Best Mold Resistant Mattress of 2024

If there’s one thing you might be able to call “mattress cancer,” mold is it. It sneaks its way inside your mattress and spreads without you knowing. By the time you find out your mattress has a mold problem, it might already be too late to save it.

This is why it’s important to get a mattress that can resist mold growth. Mattresses that can fight against mold are much safer for your health and your budget because you won’t be sleeping on a health hazard or throwing out an expensive piece of furniture.

Best Mold Resistant Mattresses of 2024

One of the best mold-resistant mattresses on this list, the Amerisleep Organica has something for everyone. This mattress features a combination of pocketed coils and natural Talalay latex for the ultimate springiness and breathability.

Like other Amerisleep mattresses, the Organica comes with free shipping, a 100-night trial period, and a 20-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses Without Fiberglass

Read Our Full Review of the Amerisleep Organica Mattress

If you’re looking for a cooling, non-rubber option that can resist mold just as well as natural latex, check out the Zoma Boost. This newest offering from Zoma uses graphite infusions to create mold-resistant memory foam that doesn’t have the allergy potential that latex does. So it’s the perfect cooling alternative for those with latex allergies.

All Zoma mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty, along with free delivery.

SEE ALSO: Best Cloud Mattresses

Read Our Full Review of the Zoma Boost Mattress

Those who want an all-memory foam mold-resistant mattress or those looking for a mattress that can resist mold without breaking the bank should check out the Vaya Mattress. This mattress keeps quality high and costs low by offering a simple design that consists of just three layers.

All Vaya mattresses come with a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Budget Mattresses

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress Under 2000 Dollars

If you want an all-natural mattress that provides the contouring of memory foam and the responsiveness of latex, check out the Nolah Natural 11. This latex hybrid provides the ultimate springiness and breathability – all while resisting mold and mildew.

Like other Nolah mattresses, the Nolah Natural 11 comes with a 120-night trial and a lifetime warranty. Shoppers can remove the sleep trial at checkout, though this may not be advisable.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses Without Memory Foam

If you want an all-latex mattress that pulls out all the stops, say hello to the Saatva Zenhaven. Not only is the Zenhaven as hypoallergenic as it gets. It also features flippable firmness so that just about everyone can enjoy its latex comfort!

SEE ALSO: Best Eco-Friendly Mattresses

If you want a mattress with tons of breathability and pressure relief, as well as a unique feel, check out the Birch Luxe Natural. This plush latex hybrid features multiple layers of wool and cashmere for a feel unlike any other latex mattress. It’ll feel like sleeping on a pure wool mattress, but it’ll function just like a latex hybrid.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses with Edge Support

As you may have noticed, most of the mattresses on this list contain latex. This is because latex is naturally mold-resistant. However, copper-infused memory foam can resist microbes just as well as latex – with the added benefit of not triggering latex allergies. That’s where the Bear Elite Hybrid shines. This copper memory foam mattress fights mold and overheating all at once!

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for Athletes

If you want a flippable memory foam mattress with copper infusions to fight memory foam, check out the Layla Mattress. This mattress provides two firmness levels in one mattress and fights mold all at the same time.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses Without Springs

If you want the most luxurious latex on the market, check out the Avocado Luxury Organic. This mattress provides 17 inches of luxurious textiles and latex for a plush and supportive feel that keeps you comfortable all night.

SEE ALSO: Mattress Sizes and Bed Dimensions For Room Size Needs

Why It’s Bad to Have Mold in Your Mattress

As a refresher, mold is a type of fungusVerified Source Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Works to control/prevent natural and manmade disasters.View source that grows in damp, warm environments. It can grow on a variety of surfaces, including wood, carpet, drywall, and fabric, and the body heat and sweat that mattresses absorb can make them a prime spot for mold growth. Mold reproduces by releasing spores into the air, it’s possible for spores to be brought inside the house without you realizing it.

You might be tempted to shrug off moldVerified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH)World’s largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible.View source in your mattress as no big deal. After all, shower curtains get mildewVerified Source Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Works to control/prevent natural and manmade disasters.View source in them all the time, and nothing comes of it. However, getting mold in your mattress is an entirely different situation that can have much worse consequences than a simple mildew infestation.

One of the most common issues caused by mold inside your mattress is it makes your mattress stink. The musty smell of moldVerified Source Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Works to control/prevent natural and manmade disasters.View source is not a problem that can be solved with a little vinegar and baking soda if it gets into the interior of your mattress, however.

If this is the case, you will have a choice between sleeping on a smelly mattress every night or plunking down hundreds of dollars to replace the mattress. And this is the mildest problem that stems from mold infestation.

Mold can also have a serious impact on your healthVerified Source Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Works to control/prevent natural and manmade disasters.View source. If you have mold inside your mattress, you are, of course, sleeping on that mold every night. This means you’re exposed to whatever mold is in your mattress for hours a day.

This exposure can lead to serious allergy symptoms ranging from the standard stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing to more serious issues. Many hypoallergenic mattresses contain features that resist or repel mold spores simply because it can be a powerful irritant.

Certain types of mold can also be quite toxic. There are several species of toxic molds that can get into mattresses and release spores that cause much more severe symptoms.

Some of these spores can even cause trouble breathing and death in individuals with asthma and other lung issues. This is why it’s so vital to keep mold out of your mattress – you never know if it’s harmless mildew or toxic black mold. Both can wind up in your mattress.

SEE ALSO: Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers

Protecting Yourself from Mold

When browsing mattresses, remember that adequate airflow is one of the best ways to keep mold spores from settling and growing. Many of the best cooling mattresses are also mold-resistant, especially if they have cooling fusions that double as antimicrobial. Aside from getting a mold-resistant mattress, there are a few other precautions you can take to keep your existing mattress free from mold.

One of the best things you can do for your mattress is to invest in an impermeable mattress protector. Mattress protectors keep moisture out of your mattress. This makes it impossible for mold to grow, as it cannot thrive in a dry environment.

You also want to be careful of how you clean your mattress. When possible, you want to avoid getting the mattress wet, as lingering moisture from cleaners can increase the risk of mold growth. For maximum safety, it’s best to freshen up the mattress with baking soda to eliminate any odors of sweat, and use a protector to keep out not just mold but spilled liquids and such that can leave stains.

It’s also key to put your mattress on a base that allows air to circulate underneath it. This can be anything from a platform bed to a mattress foundation and bed frame combination or even an adjustable bed, as many of them are made with channels for circulation.

Regardless of how you do it, keeping air flowing under the bottom of your mattress can help keep it free from moisture and mold, as can choosing a mattress material that fights microbial growth to keep your mattress mold-free. This is why it’s important to not keep your mattress on the floor permanently, especially if you live in a damp and warm climate.

And if you live in a humid climate, you may want to consider an air purifier or a dehumidifier for your bedroom. An air purifier won’t stop mold from growing. However, the benefits of an air purifier include how it can catch free-floating mold spores that might otherwise settle around your bedroom.

And as the name suggests, a dehumidifier makes a home less damp, which is a necessary condition for mold to grow. If you live in a soggy climate, a dehumidifier can be a necessity for home comfort.

How Do I Know if I Have Mold in My Mattress?

If you suspect that you may have a moldy mattress, there are a few signs that you can look out for:

1. Visible Mold: The most obvious sign of a moldy mattress is visible mold growth on the surface of the mattress. Look for dark spots or patches on the surface of the mattress, or along the seams or edges. Particularly spots that look like they are growing, as a standard stain won’t spread like that. Even mold inside the mattress can cause discoloration on the surface.
2. Unpleasant Odor: Mold has a distinct musty smell that is often described as earthy or damp. If your mattress has an unpleasant odor that doesn’t go away even after cleaning or airing out, it may be a sign of mold growth.
3. Allergies or Respiratory Issues: Exposure to mold can cause allergic reactions or respiratory problems in some people. If you experience symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, sneezing, or itchy eyes while in bed, it may be a sign that your mattress has mold.
4. Water Damage: If your mattress has been exposed to water or moisture, it may be at risk of developing mold. Look for signs of water damage, such as stains, discoloration, or a musty smell. It’s often best to toss a mattress that’s been exposed to flooding and such, as the risk of mold is simply too high.

How to Choose the Best Mold-Resistant Mattress

There are a lot of different mattress types on the market nowadays that can resist mold and mildew buildup. But not all of them can resist it equally, and not all of them are equally comfortable for every sleeper.

This means you’ll need to not only find one of the best mattresses that can fight microbial growth of all kinds, but you also want to find a mattress type that can offer you the best comfort to help you achieve ideal sleep.

Ideal Mattress Materials for Mold-Resistant Mattress

Many mattress materials on the market today are designed to resist mold. However, they have different levels of talent when it comes to keeping mold at bay.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a special type of flexible polyurethane foam that was originally invented to cushion NASA pilots during high-speed flights. Nowadays, memory foam most commonly appears in mattresses. This type of foam is decently durable, highly adaptable, and very affordable. But does a memory foam mattress stand up against mold and mildew?

Memory foam does have some ability to fight mold and mildew buildup. This is especially true of modern memory foam, which is often injected with plant materials or minerals that make it more difficult for mold to gain a foothold in your mattress. Copper is one common mineral infusion, and there are also graphite-infused mattresses.

If you are getting a plant-based or mineral-infused memory foam mattress, you should be perfectly safe from mold. However, if you just grab a cheap plain memory foam mattress, it may not feature mold-resistant enhancements and may be more susceptible to being colonized by mold.

That being said, memory foam is still perfectly safe from mold as long as you keep it underneath an impermeable mattress protector. Memory foam might not be as mold-resistant as its latex counterpart. But it is highly adaptable. It can take your shape in a way that no other mattress material can, establishing many of the best mattresses for pressure points.

On top of that, memory foam mattresses are comparatively durable because their base foam will break down slower than a coil support layer. Memory foam is also one of the most affordable mattresses for the money on the market.

In fact, when you combine its enhanced durability with its comparatively low price tag, it’s actually the most affordable mattress type on the market on average. Many qualify as some of the best mattresses under $1000. This may make memory foam the perfect choice for many people, despite its increased susceptibility to mold.

Latex Foam

Of all the mattress foams out there, natural latex is the best mold-resistant one. Natural latex comes from the sap of the rubber tree and is a naturally hostile environment to all kinds of microbes, including dust mites, bacteria, and mold and mildew. Microbial organisms have a very hard time colonizing rubber, which is why a latex mattress is much more resistant to mold buildup than memory foam.

Natural latex isn’t just naturally resistant to mold and mildew. It’s also naturally comfortable, especially for certain types of sleepers. For instance, natural latex is a wonderful option for hot sleepers. Its considered one of the most comfortable mattresses because it breathes to push hot air out of the bed and pull cool air in.

Natural latex is also extremely responsive in a way that memory foam is not. Whereas memory foam may take forever to bounce back when you roll away, natural or organic latex mattresses immediately spring back into place as soon as you move. This means those who like to toss and turn will enjoy naturally text from much more than memory foam.

Latex is also a lot more buoyant than memory foam, which means that if you don’t like the feeling of sinking into your mattress, latex could be the best option for you. This is especially true of those who may need a little more support, such as stomach sleepers and heavier sleepers.

The main problem with latex foam is that it can cause an allergic reaction in people with latex allergies. Even with several layers of textiles between you and the latex, there is always the possibility for latex exposure. So if you have a latex allergy, it’s better to avoid a latex mattress.

Latex is also very expensive initially. While its material establishes many of the most durable mattresses, and this high-value durability can offset much of its cost in the long run, latex mattresses have the highest initial price of any mattress type, on average. This can put them out of reach for some shoppers.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses can be more or less mold-resistant, depending on how they’re constructed. All hybrid mattresses feature a support core made of pocketed coils and at least two layers of comfort foam on top. This foam can be memory foam or natural latex, which can impact your hybrid mattress’s resistance to mold and mildew.

Of course, the coil support layer will resist mold buildup regardless of what’s on top of it because it is not really possible for mold to colonize stainless steel. However, if you have memory foam on top of your pocketed coil support layer, your hybrid mattress will be slightly more likely to develop mold than a latex hybrid mattress.

The combination of natural latex foam and breathable pocketed coils makes latex hybrid mattresses some of the most mold-resistant mattresses in existence. See also our guide to latex vs hybrid mattresses.

This isn’t the only reason to purchase a hybrid mattress. Hybrids are also extremely comfortable and accommodating to just about all types of sleepers.

They are cooling for hot sleepers, responsive for active sleepers, adaptable for sleepers who need lots of pressure relief, and supportive for optimal spinal alignment. This makes hybrids potentially the best mattress type for almost everyone.

The main problem with hybrid mattresses is their price tag. Hybrid mattresses have coils that break down faster than base foam. This means your hybrid mattress will start to sag and develop soft spots before most all-foam mattresses will.

When you combine that with the fact that the average hybrid is almost as expensive as the average latex mattress, this makes hybrids the most expensive mattress type over time. You will be paying less for them upfront than latex, but you will be paying to replace them more often.

Innerspring

When it comes to resisting mold, innerspring mattresses are fantastic. Their open coil support cores can circulate air to prevent mold from ever gaining a foothold inside your mattress. Many innerspring mattresses also feature comfort layers of mold-resistant materials like cotton or wool.

The bad news is that this mattress type might be resistant to mold, but it is not the greatest in just about any other department. Traditional innerspring mattresses have a lot of problems, which often mean you should spring for a different mattress type despite their high resistance to mold.

The biggest problem with these mattresses is the fact that they are not very contouring. Open coils are networked together, meaning they cannot move independently of one another. This means that innerspring mattresses tend to sag under your heavier parts rather than contouring to your body.

These mattresses also wear out much faster than any other mattress type, thanks to their open coil support cores. What’s even worse is that the unencased coils also rub up against each other inside your mattress, which can cause squeaking and creaking noises almost immediately.

Not to mention the fact that open coils also amplify and transfer motion all over the bed. Due to all of these issues, it is much better to avoid classic innerspring mattresses despite their high mold resistance. However, there are modern innerspring mattresses with designs that address these shortcomings.

Ideal Mattress Firmness for Mold-Resistant Mattress

Your mattress firmness has much less to do with its mold resistance than its material. While firmness may not have a lot to do with mold resistance, it has everything to do with comfort.

Getting the wrong mattress firmness is one of the worst mistakes you can make when buying a mattress. A too-soft or too-firm mattress will make it difficult to sleep well, defeating the whole point of having a good mattress. This is why you need to think about firmness, no matter what other mattress features you’re looking for.

Mattress firmness is measured on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the firmest. In reality, you won’t find mattresses that are firmer than about an eight or softer than about a three because there is no market for these types of mattresses. We have a number of guides that compare different mattress firmnesses and who they suit:

• Soft vs. Medium Mattresses
• Firm vs. Soft Mattresses
• Firm vs. Medium Mattresses

No matter what firmness level you need, everyone needs some amount of both support and pressure relief. The exact mix of support and pressure relief you need is determined by your sleep position and, to a lesser extent, your body weight.

Sleep Position

Your sleep position is the main determinant of your firmness needs. It decides how your body contacts the bed, where your pressure points are, and how your spine needs to line up. This means your sleep position, above all else, determines your firmness level.

“One of the underlying causes for sleep disturbances at night is a poor sleep posture,” says Dr. Santhi. “This can often result from a sagging mattress or one that is too firm, which can exacerbate joint and muscle pain. A good mattress is one that support one’s lying posture in a way that allows for muscle recovery during sleep.”

“So side sleepers require the soft mattress while stomach sleepers do better with a firm mattress. Our body type can also play a role in determining how beneficial a mattress is for our sleep. Generally, petite sleepers benefit from a soft to medium mattress as they sink less when lying down. In contrast, heavier built sleepers would require a mattress that is medium or medium-firm.”

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers need a combination of lift and support to help them deal with two separate problems stemming from incorrect firmness. When you sleep on your back, you can sink into the mattress if it’s too soft. This bends your body forward and leaves you sleeping in a hunched position.

Conversely, if your mattress is too firm, it can allow your lumbar region to collapse onto the bed. This also leaves you sleeping in a hunched position and can cause lower back pain. The best mattresses for back sleepers are neither too cushy nor too hard.

This means a medium-firm mattress (6 of 10) is the best firmness for back sleepers. Such a mattress for back-sleeping because it offers the correct mix of contouring and support to keep your body lifted and adapt itself to the shape of your spine to ensure it is aligned.

Combo Sleepers

Combo sleepers don’t have a strong sleep position preference. Rather, they may choose any sleep position at any point during the night. This means they need extremely versatile mattresses for combo sleeping that can offer comfort in every sleep position without being made specifically for one.

Typically, medium mattresses (5 of 10) our best for combo sleepers because they offer an even balance between pressure relief and support that can accommodate side sleeping, stomach sleeping, and everything in between.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers tend to need the softest mattresses. When you sleep on your side, your body weight presses your hip and shoulder joints into the bed. This can lead to pain in your pressure points if your bed is too firm to absorb the pressure from your body weight.

This means medium-soft (4 of 10) mattresses are typically best for side sleepers, with medium mattresses excellent for those who enjoy a touch more support or plan to share the bed. These mattresses for side sleeping absorb lots of pressure to ensure you don’t wake up with pain in your hip or shoulder joints.

For even more pressure relief, you can go down to a soft mattress (3 of 10). These mattresses can hug the body, particularly if they’re cloud mattresses with a comfy mix of cooling, cushion, and support features.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers need the firmest mattresses of all sleep styles. Sleeping on your stomach allows your pelvis to sink into the bed. This can overarch the spine in your lumbar region and lead to lower back pain. To counter this, stomach sleepers typically need a firm mattress (7 of 10).

An extra firm mattress offers sufficient support to keep the pelvis lifted and the spine aligned when you sleep on your front. For even better spinal alignment, consider combining your mattress for stomach sleeping with a flat pillow or no pillow at all.

Body Type

Your body type is not the main determinant of your firmness needs, but it can have an impact under certain circumstances. If you fall into what the mattress industry has deemed the average human weight range, then you don’t need to worry about how your body weight impacts your firmness needs because it doesn’t.

However, if you weigh less than 130 or more than 230 pounds, you’ll need to take your weight into account when choosing a mattress firmness.

Petite Sleepers

Petite sleepers weigh less than 130 pounds. If you fall into this category, then you may not get enough compression out of a mattress that matches your sleep style. For instance, petite back sleepers might not get as much contouring out of their medium-firm mattresses as someone who weighs more.

This means a medium-firm mattress is too firm for a petite back sleeper, most of the time. Petite back sleepers should choose medium mattresses. Likewise, most petite sleepers should go down a firmness level from the one that corresponds to their sleep position. This ensures a mattress for lightweight sleepers gives enough pressure relief.

Plus-Size Sleepers

Plus size sleepers weigh more than 230 pounds and tend to have the opposite problem as petite slippers. Plus-size sleepers often over-compress their beds and have problems with spinal misalignment because they get insufficient support.

This means plus-size sleepers should do the opposite of petite sleepers and choose mattresses for heavy people that are firmer than the ones that would normally go with their sleep positions. This means, for example, plus-size side sleepers might consider going up from a medium-soft to a medium mattress to get enough support.

Choosing the Right Mattress Size

FAQs

Is it that bad to have mold in my mattress?

It’s very bad to have mold in your mattress. The absolute best-case scenario is that the mold stinks and makes your bed and even your whole bedroom smell bad. Such a smell can make it difficult to get comfortable and relax, throwing off a sleep schedule. But there are a lot of worse ways that mold can harm you.

For instance, many mold species trigger allergy symptoms in a large swath of the population. That means if you’re sleeping on a moldy mattress, it could be the main or even only allergy trigger you’re regularly exposed to. Not to mention the worst-case scenario for a moldy mattress: toxic mold. Toxic mold growing in your mattress or anywhere else is downright dangerous.

Toxic mold spores can cause everything from nausea to vomiting to migraines and even trouble breathing. If toxic mold triggers an asthma attack, it can even lead to death. Since it can be tough for untrained people to tell which species of mold are harmless and which are toxic, you want to keep all mold out of your mattress and everywhere else in your home.

What is the best mattress material for fighting mold?

The best mattress material for fighting mold is latex. Latex is naturally mold-resistant and will keep mold from growing and just about all circumstances. It’s breathable to circulate dry air throughout its structure to create an environment that’s more hostile towards mold growth. And it’s also naturally antimicrobial, so mold can’t grow on it, even if it’s wet.

Memory foam is also quite mold-resistant, though not as much as latex. The best memory foams for resisting mold growth are plant-based memory foam and memory foam infused with minerals like copper or graphite.

Can leaving my mattress on the floor cause it to develop mold?

Leaving a mattress on the floor can result in mold growth. When you leave your mattress on the floor, you eliminate all the air circulation underneath it. This makes a floor mattress much more susceptible to moisture buildup, which is a key ingredient for mold growth.

Not to mention the fact that spills, mopping, and other wet floor scenarios can also greatly accelerate the rate at which your mattress accumulates moisture. This means one of the best ways to protect your mattress from mold is to keep it on a bed frame or other structure that allows air circulation underneath it.

Will a mattress protector keep my mattress free of mold?

Mattress protectors can go a long way toward keeping your mattress free of mold. Mattress protectors are waterproof. This means they will ensure that none of your sweat or spills get down into the mattress and allow mold to grow.

They will also keep the ambient humidity from penetrating your mattress. Even if you have a mold-resistant mattress type, such as latex or memory foam, you still need a mattress protector to ensure maximum durability and protection from mold exposure.

If my mattress gets mold, what should I do?

If your mattress has mold on its surface, you can clean it by sprinkling it with baking soda, allowing the baking soda to dry, and then vacuuming it off the surface of the mattress. This will help kill the mold by absorbing it and allowing the vacuum to suck it away. However, you do take the risk that the mold has penetrated the surface and isn’t so easily removed.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to keep a mattress that has mold growing inside it. If you open up the cover and find that mold has penetrated into the interior, the only thing you can do is throw the mattress out.

Can air mattresses get moldy?

Yes, air mattresses can get moldy, just like any other type of mattress. Mold can grow on air mattresses when they are exposed to moisture, such as from sweat, spills, or humidity in the air. If an air mattress is not properly cleaned and dried after use, mold can start to grow on the surface, which can lead to unpleasant odors and potential health issues.

To prevent mold growth on an air mattress, it is important to clean and dry it thoroughly after each use. This can be done by wiping down the surface with a mild cleaning solution and allowing it to air dry completely before storing it away. You may also want to find and repair holes in an air mattress without using water to find a puncture, as is common.

Bottom Line

It’s extremely important to keep mold out of your mattress, and one of the best ways you can do that is by getting a mattress that can resist mold growth on its own and pairing it with an impermeable mattress protector to ensure you never have to deal with this disgusting and even potentially dangerous problem.

Dr. Burns tests each mattress at eachnight’s facility to make sure the recommendations are based on real, expert reviews.