How to Care for a Pillow Top Mattress Overlay

Create a maintenance schedule for your pillow top overlay. This is best done by simply checking your overlay as often as you change your bedding or when any spills or messes happen on the bed. When you remove your bed sheets, check the overlay for indentations, stains, discoloration and odor.

Fluff your overlay. Fluffing your overlay is the most frequent maintenance required for a pillow top. In the event that your overlay is not dirty but does have indentations or is in need of an overall good fluffing, remove it from the bed. Place the overlay into the dryer, and run it on a short cycle on the lowest heat or no heat at all. When the cycle has completed, remove the overlay and check to see if its fluffiness has been restored. If not, run it for an additional cycle, and return it to your bed.

Spot treat your overlay for stains or small messes. Commonly you should clean liquid messes on your overlay first by absorbing as much of the liquid from the overly as possible. Use a dry cloth, and press it against the wet area until you can't remove any more moisture. Treat the area with a mild cleanser or homemade cleanser such as vinegar. This will help avoid stains, remove odors and save you from having to run the overlay through an extra wash cycle. Use of a fabric refresher spray could also help. Make sure you check the manufacturer's instructions for product use on your overlay.

Clean your pillow top overlay in the washer and dryer. Many pillow top overlays are machine washable on the delicate cycle in cold or warm water. Take care not to use hot water as the heat could damage the overlay or cause shrinkage. When drying the overlay, either air dry it, or place it in the dryer on the lowest heat setting. You should only wash and dry the overlay in the event the overlay has become visibly dirty, if an ill person has slept on it, or if it hasn't been washed in over a month as it can cause wear and tear to the fabric and filling. This should be the most infrequent maintenance you do for your overlay.