Can foam rubber be washed in a washing machine?

Is it possible to wash foam rubber in a washing machine? Products with foam filling require timely and careful care. Housewives often doubt whether it is even possible to wash foam rubber in a washing machine? Let's figure out how to properly clean the material without damaging its structure or breaking its shape.

Basic cleaning rules

The unusual porous structure of foam rubber makes the filler very sensitive to external influences. Therefore, housewives are concerned about how to properly wash such things so that they do not become deformed and retain their properties.

If not properly cared for, the foam rubber can tear and lose its original shape.

The following tips will help you avoid damage to products with foam padding:

You can only immerse foam rubber in cool water, not hotter than 40°C. Higher temperatures are detrimental to the material;
The item cannot be bent or twisted too much. Therefore, in an automatic machine it is allowed to wash only small foam rubber products that fit freely in the drum;
The foam is wrung out with light “swiping” movements. You can simply leave the item on a wire rack above the bathtub so that the water can drain on its own;
if the product’s factory label with care instructions has been preserved, it is better to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
It is not advisable to use powders - granules are poorly washed out of the material. Preference should be given to gels for washing delicate fabrics.

If you follow the recommendations, you will be able to clean the foam without loss. In an automatic machine you can wash small items with foam filling. It is important that the product fits freely into the drum; it does not have to be twisted or compacted inside the washing machine.

Let's use an automatic machine

If you need to wash, for example, small sofa cushions or baby bumpers, you can use an automatic washing machine. It is also possible to load a small thin mattress into the washing machine, which can be rolled up freely and fits into the drum.

When machine washing, it is important to follow several rules:

run the gentle mode to clean delicate fabrics, such as wool;
The water heating temperature should be 30-40°C. High-temperature washing will cause uneven expansion of the material and lead to loss of shape of the product;
start the "Extra rinse" program. When using dry washing powder, you will have to do this twice, so to save time, it is advisable to pour gel into the machine;
turn off automatic spin. It is better to take the wet product out of the machine, brush off excess water and leave it to dry naturally.

set extra rinse

Before placing any items in the washing machine, carefully read the label. If the manufacturer does not prohibit machine washing, you can experiment.

Traditional cleaning using powder

Cleaning the foam should be done by straightening it out as best as possible. When washing by hand, it is most convenient to do it in a bathtub or large basin. You need to collect the required amount of warm water and add washing powder. It is important that the granules are completely dissolved. You can also use gel for delicate fabrics or dishwashing liquid. The last remedy is relevant if there are greasy stains on the product.

Before immersing in water, it is recommended to beat out the foam outside - this will allow you to achieve maximum washing results.

Foam rubber is immersed in the resulting soap solution. Next, you need to press with your palms over the entire surface of the product, forcing the porous material to absorb water and get rid of it.

Afterwards you will have to rinse the item many times in clean water. Due to its structure, the material quickly absorbs soapy liquid. To remove detergent residue from the foam rubber, approximately 5-7 rinses are needed.

Proven method with soap

You can clean products with foam rubber with regular laundry soap. It effectively fights most stains and has a whitening effect. The hand washing algorithm in this case will be slightly different:

Fill a bathtub or basin with warm water and immerse the item inside;
press the product several times. If the liquid turns gray, the foam is too dirty. Drain and refill with clean water;
Apply soap to a damp pillow, mattress or other product. To do this, take a bar, soap your palms and apply the resulting abundant foam with your hands to the item;
leave the foam to “sour” for 15-30 minutes. The “soaking” time is determined based on the degree of contamination of the material;
clean the product using gentle pressing movements;
drain dirty water;
Rinse the item several times.

wash foam rubber in the bath

This method is suitable for cleaning not only large products - mattresses and pillows, but also for push-up bras, children's toys, crib bumpers, etc. If you need to wash a sofa or armchairs, you can also prepare a soap solution and use a brush to refresh upholstery

Quickly remove moisture

In fact, in the process of cleaning foam rubber, the most difficult stage is not washing, but rather drying the product. Before starting the procedure, it is important to prepare the area where the material will dry. When organizing a place, it is important to consider the following nuances:

Even without drying the foam a little, you risk getting something moldy. Pathogenic microorganisms multiply quickly in a humid environment. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that the product dries completely;
It is prohibited to twist the product during spinning;
You cannot fold the foam rubber when drying - it must dry strictly in a straightened form;
It is unacceptable to hang foam products vertically on a clothesline;
Ultraviolet radiation is harmful to the material, so do not dry the foam rubber under the scorching rays of the sun;
It is prohibited to dry such things on radiators.

Foam rubber can only be dried in a horizontal position.

In the case of a mattress, it is important that none of its edges rest against any object. Otherwise, deformation cannot be avoided.

how to dry foam rubber

So how to properly dry a product? Follow the following algorithm:

Having finished rinsing and making sure that there is no detergent left in the foam, leave the product in the bath to let the water drain. The larger the item, the longer it will take to remove excess moisture;
to reduce the waiting time, you can lightly press the material with your palms;
Place the product on a horizontal surface. It is important that the foam dry in a dry, warm and well-ventilated area;
Turn your pillow or mattress over every few hours to ensure it dries evenly.

You can speed up the process by laying the product out on the dryer so that the foam does not bend. Afterwards the structure is placed on the balcony.This way the material will be blown from all sides, which will facilitate faster drying.