If you apply enough pressure to memory foam it will eventually become softer – how quickly will depend on how often you are applying pressure and how much pressure you apply! Lying on it every night will help a lot, as will regularly walking or rolling on it.
If you have a memory foam mattress or a hybrid mattress with a foam layer, we'd recommend trying to warm your mattress up before sleeping. Memory foam, in particular, responds to heat and becomes more malleable when warm, which means it will be softer.
Be careful not to spread the foam on the surface (1). Moisten a sponge with a dissolvent: Acetone or nail polish remover can be effective dissolvents for removing cured expanding foam. Moisten a sponge with the dissolvent and gently rub it on the foam to soften and remove it (1).
You can rejuvenate foam by soaking it in hot water for an hour or so then let them fully dry before using them. You'll never get them back to 100%, but you can at least get very close, though ultimately the foam just won't be quite as robust as it was new.
Sit and Lay On It—A Lot
Sit and lay on your sofa as much as possible throughout the day to squish the cushions under your weight. Bounce up and down a few times to compress the cushions and break down the foam insert a little. Shuffle the cushions around and flip them periodically so they soften evenly.
Turn up the heat in your bedroom – making the room a little warmer will soften the foam and allow it to form around your body easier. Use alternative heat sources like electric blankets, heat packs, or hot water bottles to make the mattress warm before rolling or kneading it and then sleeping on it.
Vinegar, vegetable, and olive oil are natural products that easily dissolve uncured spray foam residue. As with chemical solvents like acetone, apply vinegar and let it sit on the foam residue for a few minutes. This helps soften the foam. Then, gently remove the foam without damaging the surface using a scraper.
Adjust the Temperature of Your Bedroom
Raising the temperature in your bedroom can soften the foam and make it mold to your body more readily.
Yes, WD-40 does remove expanding foam as it can break down the foam residue.
Make your room warmer
A memory foam mattress is temperature-sensitive. Since these types of mattress respond to heat, you could try making your bedroom a little warmer. This could help soften your mattress.
Were you aware that foam dries out over a period of time? You can rehydrate your cushion by introducing steam produced by your home iron on a high-steam setting to the foam! Absolutely, you can!
Putting styrofoam into acetone is dramatic – a huge chunk melts away to nothing in seconds. Putting styrofoam into orange oil is less dramatic, but I could still see the styrofoam disappear quite quickly. About 4 tablespoons of acetone dissolved about 45 grams of styrofoam.
First off, remember that memory foam is temperature sensitive. So, if you only lay on it briefly, it's unlikely to deform too much. Over time, however, the material will warm up to match your body temperature, softening as it does so.
Sun Exposure: Sunlight is a natural revitalizer for memory foam. Place your topper in direct sunlight for a few hours. The sun will help to evaporate any moisture trapped in the foam, which can be a cause of lumpiness.
It is inadvisable to soak a memory foam mattress with water and this method requires a lot of water. Therefore, use this method only if you can dry your memory foam mattress in the fresh air for some days.
You can make your own natural memory foam mattress cleaner by mixing 1 part water with 1 part white vinegar or you can purchase a natural memory foam mattress cleaner. Always spot test your cleaner on a small area of the mattress first to ensure it won't damage the foam.
Remove a maximum of foam; avoid spreading it on the surface. Moisten a sponge with a dissolvent. The optimal option is acetone or even nail polish remover. Remember, they are not appropriate for delicate materials and plastic.
Memory foam mattresses do soften over time. The heat and weight of your body will cause the mattress to become softer with just a few weeks of use.
Like all mattresses, memory foam isn't immune to the tests of time. Over the years, it can lose some of its firmness. By adopting measures to maintain and boost its firmness, you can also extend its lifespan, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.
Generally, you CAN use an electric heated throw or over-blanket or one that goes on top of the sleeper(s) and not under. These should not come into direct contact with your memory foam. Using one this way won't interfere with the shape, performance or feel of your mattress.