Top 6 Ways To Stop Condensation Under Your Mattress

drops of condensation

Condensation under a bed spells trouble. Avoid mould and dank smells with these easy tips to keep the moisture away. 

There are several ways to banish condensation from under a bed. Most methods focus on air circulation, humidity control, and removing the condensation.

Good bed maintenance includes keeping moisture away from the mattress. Here are the top tips to protect your bed from condensation under the mattress.


6 Methods To Prevent And Treat Condensation Under A Mattress

Condensation is common in the bedroom when there are high humidity and a lack of air circulation. When problems arise, they usually include mould and mildew and water damage. Needless to say, when someone has respiratory issues or allergies, sleeping on a mouldy mattress is not ideal. 

The top 6 ways to keep condensation under control are:

  1. Create an air gap between the floor and the mattress.
  2. Create more air circulation under the mattress.
  3. Add a dehumidifier to the bedroom.
  4. Wipe the area dry.
  5. Place an absorbent sheet under the mattress.
  6. Do regular checks on the mattress.

Why stop there? Get our free guide that is packed full of tips and advice on how to clean your bed.


Create An Air Gap Between The Floor And The Mattress

bed base above floor

One of the most common reasons why condensation develops under a mattress is that everything is too stuffy. Some beds are placed directly on the floor or there is a tiny space between the bed and the floor. Some mattresses also develop condensation problems when the mattress is against the base. However, it is not always feasible to lift a mattress off a solid base.

Find out how often you should change your mattress.

How Can I Create An Air Gap?

  • If you have a solid base, the answer might be to replace a solid base with a slatted base. 
  • If your mattress is directly on the floor, it is essential to raise it onto a base.

Create More Air Circulation Under The Mattress

Air circulation goes a long way to keep mould and moisture in check. Mould and condensation need heat and stagnating air to form – something air circulation actively avoids. The good news is that it is easy to create better airflow in your bedroom. In fact, there are several ways that you can tickle the air to get it moving!

Does your bed feel too frosty? Find out the top 4 reasons why your mattress feels cold and what you can do about it.

How Do I Create Air Circulation Under The Mattress?

Natural air flow is a great way to get the air moving in your home without spending a penny. This can be achieved by inviting a draft into the room. While the design and locations of the rooms do not always allow for a draft, you can open a few windows and there will still be some air movement. Always remember to stay safe and keep your windows closed if the area has a problem with crime. You want to invite a draft, not a burglar!

When open windows are not an option, the best option is to use a fan or several fans. You do not have to keep the fans running all day, just a few hours every day. Point the fans at the mattress and this should provide enough air flow to keep the moisture in check. It will also help greatly if you switch on the ceiling fan to create air flow in the bed room. 

Here are the best Brook & Wilde mattresses today.

Add A Dehumidifier To The Bedroom

A dehumidifier is a great way to get rid of high moisture in the home. Dehumidifiers are specifically designed to suck water from the air – the very thing that causes condensation under your mattress – and to collect the moisture inside the machine’s tank. This option might be the only way to keep your mattress safe if you live in a region where the humidity is especially high. 

What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?

To be fair, it is hard to say. This will depend on the size of your bedroom. But if you only want to use a dehumidifier for the room and not the entire home then you can make do with a small to medium dehumidifier. However, do your research and read a few reviews to determine which dehumidifiers might suit your room’s size.

Love to snooze on your tummy? We reviewed and found the best mattresses for front sleepers.

Keep The Area Dry

cleaning cloths

This bit of advice is more geared towards plastic beds including water beds and air mattresses. These types of mattresses tend to collect more condensation than those that are made of fabric and foam. An air mattress can be easily lifted and wiped down with a clean, dry cloth. Depending on the level of humidity and moisture in the air, you can wipe it once a week or every day. 

A water bed is more difficult to handle but some people try to insert a cloth as deep as they can and wipe the edges dry. That being said, the center of a water bed will suffer eventually. The next suggestion could solve that problem and make keeping the mattress dry less of a chore. 

Grab our free guide on how to choose a mattress

Place An Absorbent Sheet Under The Mattress

One of the most popular options is an absorbent layer. This nifty trick is particularly good if you have a solid base and do not want to spend more money on a slatted base. While there are commercial sheets designed for this purpose, you can also use cotton or cotton flannel. 

If you want to try this method, keep in mind that you need more than one sheet. Every few days, it is best to remove the sheet from under the mattress and add a fresh one. Keep rotating them like that to absorb the extra moisture without causing mould themselves (which will happen if they stay under the mattress for too long). 

This is how you can put on a zippered mattress protector.

Do Regular Checks On The Mattress

As part of your maintenance routine, it is essential to check the state of your mattress on a regular basis. This will tell you how often you need to clean the mattress or change the absorbent sheet – or it might even alert you that mould and mildew are trying their luck for the first time!


A Quick Summary On How To Deal With Condensation Under A Mattress

  • Most mattresses never suffer this problem but in high humidity areas, beds can gather condensation under the mattress.
  • Plastic beds, like water beds and air mattresses, are particularly prone to this problem. 
  • Air circulation is a potent tool and can be created by switching on a few fans or opening windows in the bedroom.
  • High humidity areas or homes are also badly affected. The best option is a dehumidifier. 
  • Maintenance also helps. This can be done by wiping the mattress down, placing an absorbent sheet between the mattress and base, and doing regular checks to make sure that the mattress is in good shape. 

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About the Author Tom

My journey into the world of sleep came about through living in several properties over my lifetime and always seeming to have the worst luck with neighbors. All but one have been extremely noisy and very inconsiderate. What this made me realize early on, was that the little sleep my neighbors allowed me to get needed to be of great quality. So I started to learn all about sleep, and what helps people get the best quality sleep possible.