How To Get Urine Out Of Mattress? Complete Step-by-Step Guide Update 11/2024

Everyone has or will have to deal with a urine-stained mattress at some point in their lives. Accidents happen, no matter who is responsible.

When mishaps occur, we urge you to clean up the mess as quickly as possible. It’s a bad idea to let urine build up in your mattress since it can cause a bad smell as well as the growth of mold. Basic household products can be used to counteract these negative effects. It’s easy to clean and sanitize a urine-soaked mattress with vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid detergent.

Four Ways to Tackle Accidents on a Mattress

Method 1: Best for Wet Stains

For recent accidents, this is the greatest strategy to utilize because it is rapid and effective. Now, let’s see how it’s done.

What you’ll want to bring:

  • Soak up any remaining liquid with paper towels
  • White vinegar distilled for its ability to degrade uric acid (a metabolic waste excreted in the urine) and to mask its odor.
  • Reducing urine odor or minimizing vinegar smell with your favorite essential oil (optional)
  • In order to remove any lingering odor, use baking soda to raise the pee.
  • An essential oil and vinegar spray bottle
  • Baking soda can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.
  1. Use paper towels to blot up as much pee as possible if the stain is still fresh. Avoid rubbing or wiping the damp area, as this could push the stain further into the fibers of your mattress and make it more difficult to remove. Also, replace soiled paper towels as soon as they become available.
  2. Using baking soda, apply a little coating to the affected region after the majority of the urine has been cleaned.
  3. Next, fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil if the vinegar smell is too overpowering for you.
  4. Make sure you don’t drown the pee stain with water. A few minutes of soaking in the vinegar is sufficient.
  5. When the vinegar has had a chance to sit for a while, use fresh paper towels to absorb any remaining moisture. Despite the fact that part of the baking soda will be washed away, it’s fine to do so.
  6. Allow the stain to settle for 18 hours after which you can repeat the process with more baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress to further refresh it. This phase may need a change in sleeping arrangements.
  7. After 18 hours, vacuum the top of your mattress multiple times to get rid of the baking soda residue.

Method 2: Best for Stubborn Stains

To get rid of stains and urine odors from your mattress, you may need to use washing detergent.
How to clean a mattress and get rid of bed bugs, urine and stains | TechRadar

What you’ll want to bring:

  • Extra moisture can be drained with the use of paper towels.
  • Distilled white vinegar can be used to remove uric acid and ammonia odors.
  • Disinfectant to further reduce the odor and acidity of urine.
  • White vinegar and washing detergent in a spray bottle.
  • Baking soda can be used to remove pee from the carpet.
  • The baking soda can be vacuumed away using a vacuum cleaner.

Afterwards, adhere to these five recommendations outlined below:

  1. Paper towels can be used to remove as much urine as possible if the stain is still fresh. The fresh urine stain should not be rubbed or wiped, as previously stated.
  2. Spray the afflicted area with white vinegar and let it rest for an hour before rinsing it off. Paper towels should be replaced one hour after they were used to remove any leftover moisture.
  3. To avoid discoloring your mattress, rinse off your spray bottle and fill it half way with a color-friendly liquid laundry detergent. Pour cold water into the bottle and gently swirl it to combine the two components. In order to get rid of the stain completely, you should avoid using warm water.
  4. Spray the urine stain with the solution and allow it to sit for an hour before vacuuming. Using paper towels, dab any remaining wetness after an hour.
  5. Baking soda can be applied generously to the afflicted area. Let it sit for at least eight hours before vacuuming it off.

Method 3: Best for Old Stains

A dismal yellow color is left behind when urine sets into the mattress’s fibers after it has dried. Stains like these require powerful oxidizing chemicals, like hydrogen peroxide. The chromophore—the portion of the molecule that absorbs visible light to create color—is broken down by hydrogen peroxide, which alters the chemical component of urine.

Despite its effectiveness as an antibacterial and stain remover, hydrogen peroxide is not recommended for use on mattresses that aren’t white because it can discolor the fabric. Additionally, it may result in a bumpy and worn surface on mattresses made of foam.

Because hydrogen peroxide solution is best suited for non-foam pillow tops and innerspring mattresses, those using memory foam, latex, hybrid, or foam pillow top mattresses should avoid using it.

What you’ll want to bring:

  • Using baking soda to remove the stain and the stench of dried urine.
  • Dissolve the discoloration and kill microorganisms using hydrogen peroxide.
  • Uric acid-penetrating and odor-neutralizing liquid dishwashing detergent
  • Dispensing device in the form of a spray bottle
  • Remove any remaining baking soda and solution residue by vacuuming.
  1. Using a dry toothbrush or a dry cloth, rub baking soda into the mattress’s fabric. To get a darker color, let baking soda to sit for a while. Baking soda that has turned dark indicates that urine has been absorbed into it.
  2. You can vacuum-dry it after it has darkened. To get the best results, finish this step until the baking soda is still white in appearance.
  3. Once the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish detergent are all mixed together in a bowl, the next step is to apply the solution. Spray a solution of the three ingredients into a spray bottle. In order to avoid messy foaming, we recommend combining the ingredients in a bowl first.
  4. Apply the cleaning solution on the urine stain in an even layer, but do not allow it to soak. Wait for the mixture to dry completely. It is possible to speed up the drying process by opening a window or using a fan.
    Vacuum up any residual residue after the mixture has dried.

Method 4: Best for Strong Smelling Stains

An harmful waste product produced by dehydration, bladder stones, infections, or other health issues, urine can have a high percentage of ammonia. A stronger ammonia smell may accompany pet-related spills.

The smell of ammonia lingers in the air and is strong enough to keep people awake at night. However, enzymatic cleaners were created to deal with just this problem.

Cleaners of this type include protease enzymes as well as bacteria that are safe and natural. Protein-based stains, such as urine, are broken down into minute particles by protease enzymes, which are then digested by natural microorganisms. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are released as a byproduct of the bacteria’s breakdown of urine.

Use a non-visible section of the mattress to test the effectiveness of enzymatic cleaners before putting the product to the problematic region. When using an enzyme cleaner, be sure to carefully follow the cleaning instructions that come with the product if you want to avoid discoloration.

How To Get Urine Smell Out Of A Mattress

Our step-by-step approach to cleaning a pee-stained mattress, including how to disinfect it and remove any odors or stains that may have remained, is provided below. Because the components we offer are common home products, you don’t have to run out at night to buy them.

clean urine mattress supplies

To begin, quickly remove all of the bedding and sheets from the bed.

remove urine mattress step 1

Remove everything from your mattress, including sheets, blankets, or comforters, and wash them in the washing machine as soon as you see the pee stain (double-check that your comforter is machine washable). As soon as possible is preferable. We recommend checking out our basic approach to remove yellow stains from bedding if the pee is well-established.

Step 2: Blot The Urine Area On Your Bed

remove urine mattress step 2

Remove any remaining liquid from the mattress by blotting it up with a cloth or paper towel. Do not rub, use a dab instead! That way, the stain doesn’t get pushed deeper into the mattress fibers.

Step 3: Spray Down Your Mattress

remove urine mattress step 3

Apply a liberal amount of vinegar to the urine-stained region. Straight vinegar, undiluted, is the best solution to deal with a strong urine stench, according to our advice. A 50-50 vinegar/water solution will do the trick if you don’t have any other ideas.

You risk ruining the foam in your mattress if you over-saturate your mattress with liquid, and you want it to dry quickly. Allow the vinegar to soak into the mattress fibers for 10-20 minutes to get rid of the urine odor.. Soak the vinegar with paper towels or a cloth after it has sat for a while (not the ones you originally used to clean up the extra pee, ew).

Step 4: Sprinkle Baking Soda Over The Area

remove urine mattress step 4

The vinegar smell should be removed as well as any lingering scents. It’s best to leave the baking soda in place for at least eight hours. If you want to be really cautious, you can even leave it overnight. To make up for not being able to sleep on it, simply cover the mattress with a fresh set of sheets and get back to work the next day.

Step 5: Vacuum Up The Baking Soda

remove urine mattress step 5

Vacuum up all the baking soda from your mattress after eight hours or so (or longer if you can). Make things easy on yourself by using the attachment piece that should have arrived with your vacuum or even a portable tiny vacuum. This isn’t a one-and-done situation, so walk over the surface numerous times. If you rush through this step, you run the risk of not removing all of the baking soda. And there you have it! It’s time to put the urination mishap behind us (until the next time).

How To Get Dry Pee Out Of A Mattress

Cleaning dried pee from a mattress requires the use of hydrogen peroxide in step one. Water and hydrogen peroxide can be used to dilute the solution, but it is not necessary.

Spray the afflicted region with hydrogen peroxide solution as the second step. Make sure you don’t miss any areas when you do this.

Blot and dab the hydrogen peroxide-sprayed area with a paper or cotton towel. Ensure that you’ve covered all the bases in this process.

Last but not least, the easiest part: step four. Let your mattress air dry after applying the solution. In terms of eliminating the odor of pee from a mattress, there are a few options. If you use a pleasant-smelling spray, the smell and stain will vanish.

Borax can be used as a second option for removing dried poop from a mattress. Because it’s hazardous, you’ll want to exercise caution when working with it.
Pre-wetting the stained area with a damp cloth is the first step before applying the borax. This is an important step, so take your time.

After dampening the area with your towel, put on a pair of gloves and sprinkle borax over the surface. Spread out a fresh, dry cloth over the mattress. As a result, the borax will transform into a paste.

Allow the paste you made on the mattress to dry by the natural course of air. You should avoid drying it with a hair dryer because it increases the risk of inhaling borax.

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining borax residue from your mattress after it has dried. Use a brush to remove any residual borax substance from the mattress if necessary.

How To Get Urine Out Of A Memory Foam Mattress?

Set sheets and bedding aside to be washed in the first step.

When the mattress is clean and dry, apply firm pressure to the problematic region by blotting the area with a large stack of paper towels. As soon as the paper towels become saturated, change them out to prevent further moisture buildup. Keep your hands away from the stain, since this will make it worse.

Step 3: Spray the urine-stained area with a white vinegar solution using a spray bottle. Step Two: Blot dry using the same way after one hour of letting it sit.

Step 4: Combine half water and half color-safe laundry detergent in a spray bottle. Make sure to follow the same steps as in Step Three.

Step 5: Apply a thick layer of baking soda to the treated area and allow it to sit for up to a full day. Once it has dried, simply vacuum it up.

How To Get Urine Out Of A Futon Mattress?

The futon mattress should be blotted as quickly as possible to remove as much moisture as possible.

Using a spray bottle, mist the afflicted area with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. If necessary, repeat.

Wipe off any vinegar or rubbing alcohol residue with a moist rag.

Sprinkle baking soda over the surface and let it dry for several hours. Once the baking soda has absorbed all of the moisture, use a vacuum to remove it.

How To Get Dog And Cat Pee Out Of A Mattress

Because dog pee smells stronger than human urine, you’ll want to learn how to remove it from mattresses if one of your furry companions is to blame for the damp area. This is due to the higher concentration of alkaline and acidic chemicals in pet urine. To ensure that the pee and its smell are gone for good, you’ll need to do a few additional actions.

What You’ll Need To Clean Up Pet/Animal Urine:

  • Sodium bicarbonate of soda
  • Liquid detergent for vacuum cleaners containing 8 oz of hydrogen peroxide (a few drops)
  • Lemon water and aromatic oils are optional.
  • Rubber gloves, a blow dryer, or a standing fan can be used as an alternative.

Step 1: Throw Your Linens In The Wash

You’ll want to wash your sheets and blankets as soon as possible to prevent urine from staining or damaging your linens, like human pee.

Step 2: Sprinkle baking soda, Vacuum, Repeat

When dealing with pee from a pet, you should first apply baking soda to the urine location before attempting to remove it from the bedding. Why? The idea is to remove all of the pee off the bed first, so that it can be cleaned. When the baking soda begins to turn a darker shade, vacuum it up immediately. Continue to do this until the baking soda remains white in color.

Step 3: Spray Down The Spot

Add some liquid detergent and some more baking soda to an 8-ounce bottle and spray it on the stain. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or lemon water to give your mattress a nicer scent as an additional option.

Apply a thick layer of your mixture to the location, but don’t totally saturate the mattress. You should also make sure that everything is level.

Step 4: Vacuum The Residue

After the sprayed-down patch has completely dried, vacuum up the remaining residue and your mattress should look and smell like it did before the incident.

If you’re seeking to remove dried pee from while you were out of town or asleep at night, here are the procedures to take. Both dry animal pee and dried human urine will function with this device.

Future Prevention

There are actions you can take to avoid another major clean-up in the future, whether it was your child’s bedwetting or that of a loved one. You may get a mattress protector that’s soft, silent, and keeps your mattress looking and smelling great. Pillows and duvets, for example, can be packed in a protective bag. Additionally, sealed coverings shield you from allergens such as dust mites.

A waterproof mattress cover is another option to think about. Besides protecting your mattress from your child or animal’s urine disasters, they’ll also lengthen the life of your mattress and save your guarantee. On Amazon, there are a few popular protectors that won’t cost you a fortune.

In the event that your dog or cat peed on your mattress, you’ll want to prevent it from happening again. It’s common for dogs to return to a specific location to establish their territory because of their excellent sense of smell (a.k.a. continue peeing).

Keep an eye out for lingering odors and use commercial dog repellents or a DIY cure like cayenne pepper to help keep your pets away from you. When your dog pees there again, use the repellant or sprinkle cayenne pepper on the area. Do not be alarmed; the cayenne pepper will not harm your pet. It has a certain component in it that makes their skin slightly itchy, but it does not do any harm. It’s like wearing a sock you didn’t want to wear because your grandmother knitted it.

If your inebriated friend was at blame, our best suggestion is to slow down and take it easy.

Important Things To Remember

A few things you should bear in mind when cleaning up after a cat or a four-year-old who had an accident are:

Act Fast

Even a small amount of urine can produce an unpleasant odor or stain if it lingers around for an extended period of time. For those who see pee immediately away, don’t put it off since you’re not in the mood. Start cleaning as soon as possible.

In that case, you’ll just have to spend a little more time and attention when cleaning your mattress if the stain occurred while you were away and sat for a few days.

Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals

It’s not a good idea to use a generic store brand carpet cleaner to remove pee from a mattress. You don’t want to sleep on a mattress that’s contaminated with chemicals that are dangerous to humans and animals. Even if your pet doesn’t like the smell of bleach or disinfectant, it may be too much for them to tolerate.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning urine from mattresses may be a frustrating experience, regardless of whether you’re dealing with a cherished pet or a young child who is bedwetting. The good news is that getting the stain and odor out of your mattress doesn’t have to be a chore. Be proactive and avoid using harsh chemicals at all costs if you ever find yourself in this situation. You’ll both be saving your health and your mattress. Baking soda, detergent, a vacuum, and vinegar are all you’ll need most of the time, which is a blessing.

FAQs

How do you get urine stains out of bedding?

It’s considerably easier to get pee stains out of your sheets, blankets, and comforter than it is to get urine stains off of your bed. Remove your bedding and place it in the washing machine with one cup of distilled white vinegar after a urine mishap. Don’t put any laundry detergent in your machine.

Using hot water to wash sheets and blankets might cause urine to harden, so only use cold water. Take a look at the bedding to see if the filthy patches have been removed. If this is the case, simply rewash the bedding in the usual manner. To get rid of the pee stains, soak your sheets and blankets overnight in a mixture of cold water and white vinegar.

How do you prevent urine accidents from reaching your mattress?

Waterproof mattress coverings are a great technique to prevent urine stains from occurring in the first place. They also require very little upkeep. Put your mattress protector in the washing machine with any other contaminated linen when an accident happens. Dust mites, mold, and germs can all be kept at bay with a proper mattress covering.

Do air fresheners get rid of urine smell?

It’s not possible to remove urine with air fresheners. Because of this, they won’t permanently remove the urine odor from your mattress. Lifting and removing the stain will get rid of the odor for good. A cleaning substance such as vinegar, baking soda, a protease enzyme, or hydrogen peroxide will be needed for this task. We recommend using one of the procedures above depending on the cause and age of your urine stain.

Can urine on a mattress cause mold?

The salt included in uric acid can be left behind if the urine is not thoroughly eliminated. In humid or wet climates, this salt can help with night sweats and other moisture-related problems. Moisture can reactivate the damaged region, resulting in unpleasant odors and the growth of bacteria-causing mold.

Are enzymatic cleaners safe?

No harmful chemicals are used in the majority of enzymatic cleaners. The enzymes in enzymatic cleaning products accelerate the chemical reactions required to remove stains. Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins. Double-checking the ingredients list of your enzyme cleaner to be sure no hazardous chemicals are in there is always a good idea. Adding artificial oxidizing or stain removal ingredients to increase their product’s ability is common practice for several brands.

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