How to Cut a Memory Foam Mattress
So you are considering buying a new mattress, but you first need to figure out what to do with the old one. What you need are some tips and tricks about upcycling your old mattress. This may either be because you don’t want to contribute to the mounting landfills throughout Australia and their contribution to climate change, or you simply want to create cost-free makeshift pillows, seat cushions, padding for a headboard, or a mattress topper.
Either way, we are here to teach you how to cut a memory foam mattress into a long-lasting DIY design, and all that with just a few tools, a steady hand, and our useful tips below.
Things You Will Need
Before diving into the whole process, make sure you gather the following equipment:
- Straightedge
- Measuring tape
- Permanent marker
- Kitchen or electric carving knife
- Protective gloves
Step One: Remove the Slipcover from Your Mattress
In order to cut your memory foam mattress precisely, you’ll have to remove its slipcover. Do keep the slipcover close as you may want to refit it for your new masterpiece.
Step Two: Measure and Mark the Ideal Cut
Determine the Dimensions
Once you decide whether your next project is a pillow or memory foam topper, use a tape measure to get their exact dimensions on height, width, and depth, and then add an extra 0.32 centimeters to cut along. If you are designing a mattress topper, make sure to cross-check the dimensions with your mattress, whereas, if you are making a pillow, take the measurements from your pillowcases.
Mark the Foam
Now that you have a tape measure, use a permanent marker to mark the foam with precise dots on the edges. This will assist in the drawing of precise cutting lines that lead you a step closer to finishing your project.
- Fixate the end of the measuring tape at one edge of the memory foam mattress and pull it out until you reach a specifically measured distance to draw the first dot.
- Pull the end of the measuring tape once again along the edge by as many centimeters as you want to cut out, and reposition its hook to mark another dot so that it runs parallel to the first one.
- Continue this process, making as many dots as necessary.
- Go over the dimensions with a fine-tooth comb as you want to make a perfectly straight line that matches the exact dimensions of either your pillowcases or memory foam mattress topper. As we already said, you might want to add at least 0.32 centimeters to your measurements as pieces of the memory foam might break off while you’re cutting.
Draw Cutting Lines
Before you draw the cutting lines with a permanent marker, make sure all the dots are precisely marked. Next, place your previously arranged straightedge on top of the foam, ensuring it follows the dots you already made, and draw your cutting lines.
Step Three: the Best Way to Cut Memory Foam
When cutting memory foam mattresses, you want to make sure it rests on a flat, sturdy surface.
- To make a smooth, fine cut, angle your kitchen or electric knife so that its blade is at 90-degrees, and then carefully cut along the drawn lines. While cutting, wear protective gloves to save you from any cuts.
- Remember that this is a crucial step because a single slip-up while cutting may actually cost you the entire mattress. This also means being careful not to apply too much pressure in order to prevent distortion.
Step Four: Trim off the Excess Memory Foam and Refit the Mattress Cover
Even though the look of your mattress is not that important since you are eventually going to cover it, trim off the excess material with either cloth scissors or a sharp knife.
Voila - now you’ve got an end product, so now it’s time to decide whether you want to restitch the old mattress cover or purchase a completely new one.
Final Takeaway
Instead of wasting money on new products, metamorphose your old memory foam mattress into necessary household items. We advise you to consider buying a high-quality mattress with the money you saved by doing it yourself, as these are usually a bit pricier.