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How to Get Urine Out of a Mattress

Posted By: Layla

Accidents happen. It’s not the most glamorous issue to deal with, but it’s important to know that if a pee accident does get into your mattress, you don’t have to burn it and throw it away.

How to Get Urine Out of a Mattress

Whether you’re potty training a child or a lovable but unruly pet decides your bed is better than their litter box or the grass, urine stains might be a problem you need to take care of at some point. Just like taxes, nobody necessarily wants to deal with any sort of stains. With that said, you might be surprised by how easy it is to clean urine stains from a mattress with our guide below. Keep reading to learn how to get pee out of a mattress and how to protect your mattress from stains and other unwanted things below.

How to Clean Urine Stains

How to Clean Urine Stains

Before you whip out your cleaning supplies, it’s important to know that not all cleaning sprays are created equally. It’s important to test a small area of your mattress before soaking it with a cleaning product. In your quest to clean your mattress, the last thing you want to do is accidentally destroy it during your attempt. If your spot test doesn’t discolor or degrade your mattress, you should be good to go.

Whether you need to know how to clean a memory foam mattress, a hybrid mattress, or an innerspring mattress, the cleaning process below can help you eliminate stains and odors.

Mattress Cleaning Supplies

Here are the supplies necessary for properly cleaning your mattress:

  • Empty spray bottle
  • Baking soda
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Liquid dishwashing soap
  • Vinegar
  • Essential oil (optional)

To make the cleaning solution, mix eight ounces of hydrogen peroxide, three tablespoons of baking soda, and a half teaspoon of dish stop into your spray bottle. If you want the mixture to have a pleasant smell, feel free to add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil like lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus.

Gently shake or swish the bottle to combine the mixture.

tips to clean mattress

Step 1: Get rid of any moisture

If the stain is fresh and still wet, use paper towels or a dry cotton towel to soak up the mess before you attempt to clean it.

Step 2: Soak with vinegar and blot dry

Once the area is dry, soak the area – plus a little outside the stain – with vinegar. Whether the urine stain is old or fresh, vinegar is the main cleaning agent that can help eradicate the stain. If the stain is dry, go straight to this step. Then, soak up the vinegar with a clean towel or paper towels.

Step 3: Apply your cleaning mixture

Next, spray your cleaning solution over the area in question and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. If the stain is set, you can let the solution sit for 20 minutes. Then, blot dry.

Step 4: Repeat process to remove stubborn stains

If the stain doesn’t go away after the first round, apply the cleaning solution again. Use light-colored towels to see how much of the stain is lifted each time.

Pro Tip: The fresher the stain, the easier it is to get the stain out. This is especially true if you have a memory foam mattress that doesn’t have a mattress protector on top.

How to Remove Pet Stains

For pet accidents, the urine stain might require what’s called an enzymatic cleaner. These types of cleaning products are more effective at eliminating odors. This is especially important if your dog or cat is prone to “marking.” If a pet can smell old urine stains, they might be tempted to continue peeing there since old urine smells signal that it’s a bathroom from an instinct standpoint.

Although the cleaning solution described in the earlier section can help remove the stain, sometimes, an odor will stick around despite your best efforts. Urine contains what’s called uric acid crystals and enzyme-based cleaners that can break down these crystals are sometimes necessary when regular cleaning products fail to do the job.

Another option is using baking soda, which can help remove odors as well. Plus, baking soda is great at absorbing moisture.

To remove residual odors, sprinkle baking soda over the mattress so that it completely covers the stain. It’s essential to go just outside of the borders of the stain as well, so you ensure you get full coverage. Once your mattress is dry, vacuum up the baking soda – taking care to get rid of baking soda in the crevices and seams of the mattress.

How to Dry Your Mattress

Once your mattress is clean, the next step is to let your mattress thoroughly dry. This is an incredibly important step because a wet mattress can lead to more serious issues. If your mattress stays wet, it can take on a musty smell or even start growing mold or mildew. Once that happens, your mattress might be a total lost cause.

After you’ve blotted the stain, you can start to fully dry your mattress through a variety of methods. One way is to use a hairdryer, set on high. Go over the wet spot back and forth for 15 to 20 minutes. Let the stained area cool down completely before testing if it’s dry or not. After 30 minutes has passed, use a different drying method to finish the job if there’s residual dampness.

Flip the mattress on its side and lean it against a wall or another secure object. Position a fan so that it’s blowing down both sides of the mattress. Open any closed windows and turn on your ceiling fan to help circulate the air. You can also use a space heater pointed toward the mattress—just be careful to place it at a safe distance away, so it doesn’t create a fire hazard.

You can also take your mattress outside if it’s sunny. Make sure it’s set up on a platform such as concrete blocks so it’s not sitting on the ground and has as much contact with the air as possible. Leave it outside for a few hours in direct sunlight until it’s fully dry.

When to Get a New Mattress

When to Get a New Mattress

If your mattress is several years old and full of old stains, it might be time to simply replace your mattress with a new one. This is especially relevant if your mattress is sagging or showing other signs of wear – or, alternatively, if you are showing signs of wear as a result of an unsupportive mattress. Waking up with aches and pains likely means your mattress is no longer doing its job and it’s high time for a replacement. A new mattress can help you feel more refreshed – plus, you don’t have to worry about stains!

How to Prevent Stains

One of the best ways to guard your mattress against accidents in the first place is by investing in a mattress protector. A mattress protector keeps your mattress feeling and smelling new. Plus, if you’re dealing with an accident, you’ll just need to clean the protector and throw your sheets and bedding in the washer. It’s significantly easier to clean the surface of a mattress protector than an absorbent mattress.

The Layla Mattress Protector is an ideal choice for keeping your mattress clean and comfortable. There are three mattress protectors available through Layla Sleep, and all three will keep you safe from allergens, dust mites, and other nasty things you don’t want to share your sleeping space with. Plus, all three protectors are liquid proof and have been tested with 38 pounds per square inch of water pressure.

It’s important to note that these protectors aren’t your grandmother’s vinyl protectors of the past that squeak and crinkle loudly at the slightest movement. All of Layla’s mattress protectors are constructed with high-quality materials that dampen sound – so you won’t even know it’s there.

So, what’s the difference between the three Layla mattress protectors? Well, for five-sided protection at an affordable price, the Essential Mattress Protector makes an excellent bed companion. For hot sleepers who want protection with the added bonus of cooling properties, the Cooling Protector will help keep you comfortable at night. And if you want protection against bed bugs, you can opt for the Full Encasement Protector with a PESTLOC zipper.

Using a mattress protector daily can help your mattress last up to three times longer than a mattress without protection.

Keeping Your Mattress Clean, No Matter What Life Throws at It

Life is messy, and even the most careful, neat person can end up with a mattress with stains on it. Although removing a urine stain from a mattress isn’t how anyone wants to spend their day, it’s an easy fix that involves a little elbow grease and a few supplies you likely already have around the house. To help protect from future stains, invest in a mattress protector that will help keep your mattress clean and comfortable far into the future.