Why Is My Mattress Topper Hard? 3 Likely Causes

Mattress toppers offer soft, relaxing comfort that you won’t find in many traditional mattresses. Memory foam is one of the top mattress topper materials, but they also come in gel foam, cotton, and more. If your mattress topper gets too hard, it’ll undoubtedly make it much more difficult to get a good night’s sleep.

Your mattress topper is hard because it’s too dry, its internal temperature got too cold, or the topper is clogged with debris. You can place a soft mattress cover over the topper to keep it warm. Clean your mattress topper every couple of weeks to prevent debris from hardening it.

If your mattress topper feels much harder, stiffer, or firmer than usual, it’s time to clean and repair it. Most mattress toppers can be revitalized, making them last between 3 to 5 years.

Why Did My Memory Foam Topper Get Hard?

Many memory foam toppers get hard because they’re stripped of moisture or soaked in body oils and sweat. It might seem gross, but memory foam absorbs tons of debris throughout the night. Proper cleaning will prevent it from getting too bad, but it needs to be replaced if the foam starts to crumble.

So, why is your memory foam or gel topper getting hard?

Dirty Mattress Topper

A dirty mattress topper hardens because of the debris stuck between the porous foam. For example, sweat and sebum can seep into the mattress and dry, which hardens the foam. This is one of the main reasons your mattress topper turns green. It’ll require deep cleaning to get rid of the oils and sweat.

Cold Temperatures in the Memory Foam

Layla Sleep explains that memory foam hardens when it gets too cold. This is because a lot of memory foam uses gel. Even if your mattress topper doesn’t use gel or foam, it’ll harden when the temperatures dip close to freezing. Fortunately, there are many solutions, such as using heated blankets before laying down.

Excessive Foam or Cotton Dryness

While you don’t want to soak your mattress topper, most of them are slightly hydrated. Gel foam and memory foam can dry out after being exposed to the open air for too long, especially if you use a space heater or ceiling fan directly over the material. You’ll notice the edges start to crumble if the mattress topper is too dry and hard.

I have the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper because it doesn’t dry out or harden thanks to the gel beads. I prefer this topper because it shifts with each body movement without staying indented for too long. It’s also excellent for extra-firm mattresses that need a little extra cushioning.

An uncommon reason that your mattress topper might feel harder than usual is that the bed frame is crooked. A crooked bed frame will force you to lay on one side of the bed, making it wear out much quicker. The other side will be soft, while the crooked side will feel thin and hard.

How Can I Make My Mattress Topper Softer?

You can make your mattress topper softer by cleaning it every two weeks, vacuuming it every time you remove the bed sheets, and washing your bed sheets to keep the body oils out of the memory foam. Additionally, you can put a mattress cover over the topper to provide extra softness.

Let’s check each of these factors in detail below.

1. Clean your mattress topper with distilled vinegar and warm water one to two times per month. Mix one cup of each liquid in a bowl and softly scrub the whole mattress topper with a soaked sponge. If you have a machine-washable topper, skip this step and wash it in the laundry machine.
2. Vacuum your mattress topper to remove pet hair, dander, crumbs, and other debris. You’d be surprised by how much debris makes its way through the bed sheets and blankets. It’s very difficult to remove everything from the porous foam. You can also use a lint roller to remove fine hairs from the mattress topper.
3. Learn how to wash your bed sheets properly. Bed sheets shouldn’t be washed with abrasive towels, soiled clothes, and other fabrics that can bring debris onto the mattress topper. Your bedding’s cleanliness is equally as important as your mattress topper’s cleanliness.
4. Use a mattress cover (preferably a pillow top cover) to soften your hard mattress topper. These covers wrap over the mattress topper, providing extra support, cushioning, and breathability. Putting a pillow top cover over my mattress topper was a game-changer. I’ll never go back to an uncovered mattress.

My favorite topper is the EASELAND Pillow Top Mattress Cover. I use a full-sized cover, but it comes in many other sizes for bigger and smaller mattresses. It has deep pockets that let it wrap around mattresses with thick, dense mattress toppers. The stitched square pattern makes it easy to wash in the laundry machine without displacing or clumping the cotton filling.

Land of Sleep also recommends making your room a little warmer to soften and loosen the memory foam mattress topper. Another option is to put an electric blanket on the topper for a few minutes before laying down for bed. Electric blankets heat quickly, so keep an eye on them.

What Happens if Your Mattress Topper Is Too Firm?

If your mattress topper is too firm, you’ll likely deal with a lot of discomfort. Furthermore, an excessively hard mattress topper can ruin a high-quality mattress by masking its supportiveness. You should feel the topper indent when you lay on it to know it’s not too hard.

In my experience, a hard mattress topper can cause foot pain, too. Strangely enough, many sleepers think blankets hurt their feet when it’s actually the topper or the mattress. The hard memory foam pushes your feet upward, putting them at an awkward angle for several hours during the night.

Fortunately, you’re well-equipped to soften your hard mattress topper and get back to sleeping comfortably when it’s time for bed.