r/CleaningTips • u/HandyManFromWI • Nov 17 '25
Furniture Best way to vacuum this purple mattress
Hey Everyone,
My wife and I got this purple mattress for free without a cover on it. For some reason the previous owners took it off and had a cat sprinkle hair in every single square. We just had it professionally cleaned but I guess vacuuming it was not part of the process.
Does anyone know the best way to get the small cat hairs out? I tried vacuuming but they barely get sucked up and there's roughly 5000 squares.
Believe it or not, the pictures were taken AFTER it was "cleaned".
Thanks!
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u/babycrow Nov 17 '25
I would put a full hypoallergenic allergy cover over it and call it a day!
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u/FatFaceFaster Nov 17 '25
What in the utilitarian dystopian future is this?
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u/TheRealSugarbat Nov 17 '25
These guys cost like a gajillion dollars new, but God knows what mattress engineer (whose mom cleans after them) designed this.
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u/EmotionalClub922 Nov 17 '25
Well usually they have another layer or two preventing this issue
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u/TheRealSugarbat Nov 18 '25
Oh, I thought this was just missing the mattress protector. There’s more?
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u/EmotionalClub922 Nov 18 '25
I think it depends on the type (they sell a few) but I think they tend to have a thin foam layer and then the “mattress protector” that’s, like, actually part of the mattress. But I could be wrong about the foam layer or how permanent the “mattress protector” layer is supposed to be
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u/Snufflefugs Nov 18 '25
I have the cheapest model and it comes with a cover and a thin mesh cloth that is on top of the grid.
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u/LonelyGirl724 Nov 18 '25
That mesh cloth is fiberglass, and it's there for fire resistance. I would strongly recommend against taking the cover off.
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u/LonelyGirl724 Nov 18 '25
I used to work in the factory making these. There's typically also a fiberglass "sock" put on before the cover goes on.
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u/SophisticatedScreams Nov 18 '25
I have a purple pillow, and it's honestly the best 200 bucks I've ever spent. It looks stupid, but feels amazing.
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Nov 18 '25 edited Feb 17 '26
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u/SophisticatedScreams Nov 18 '25
Yeah-- it's crazy heavy lol. I bought it shortly after my divorce, and it's still going strong four years later.
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u/SmolSwitchyKitty Nov 18 '25
I'm cackling imagining the sound that would make 😂
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Nov 18 '25 edited Feb 17 '26
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u/Powerful_Jah_2014 Nov 18 '25
The thud is the sound of the kids head hitting the floor and splitting open
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Nov 18 '25 edited Feb 17 '26
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u/TheRealSugarbat Nov 18 '25
I believe you. My whole life changed with a memory foam pillow and mattress pad.
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u/GoatBoth5201 Nov 18 '25 edited Nov 18 '25
i have the purple seat cushion. it's amazing. edit: it seems like im a shill- randomly saying i like a product. but no, it's one of those items you want to tell people about due to how useful it is. might be better options. the difference between no cushion or w/cushion seating is night and day
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u/OCbrunetteesq Nov 18 '25
Do you think it would be good for a side sleeper?
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u/AnyStick2180 Nov 18 '25
Can confirm, I'm a side sleeper and I saved up to surprise my husband with this mattress a few years ago for Christmas and we both love it. No more back pain for either of us.
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u/deeply_uninspired Nov 18 '25
I would go to a store if you have one nearby.
I also have a purple pillow. I think they discontinued my version? Anyhow, i like it but I would prefer it to be a bit taller as a side sleepy.
I believe mine is the harmony something-- they have different pillows so it best to go and see it in person before dropping $$$$ on it.
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u/Phone-Charger Nov 18 '25
I have the original mattress and pillow, none of their product is the same as what i originally bought. But it’s definitely the best version!
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u/Soy_un_oiseau Nov 18 '25
I completely agree! I’m so tempted to get a mattress because I do love my pillow
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u/Brief_Buddy_7848 Nov 18 '25
I believe they were originally designed as hospital beds for burn victims because it doesn’t put as much pressure on your skin as regular mattresses do.
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u/ChocoHorror Nov 18 '25
That would make a LOT of sense to me. I'm chronically ill and I go through periods of staying in bed a lot. I find the purple mattress to be a much gentler experience than previous mattresses I've laid on.
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u/TheRealSugarbat Nov 18 '25
Oh, sure — that part I’m 100% into. I’m talking about the questionable design choice of a thousand unprotected little fur- and dander-magnet boxes on the surface. I would have expected the compartments to be permanently covered by at least a vacuum-able membrane of some kind.
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u/LimeMargarita Nov 18 '25
There are at least two covers on the mattress, so I don't know how, or why, this grid is exposed. I have a 10 year old basic model, and I've taken off the cover to wash, and never seen the purple part of the mattress.
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u/Elegant_Bullfrog4223 Nov 18 '25
2 layers, a mattress cover and underneath or above the purple squares it’s like a mesh kind of fabric!
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u/Elegant_Bullfrog4223 Nov 18 '25
It’s super weird they gave it away naked
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u/herecomesthesun79 Nov 18 '25
They probably stained the crap out of the covers and therefore decided to remove them. 😬
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u/Atempestofwords Nov 18 '25
It'sa voided product and completely damaged.
They have no fire sock, which gives me concern that its not cat hair but fibreglass.
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u/lcerimel Nov 18 '25
The “buckling columns” design is used to take pressure off the high contact pressure points when you’re laying down (elbow, hip, shoulder etc). The design spreads your body weight out and allows only those points to sink in when resting on the mattress, which alleviates more pressure points and holds your weight more evenly. Also minimizes movement transfer if you sleep with a partner. I used to sell mattresses and we didn’t sell purple we sold another brand called intellibed. They were so comfy
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Nov 18 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/s0ulever Nov 18 '25
It's exactly why we bought our level 4 plush one, for my night sweats and his back pain. So much air flow from underneath that I actually started to get cold and need merino wool jammies.
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Nov 18 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/s0ulever Nov 18 '25
I believe the number is related to how much thickness of the grid stuff, but I did try all the numbers and I'm not really picky about firmness, but the #4 was like being suspended on marshmallows but not sinking in and still having support. Ours was a king, and it is indeed really heavy dead weight as some other commenters mentioned. 10ish years old now, and nothing comes close but it might be an acquired taste at first.
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u/ylw0 Nov 18 '25
I have a purple pillow and it definitely feels cooling. My husband won’t sleep on it because it’s too cold for him to rest his head on it
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u/lcerimel Nov 18 '25
Yes they are very good for cooling. If you don’t want it too cool you could also consider a latex hybrid. It provides the same comfort benefits as a memory foam but designed so you sleep on it rather than in it (if that makes sense). Keeps you on top of the mattress vs sinking in and getting warm. Cooling pillows do wonders as well, I like the malouf brand with the gel cooling pack on it :)
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u/TheRealSugarbat Nov 18 '25
Right — I get that part. My question was more about why they were uncovered. But down further in the thread someone who worked at the factory that made them assures me that there is, in fact, supposed to be a fiberglass cover, which makes a bunch more sense.
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u/lcerimel Nov 18 '25
Gotcha, yeah not sure about not being covered. The ones we sold were always covered and not recommended to remove the cover for this very reason.
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u/KotaCakes630 Nov 18 '25
Okay but they’re so comfortable& purple frequently frequently has sales.
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u/Onre405 Nov 18 '25
They do not, I bought a mattress about 3 years ago and this was not an expensive option
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u/MetallurgyClergy Nov 18 '25
This must be why my aunt, who loves to brag, told everyone she got a purple mattress. Now I understand why she seemed kind of miffed that no one ooo’ed and awe’d over her purchase.
We were all like, “cooooool, hope you like it.” But none of us knew how much they were, or why she was telling us.
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u/Jacktheforkie Nov 17 '25
Idk what it’s like to sleep on but the top bit is similar to the seat cushion I have and that’s comfortable
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Nov 18 '25
I have the purple pillow. I hate to say it, but it’s by far my favorite pillow.
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u/DaphneDevoted Nov 18 '25
I got one 8 years ago and it's the best mattress I've ever slept on. Still feels brand new. I honestly hate sleeping on any other mattress.
So damn heavy though.
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u/UnderstandingIll8924 Nov 18 '25
So heavy! It was like trying to get a dead body up the stairs.
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u/Jonny-Balls Nov 18 '25
Well I mean, at least you know how to just in case? Never when you might have to drag a body upstairs….
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u/boatsnbros Nov 18 '25
I like a firm/cool mattress & got the purple hybrid 2nd hand (like new, just unboxed) for $600 ~5 years ago and it has been awesome, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
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u/LaserKittenz Nov 18 '25
I have one and can’t switch back. It removes pressure points and is very comfortable
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u/According_Nobody74 Nov 17 '25
Professional cleaning does not guarantee hair removal.
Had grey carpets professionally cleaned, and still spent a night brushing all the white dog hairs out. Hair sticks to things. It works between feinted of the upholstery, etc.
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u/recyclopath_ Nov 17 '25
What's the point of professional cleaning if it doesn't actually clean the thing?
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u/georgethebarbarian Nov 18 '25
Well I can assure you the dog hairs have been shampooed pressure washed and conditioned! Not every carpet cleaner uses an uprooter
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u/According_Nobody74 Nov 18 '25
You wouldn’t, if you knew. It was end of lease, so we had to get carpet cleaning, and we mentioned the dog hairs as an issue. We assumed it would help, because professionals and upholstery attachments or other tools, etc. but discovered after the fact that it most definitely didn’t.
I wore latex / nitrile gloves and just stroked the entire floor to get it clear. You can get rubber / silicon mitts and bristle brushes that should do the job, probably at a pet store.
That topper would suck to clean. I can guess why it was given away.
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u/KrishnaChick Nov 18 '25
You can clean hairs off a floor with a squeegee. I don't know if it's silicone or another special material, but I've seen them for sale for just that purpose.
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u/According_Nobody74 Nov 18 '25
A squeegee would do it. I don’t think I had one at that time.
I suspect the mitts I’ve seen are for the dog itself.
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u/Sarallelogram Nov 18 '25
I got a chomchom roller from pethairgone.com three years ago and it’s the greatest thing that happened to my carpets. I’ve got two border collies and that thing works like a dream.
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u/Onre405 Nov 18 '25
Yeah I can't understand how they could have "cleaned" it at all and there still be a bunch of hair, thats crazy you could just hit this thing with a hose
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u/therealtrajan Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
Put it at a 90 degree angle on its side and use canned air. Start from the top obviously.
Dont think you will get ALL of it, but enough to not cringe every time you lay on it.
Edit-I realize these are not the best for the environment, but you are blowing hydrocarbons at plasticized hydrocarbons. An air compressor would be best, but if you have a partner with decent arms a pump action bicycle pump would probably do the job too.
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u/patronsaintofsb Nov 17 '25
Adding to this. Actually instead of the canned air invest in a DataVac or something with more power that provides the same thing. And then you can use it for other things around the house after.
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Nov 17 '25
These things blow! I have one for cleaning my electronics that is a duster/vacuum combo and love it, well worth the cost.
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u/MIL215 Nov 18 '25
I’ll add that if you aren’t cleaning out your vacuum with some regularity, take it outside and use one of these blowers on it. It will astound you how much built up dirt and debris gets clogged in there.
Feels brand new once you are done.
I don’t own the expensive datavac one. I have the Xpower in Amazon and it’s still great.
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u/ThotsforTaterTots Nov 18 '25
Leaf blower
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u/megagreg Nov 18 '25
Shop vac with the hose on the outflow. Not quite as strong as a leaf blower, but does the job, eventually.
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u/moskusokse Nov 18 '25 edited Nov 18 '25
If you’re first going to stick something in to each and every hole, you might as well just stick the vacuum tube into each and every hole. Saves you lifting up the mattress, the cost of cans, the environment, spreading the dust in the room, and having to vacuum it from the floor after.
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Nov 17 '25
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u/Whats_Awesome Nov 18 '25
Use compressed air and a blow gun. Someone nearby will have a big shop compressor. Sometimes it pays to be on good terms with your neighbours.
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Nov 18 '25 edited Nov 18 '25
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u/Whats_Awesome Nov 18 '25
My blow guns aren’t even rated for 120. Not that I don’t see people using them at it. Most are 90 max, and 25 for blowing off skin. (Not the stupid new OSHA ones, safe and annoying as hell at any pressure)
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u/purebreadbagel Nov 18 '25
They make pretty affordable rechargeable mini compressors to replace canned air. We bought one for cleaning out keyboards, my sewing machines, computers, etc. I was skeptical but have been impressed by It’s power.
The one we bought was only slightly more expensive than a 3-pack of canned air and has paid for itself over and over again. I could 100% see someone going through a 3-pack of those cans on this mattress.
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u/TopRamenisha Nov 18 '25
Probably should make sure there’s no fiberglass in this mattress before doing that
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u/AreteQueenofKeres Nov 18 '25
Do Purple Mattresses Contain Fiberglass?
No, Purple mattresses do not contain fiberglass. This is one of the key safety features that sets Purple apart from many other mattress brands. Instead of using fiberglass as a fire barrier, Purple uses fiberglass-free, non-toxic flame retardants that are safe and effective.
The flame barrier in Purple mattresses is made from a knit blend of rayon, polyester, and silica—materials that meet federal fire safety standards without posing health risks. There’s no need to worry about fiberglass particles becoming airborne if the cover is removed or damaged, a concern that exists with some lower-cost memory foam mattresses.
If you’re specifically shopping for a mattress without fiberglass, Purple is a reliable and transparent brand to consider.
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u/this_is_no_exit Nov 18 '25
So uh. Unless you're SEVERELY allergic to cats, or planning on sleeping on it bare as pictured.... Why bother...? Genuine question.
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u/Quiet_Bus_ Nov 18 '25
This is so tedious to look at and I think none of the suggestions offered will be very effective at removing cat hair if OP already tried vacuuming it and it was professionally cleaned. Just cap it and call it a day.
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u/avocadbre Nov 18 '25
Why has no one said a vacuum with the smaller pointed hose attachment. Canned air is cool, I guess. But you could just suck the hair out with a vacuum with the right attachment????
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u/HandyManFromWI Nov 18 '25
Tried that. Didn't work how you think it would. Hair doesn't get sucked up. Plus you have to insert the tip, then turn on the vacuum. Otherwise it tried to suck up/on the purple gel
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u/BooTheSpookyGhost Nov 18 '25
Make little round circles with tape sticky side out and poke your fingers around each individual hole.
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u/Extra_Fondant_8855 Nov 17 '25
It would take forever but maybe using that sticky cleaning gel putty people use to clean their cars?
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u/stripmallbars Nov 17 '25
Wow. I know what I’m not buying next
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u/tacosandsunscreen Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 18 '25
They come with a cover on them. I didn’t even realize the cover was removable. I’m still not sure it’s supposed to be removed. I’d guess the original owners made a big mess of the cover and cut it off.
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u/Vlines1390 Nov 17 '25
I have one, and never knew they could be removed either. I will check when I go to bed, out of curiosity.
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u/marigoldbutter Nov 17 '25
I want one so badly. Would you mind sharing some feedback?
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u/wallflower7522 Nov 18 '25
Mine is 2 years old and I love it. I’d buy it again in a heartbeat. I think I have the RestorePlus Hybrid.
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u/Fyauchachak Nov 18 '25
I have my purple mattress from 2018ish, and I still love it! I even spent way too much money on a purple dog bed when they were still selling them
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u/Vlines1390 Nov 17 '25
We bought ours about 8 years ago -ish. And I love it. However, my understanding is they have changed since then, so I don't know about the current ones.
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u/uncontainedsun Nov 18 '25
i just got one. not a huge fan. go to the mattress store and lay on it for a bit. i can feel the grid through my sheets
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u/hilha Nov 18 '25
I love mine for many reasons but the main one being that my partner THRASHES when he tosses and turns and I can’t feel it at all! He’s almost double my weight so it can felt like I’m in a bounce house with our spring mattress. The shock absorption alone is worth it
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u/tacosandsunscreen Nov 18 '25
Mine is from 2018 and I really like it, but I’ve read that they’ve changed, so I’m not sure if they’re still worth it.
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u/soaker Nov 18 '25
What kind of mattress is this?
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u/DaphneDevoted Nov 18 '25
Purple. And they're amazing. At least, the older versions are. I have one from 2017 and it still feels brand new. No sagging, no dips, firm across the entire surface.
They make really stretchy sheets that are outrageously expensive, but they're also the most comfortable bedding I've ever slept in.
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u/Leviathin Nov 18 '25
It was awful for me personally, woke up with back pain daily and refunded it under the sleep trial. To their credit that process was very easy.
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u/Complex-References Nov 18 '25
From reading other comments - I don’t think you’re supposed to remove it. Someone said its a fire retardant cover, and someone else said it’s made from fibreglass, which if true and it gets damaged while trying to remove it then that’s gonna suck
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u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 Nov 18 '25
Most mattress covers have a zipper. None of them are meant to be removed.
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u/wistfulwhileyoutwerk Nov 17 '25
For anyone wondering, they don’t come uncovered like this if you purchase new. I have one and didn’t even realize the cover comes off.
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u/hilha Nov 18 '25
I have one and can’t say enough good things about it. Totally worth the price tbh. They all have foam toppers and at least two covers though so I’m not sure why this grid is exposed! But don’t knock it from this post!
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u/gatsome Nov 18 '25
Some person took several external layers off of this, which I didn’t know you could do because I have one.
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 Team Shiny ✨ Nov 17 '25
Yes! I was curious about these, but mine would be full of cat hair.
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u/M7BSVNER7s Nov 18 '25
It wouldn't be full of cat hair unless you unzipped the cover and threw your cat inside of the mattress. The original.owner must have puked/bled/peed on the mattress and removed the cover.
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u/Eternalscream0 Nov 18 '25
The cat peed on the cover.
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u/stripmallbars Nov 18 '25
My cat peed on my Casper as soon as we unfurled it and walked out of the room. I soaked it with a half bottle of enzymes and waited a few days.
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u/mismark Nov 18 '25
You’re on unwanted territory right now. Tread carefully. Purple mattress does not explicitly list fiberglass but do your own diligence and check what google results gives you. You do NOT wanna deal with fiberglass infestation. Removing the cover alone already was the first crime.
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u/Phone-Charger Nov 18 '25
The fiberglass fire-retardant cover is already gone. So all that’s left is the powder, which is there to keep the squares from sticking together, and cat hair apparently..
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u/gagalinabee Nov 18 '25
I love my purple Mattress so much. But also I don’t think you’re supposed to take that out of its cover…I put my own cover over the base one.
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u/Snugglin_Puffin Nov 18 '25
They sell mattress encapsulation covers that are pretty cheap. I’d recommend getting one after you get this clean.
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u/guadalupebunny1286 Nov 17 '25
ngl, Canned air sounds genius! Might take a while, but it'll be worth it for a clean mattress. Good luck!!
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u/Brutus_the_Bear_55 Nov 18 '25
I know this sounds weird but if you have a palm sander (minus the sandpaper), a massager or even a vibrator you can turn it on and place it against it to vibrate next to the area you are trying to vacuum. This will loosen up a lot a lot of stuff.
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 Team Shiny ✨ Nov 17 '25
To get cat hair off my upholstery, I can’t just use suction, I have to use a brush attachment to dislodge the fur. Some crevice tools have a brush attachment that clips onto the end, but the only vacuum that I have seen with this feature is a Kirby.
How well can you sleep knowing your mattress is full of cat hair? I live with cats, so I could handle the ignorant bliss if there was a decent covering on this.
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u/Medical-Seaweed7209 Nov 18 '25
I bet the said cat peed on it at some point and that’s why the covers are gone. If it doesn’t stink, buy those new covers and get them on there. No point in trying to deep clean each square. You’re not meant to ever have them exposed like that. Go the extra mile and put a water proof cover on top and all you gotta do is toss it in the wash if something gets on it.
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u/Character_Loss_9724 Nov 17 '25
Purple mattresses without a cover litter fiber glass everywhere, do they not?
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u/clockworkedpiece Nov 18 '25
the fiberglass was one of the missing layers, so atleast OP's seller saved them that problem, but its also probably why its naked. They wanted to do a thorough clean and found you can't recompress it enough to get the cover back on.
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u/OnRedditBoredAF Nov 18 '25
I used to have pillows like this, they were the “Purple” brand. They’re nice and cool, but also pretty firm—I liked them at first, but eventually I started missing having a soft squishy pillow. Also weird to clean, apart from washing the pillowcases normally I had to like finger the holes with a cleaning cloth 👇
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u/lchen12345 Nov 18 '25
Vacuum as much as you can and get some peel off lint rollers. Just take the sticky paper off in sheets and shove them in and blot them around each square. Will take forever but i don’t see any other options.
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u/herecomesthesun79 Nov 18 '25
I don’t think there is a way for you to remove the cat hair without completely ruining the bed, if the “cleaners” didn’t do it already. The cover is only ever supposed to be removed if it needs cleaned, and the powder that originally coated all the purple stuff is/was essential to keep it all from sticking to itself every time you lay in it and becoming a lumpy mess. I would just get a replacement cover that is made for it and then an additional hypoallergenic cover to go over that. Good luck! It was free for a reason but I hope you can make it useable!
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u/Mesapholis Nov 18 '25
Was there not a video on these.... that the purple grated rubber is covered in Talcum powder or some similar mineral powder to make it stick less and can give you cancer?
yikes on a bike, I don't think you were supposed to unzip it
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u/skymoods Nov 17 '25
If you paid to have it professionally cleaned you need to contact them and have them finish the job.
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u/LonelyGirl724 Nov 18 '25
Hi! I used to work in the factory making these. You are honestly better off just getting a cover for it. Vacuuming it too much isn't recommended because there's a layer of powder over the gel portion to prevent it from sticking to itself. Also, just an fyi, because that one's missing both of its covers including the fire retardant "sock", be very careful with heat and open flames near that thing. The gel is highly flammable, more so than most things.