How to Clean a Crib Mattress: Stains, Odors and Drying

How to clean a crib mattress starts with checking the care label. Remove the sheet and protector, blot up the mess, clean the surface with as little moisture as possible, and let every part dry completely. Do not soak a foam or fiber mattress core unless the manufacturer clearly says that the core is washable.

Check the mattress care label first

Crib mattress cleaning instructions are not all the same. A waterproof mattress may only need to be wiped. A mattress with a removable fabric cover may allow machine washing. A foam or fiber mattress may be spot-clean only. A few specialty mattresses have a washable core, but that does not mean every crib mattress core can be washed.

Look for the brand, model number, material list, and care symbols on the mattress tag. Check the manufacturer website when the printed directions are missing or hard to read.

Do not assume that a mattress described as breathable, waterproof, water-resistant, organic, foam, or washable should be cleaned the same way as another mattress with a similar description.

How to Clean a Crib Mattress by Material Type

Cleaning a waterproof or vinyl crib mattress surface

Remove the bedding and blot up as much liquid as possible. Put a few drops of mild soap in a small bowl of water. Dip a soft cloth into the water and wring it out well. The cloth should be damp, not dripping.

Wipe the dirty area gently. Start at the outside edge of the mark and work toward the center so the mess does not spread. Use a second clean damp cloth to remove soap residue. Finish by blotting the area with a dry towel.

Inspect the surface as you clean. Stop if you find cracks, peeling material, open seams, bubbles, or a tear that could allow liquid into the mattress.

Cleaning a removable crib mattress cover

Check the cover label before putting it in a washing machine. Some covers can be machine washed in cold water. Others must be hand washed or spot cleaned. Drying directions also differ. One cover may allow low heat, while another must be hung or laid flat to dry.

Check whether the zipper should be closed before washing. Make sure the cover is completely dry before putting it back on the mattress. A damp cover can hold moisture against the core.

Cleaning foam or fiber-filled crib mattresses

Foam and fiber can hold water deep inside the mattress. Unless the manufacturer clearly says otherwise, do not put the core in a bathtub, shower, washing machine, or outside under a hose.

Blot the surface first. Spot clean with a cloth that has been wrung out well. Use another barely damp cloth to remove soap. Press dry towels against the area to pull out as much surface moisture as possible.

If liquid has soaked through the cover and entered an inner layer, contact the manufacturer before trying to add more water or cleaner.

How to Clean a Crib Mattress After Common Messes

For a urine accident that left a continuing smell, see the separate guide to cleaning urine from a mattress.

When the mattress is dry but still smells, first identify whether the odor is coming from the cover, core, protector, crib, or room. The crib mattress odor guide explains the most common sources. The page on how to deodorize a mattress covers odor removal without simply covering the smell with fragrance.

Cleaning products that should not be mixed or applied

A product may be suitable for one waterproof mattress and unsuitable for a fabric-covered or foam mattress. Manufacturer directions should come before general stain-removal advice.

How to dry a crib mattress completely

Drying is part of the cleaning process. A mattress that feels dry on top may still hold moisture along the seams, under a cover, or inside an absorbent layer.

1. Blot the cleaned area with dry towels.
2. Remove any washable cover and dry it separately.
3. Stand the mattress on its side on a clean, dry surface.
4. Leave space around both sides so air can move freely.
5. Use normal room airflow or a nearby fan.
6. Avoid a hair dryer, space heater, heating vent, or other strong direct heat unless the care label permits it.
7. Check the top, bottom, sides, corners, seams, binding, and zipper area before reuse.

There is no single drying time that works for every crib mattress. Room humidity, material type, the amount of water used, and the mattress construction all affect drying.

When a crib mattress should not be cleaned and reused

Cleaning can remove many surface messes, but it cannot fix every type of damage or contamination. Stop using the mattress and check with the manufacturer when you find any of these problems:

• The waterproof surface is cracked, split, peeling, bubbling, or sticky.
• A seam, binding, zipper, or removable cover is torn or will not close correctly.
• Foam, fiber, or another inner layer remains damp.
• A stain or odor returns after the mattress has dried completely.
• Mold or mildew is visible inside fabric, foam, fiber, seams, or the mattress core.
• The mattress was exposed to floodwater, sewage, or an unknown chemical.
• The mattress has become warped, lumpy, soft, sagging, or uneven.
• The surface no longer lies flat or the mattress no longer fits the crib correctly.
• The manufacturer says that a damaged cover or core must be replaced.

Mold can enter the spaces inside porous materials, which may make full removal difficult or impossible. General mold cleanup information is available from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Drying checklist before the mattress goes back in the crib

After the mattress is dry and back in place, use only bedding intended for that mattress and crib. The crib safety checklist covers mattress fit, sheets, hardware, and the rest of the sleep space.

How to make future crib mattress cleanup easier

A properly fitted waterproof protector can help keep urine, milk, and other liquids from reaching an absorbent mattress surface. Follow the mattress and crib manufacturer directions when choosing one.

The crib mattress pad vs protector guide explains how these products differ. Parents who want a wipe-clean sleep surface can also review the waterproof crib mattress guide.

Keep a clean fitted sheet and protector ready so a wet one can be removed without putting damp bedding back over the mattress.

Crib mattress cleaning safety references

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against mixing bleach or disinfectants with other cleaners because the mixture can release dangerous vapors. See the CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidance.

For crib sleep spaces, the Consumer Product Safety Commission safe sleep guide recommends a firm mattress and a fitted sheet without added soft items in the crib.

Final crib mattress cleaning check

The safest general approach is simple: follow the mattress label, clean the correct layer, use limited moisture, remove the soap, and wait until the mattress is completely dry. Do not copy another brand's washing directions unless your own mattress manufacturer gives the same instructions.

For help comparing mattress materials, firmness, sizes, waterproof surfaces, and construction, visit the main crib mattress guide.