Hi willwantstosleep.
Welcome back to our Mattress Forum all the way from 2013!
[quote] 1. Is there any way to thoroughly clean a latex mattress? Iām finding a lot of info about spot cleaning, but it sounds like steam cleaning or any sort of more intensive care isnāt good for latex
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As latex is an open-cell foam, when it is submerged or exposed to water, the fluid (along with some particles and dirt residue) can penetrate more deeply into the layers and be trapped there for a while before it has a chance to evaporate. I recently had my mattresses partially submerged in water during a flood. In my case, I chose to dispose of the latex layers rather than attempt to squeeze and dry them. In your case, Iād consider unzipping the cover and inspecting each layer.
Washing the cover would be the first step, but youād want to follow the manufacturersā instructions for cleaning it. I am not sure if itās worth going as far as washing each individual latex slab in a tub under running water as they do in a manufacturing plant to sanitize and remove any residues. Some people used a very mild detergent but Iād be concerned about embedding any chemicals contained in the detergent within the foam cells. Then once again youād need to dry the layers very well to avoid any mold and bacterial growth. As youāve experienced, it is quite difficult to dry out all the small inaccessible areas and if any amount of moisture remains lingering inside the cavities, some mold may start developing before all latex dries up. Especially in more humid environments, Iād use a dehumidifier to dry the latex and to extract the āhiddenā pockets of water.
Iāve heard of people treating the latex with baking soda for half an hour or so and then vacuuming it with care to avoid tearing the latex. It would be better to use the less invasive methods of cleaning (airing out outside, baking soda, washing the cover) before attempting washing and drying.
Ventilating the mattress in a dry room for a week with circulating the air was a good call. If you chose to take the latex layers out and ventilate them individually, the only caution Iād have is to avoid exposing the layers to direct sunlight, fluorescent lighting, and ozone which will oxidize and damage the latex.
No one can tell this for sure but here are some things that can help you with your decision:
In the latex production process for either Dunlop or Talalay, one of the final steps after vulcanizing the foam is to wash the latex slab and then dry it. Latex is an open-cell foam, the most breathable of all types of foams, and naturally mold resistant. If the latex was dried soon and thoroughly enough after the water soaking through, the chances are that fungi wonāt have the right conditions to grow. Mold takes some organic residues and humidity to develop. To be on the safe side you may consider buying a kit to test for any level of mold development. See this other post that talks about mold growth and latex cleaning
Phoenix