Nobody wants to think about pee on their mattress, but the fact is, accidents happen. If you have toddlers or pets, incidents like this shouldn't come as a surprise.
Pee can be a difficult stain to remove, but you can get the job done with the right methods!
Is your mattress covered in pee? Don't worry; we're here to help!
In this article, we will uncover how to get pee out of a mattress. We will also discuss some prevention tips to avoid having this problem in the future.
Let's get started!
If you were lucky to catch the accident on time, the following steps would help you clean urine from a mattress.
If the urine has already dried, don't worry, we'll deal with that later in the article.
To get started, you'll need to gather the proper supplies:
Step 1. Remove Your Bedding
Strip the mattress and get all the beddings into the washing machine. You don't want the stain to dry and become really hard to clean.
Therefore, it’s always best to wash immediately.
Step 2. Blot The Affected Area
Blot the urine-soaked portion of the mattress using both absorbent paper towels and a dry towel. Be careful not to rub too hard or scrub even if yours is a firm mattress. If any fibres are left behind by rubbing them, they could tear open the fabric weave.
Also, scrubbing can push the urine further into your mattress.
Step 3. Spray With Vinegar
Mix 50/50 portions of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add laundry detergent to the solution and shake very well.
Spray the affected area abundantly.
Step 4. Let It Sit For 10-15 Minutes
After spraying and soaking, leave the mixture to sit on the mattress for 10-15 minutes. This allows the vinegar to penetrate the mattress thoroughly.
Next, blot the area again with a clean towel to soak up the excess liquid.
Step 5. Apply Baking Soda
Now that the liquid has permeated the mattress apply a generous amount of baking soda directly over the stained area.
Let it sit on the mattress for as long as 8–10 hours.
Step 6. Vacuum Up The Dry Baking Soda
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the baking soda from the mattress.
Your mattress should be free of any lingering stain when you finish vacuuming.
Use another towel to wipe down the mattress and prevent moisture from forming due to the remaining baking soda on the surface.
You can repeat the process until the stains are out completely.
If you didn't notice a spill immediately after it happened, it might be difficult to remove when you're looking for the source of the smell.
Don't panic. While mattress sizes play a huge factor, you should still get the urine smell out for good.
It just takes a bit more work than getting it out right away.
So let's begin.
Again, gather your supplies:
Step 1. Mix Them Up
Mix 3 tablespoons baking soda, 8 ounces hydrogen peroxide, and laundry detergent in a spray bottle. Shake vigorously.
Step 2. Spray Into The Mattress
Spray the solution generously on the stained area and allow it to sit in. Don't worry if some go into surrounding areas.
Step 2. Cover With Plastic Wrap
Be patient. Baking soda will help absorb urine into the mattress quickly, giving it time to do its job. Do not try to soak up the excess liquid or blot.
You'd want to cover the area with plastic wrap and allow it to sit for 24-48 hours. If the area becomes dry, wet the surface slightly with hydrogen peroxide.
Step 3. Air Dry Your Mattress
Remove the plastic wrap, and let the mattress dry on its own. You'd want to dry a wet mattress properly to avoid moisture build-up. Repeat the procedure until all the urine is gone.
Step 4. Spot-clean The Mattress
Once satisfied with the results, spot-clean the mattress using laundry detergent and blot with a dry towel. Use a microfiber cloth to dry the mattress. Now the mattress is ready for use.
Human pee is 91 to 96 percent water and less concentrated than your pet (1). Also, pet pee will have a very strong presence on your mattress.
As a result, you might be tempted to use a chemical such as bleach on your mattress.
It will help if you avoid this at all costs.
Instead, go for cleaners containing enzymes to help disintegrate the stubborn components in your pet's urine.
Leaving your mattress uncovered is an invitation for more accidents and an unpleasant odour, as well as a danger for bedbugs and mould growth. Therefore, cover your mattress with a mattress protector or zip-on sheets.
Mattresses are expensive items. A high-quality hybrid mattress can cost well above $2000. Therefore, it is important to take good care of your mattress.
Ensure to treat urine accidents as soon as they happen. And don't forget to keep your mattress stored in a bag while travelling or stored in a warm place.
Yes. If a pet pees and you have a human pee on your mattress, do the same procedure described above. Since pet pees are more concentrated than human pee, you'd want to try an Enzyme Cleaner to get rid of the pee.
Vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are the most popular solutions to getting urine smells from your mattress.
The short answer is No, you should never bleach a mattress that was peed on.
Bleach can do more harm than good in this case. For example, it might cause shrinkage in the fibres, which would make your mattress unable to support its weight and break easily.
White vinegar is a better option when looking to eliminate pee smells from a mattress.
There you have it—a comprehensive guide on how to clean urine from a mattress.
If you have a mattress stained with a pet or human urine, the steps above will help you get it clean again.
Please, use these tips responsibly and if you have any doubts or questions, feel free to ask us in the comment section. We will reply ASAP.
Yurii Brown is the Founder and Sleep Content Writer at SleepingNorth. Within his first year running the website, he has published over 50 articles that educate readers on sleep and help them find the most suitable sleep products. He pays more attention to analyzing each mattress construction, the different materials used within it, the feel each material contributes, and the best sleeping position they would work for. Having properly examined each product, he provides in-depth reviews that cut to the chase and provide readers with the value they need for more restorative sleep hygiene.