of mild detergent. Dab - do not rub - the affected patch.
3. Blot again with a dry towel to lift the cleaning solution back out.
4. Air-dry for 24 hours minimum before re-covering. Point a fan at the mattress; do not use a hair dryer or heater.

Heat is the silent killer here - Tempur-Pedic explicitly warns that direct heat can damage the TEMPUR formula. That includes electric blankets, heating pads, and hot dryer settings on the cover.

How to remove urine, sweat, and yellow stains

Yellow halos are oxidized body oils, sweat, and urine residue. Surface stains usually live on the cover, where you can launder them. Stains that bled through to the foam need the gentlest possible chemistry: hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and baking soda.

Yellow-stain paste (cover or foam)

• 1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 small drop of unscented dish soap

Mix immediately before use - it loses fizz fast. Apply with a spray bottle or a clean toothbrush; do not pour it. Let it bubble for 5-10 minutes, blot with a dry towel, then air-dry fully. For deep urine accidents on the foam, see our dedicated memory-foam urine guide - the protocol there is what we'd use on a Tempur-Pedic, just slowed down to protect the warranty.

How often should you clean each layer?

• Sheets: weekly. Twice a week in summer or for hot sleepers.
• Mattress protector: every 4-6 weeks.
• Tempur-Pedic cover: every 1-3 months.
• Vacuum + baking soda on foam: monthly.
• Rotate (head-to-foot, not flip): every 3 months for the first year, then twice a year.

Tempur-Pedic mattresses are one-sided - never flip them upside down. The support layer underneath is firmer foam designed to stay on the bottom.

Stop the next stain before it starts

The single best upgrade you can make is a waterproof, breathable mattress protector. Tempur-Pedic sells a wet-safe model, but any high-quality protector that fits a 12-14" deep mattress will do - see our best organic mattress protectors guide for editor-tested picks. Add a washable mattress pad on top of the protector for sweat and skin oils. Keep bedroom humidity between 30-50% with a dehumidifier in summer; mold needs more than 60% RH to take hold inside foam.