Why It’s Important to Clean Urine from a Mattress Quickly
It’s really important to clean urine from a mattress ASAP. If you leave it too long, it soaks in deep and can cause strong smells that are tough to get out. The dampness also gives bacteria and even mold a chance to grow, which isn’t great for your health or your sleep. The longer it sits, the worse it gets – and the harder it is to fix. So how to get urine smell out of the mattress?
How to Clean Fresh Urine from a Mattress
If you catch it right away, cleaning pee from a mattress is a lot easier than trying to fix it later. The faster you act, the less it soaks in, and the less likely it is to leave a smell or stain. Quick cleanup keeps your mattress from getting damaged and helps it stay fresh longer.
Step 1: Strip the Bedding and Blot the Urine
Take off all the sheets, blankets, and anything else on the bed and throw them into the washer right away. Add a cup of white vinegar to help fight the smell while it washes. Then grab some paper towels or a clean cloth and press down on the wet spot to soak up as much as you can. Don’t rub! It’ll only spread the mess.
Step 2: Apply a Vinegar Cleaning Solution
Grab a spray bottle and fill it with half water, half white vinegar. Add a spoon or two of laundry detergent and shake it hard. Spray the pee spot really well – don’t hold back. You want it to soak in deep so it can break down the mess and help get rid of the smell.
Step 3: Let It Soak and Neutralize the Odor
After spraying the vinegar mix, leave it alone for about 10 to 15 minutes. This gives it time to soak in and help break down the pee and the smell. Once it’s had time to sit, grab some clean paper towels or a cloth and blot the area again to soak up the extra liquid.
Step 4: Cover the Area with Baking Soda
Get some baking soda and shake on a thick layer over the wet spot. Make sure it covers the whole area well. Let it sit for 8 to 10 hours so it can soak up the moisture and smell. If you’ve got pets or kids around, try to block off the room so they don’t mess it up.
Step 5: Vacuum Once Dry
After the baking soda has sat for several hours and is totally dry, take your vacuum and clean it all up. Use a hose or brush attachment to get into the fabric. Make sure the powder is dry – wet baking soda can mess up your vacuum. If there’s still any smell or stain left, just repeat the steps.
How to Remove Dried or Old Urine Stains from a Mattress
Old urine stains are tough because they’ve already dried and soaked deep into the mattress. They usually leave behind strong smells and yellow marks that regular cleaning can’t fix. Unlike fresh stains, you need something stronger to break them down. How to remove pee stains from a mattress? Here are some simple methods that work:
- Method 1: Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda Solution. Good for white mattresses, this mix helps break up stains and odors. Just spray a mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and a little dish soap onto the spot. Let it sit for a few hours, then scrub gently, rinse, and vacuum. Test a small area first – peroxide might bleach some fabrics.
- Method 2: Enzyme Cleaner for Deep Stains. Enzyme cleaners are made to break down urine and other organic messes, so this is the best way to clean urine from a mattress. Spray the stained area and let it sit for the time listed on the bottle. These cleaners soak in deep and work well on most mattresses without damaging them.
- Method 3: Steam Cleaning (Optional for Tough Spots). If nothing else works, try steam cleaning. It can help with old, stubborn stains stuck deep in the foam. Use a low-heat, fabric-safe steam cleaner and make sure the mattress dries all the way after cleaning to avoid mold.
How to Get Urine Smell Out of a Mattress
- Method 1: Distilled White Vinegar. If you want to get rid of the smell on the bed, mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the smelly spot well. It helps break down what’s causing the odor. The vinegar smell might be strong at first, but it will go away as the mattress dries. Use a fan or open a window to help it dry faster.
- Method 2: Baking Soda Paste. Stir baking soda and water into a paste. Spread it over the area and scrub it gently with a soft brush. Let it sit for a few hours – overnight is even better. Once dry, vacuum it all up.
- Method 3: Steam Cleaning. If it still smells after trying the first two methods, steam cleaning can help. Steam reaches deeper into the mattress and removes leftover odor. Use a low-heat steam cleaner made for fabric, and let the mattress dry before using it again.
How to Clean Pet Urine (Dog or Cat) from a Mattress
If your dog or cat had an accident on the bed and there is a pee smell coming out of the mattress, you should act quickly. Pet urine can sink deep into the mattress and leave behind bad smells and stains if it’s not cleaned up quickly. The faster you act, the better it will come out.
Step 1: Blot and Apply Enzyme-Based Cleaner
Use paper towels or a clean cloth to soak up as much pee as possible. Blot, don’t rub! Then spray the spot with an enzyme cleaner made for pet messes. These cleaners work better than regular ones because they break down the stuff in pet urine that causes bad smells. Make sure the whole area is covered well.
Step 2: Allow to Sit, Then Blot Again
Let the cleaner sit on the mattress for as long as it says on the bottle. If there’s no info about it, let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes. After that, grab a clean towel or paper towels and blot the area again.
Step 3: Neutralize with Baking Soda
After blotting, cover the damp area with a thick layer of baking soda. This helps pull out any leftover pee and smell from deep in the mattress. Let it sit for a few hours, or overnight if you can. The longer it stays, the more it can soak up and clean.
Step 4: Vacuum and Let the Mattress Air Dry
When the baking soda is dry, vacuum it up using a hose or brush attachment. Take your time so you get all the powder out. After that, leave the mattress uncovered and let it air dry. Open a window or turn on a fan to help it dry faster before making the bed.
How to Disinfect a Mattress After Cleaning Urine
Even if the pee stain and smell are gone, germs can still be hiding deep in the mattress. Disinfecting helps kill those bacteria. You just want to clean it without soaking the mattress or ruining the fabric. Here are two easy ways of cleaning urine from a mattress.
- Method 1: Vinegar and Baking Soda. Spray a light mist of white vinegar on the area and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Blot it dry with a towel, then sprinkle baking soda on top. Let it sit for a few hours to soak up leftover moisture and kill germs. When it’s dry, vacuum it up.
- Method 2: Steam Cleaning. Steam can kill bacteria and dust mites without using chemicals. Use short bursts so you don’t soak the mattress – too much moisture can trap more bacteria inside. Let the mattress dry fully before putting sheets back on.
Tips to Prevent Future Urine Stains and Odors
- Cut back on drinks before bed. Try not to drink too much in the hour before sleep. If needed, stick to small sips of water and skip soda or tea.
- Use the bathroom before sleeping. Remind kids to go potty before bed. If bedwetting is common, you can also wake them for a quick bathroom trip later in the night.
- Let pets outside often. Dogs and outdoor cats should have a chance to go pee before bedtime to avoid nighttime accidents.
- Wash your bedding weekly. Clean sheets help with smells and keep the bed fresh – especially if pets sleep with you.
- Keep pets off the bed. If your pet tends to pee on the bed, try keeping them off or out of the room. A pet mat or training pad can help too.
- Get a waterproof mattress cover. These are a lifesaver. Instead of fixing the problem, you can get pee smell out of a mattress by preventing it entirely.
Final Thoughts: Keep Your Mattress Fresh and Odor-Free
Urine stains and smells can be very annoying, but they’re not the end of the world. Act fast, blot up what you can (don’t rub!), and use the right cleaner – especially enzyme sprays for pet messes. Baking soda, vinegar, and steam are great for getting rid of smells. Let everything dry fully, and use a mattress cover if accidents happen often.
Need a hand in Green Bay, WI? Our professional cleaning services in Green Bay, WI can help you handle more than just your mattress. We offer apartment deep cleaning services, standard cleaning service, and full house deep cleaning service – so your whole home stays clean and fresh. But yes, we handle mattresses, too!
