How to Get Urine Smell and Stains Out of a Mattress: Step-by-Step

How to Clean Urine From a Mattress: Step-by-Step

If you catch it quickly, following a few simple steps can help prevent stains and lingering odors. To clean urine from a mattress, you’ll need:

• Clean towels, rags, or paper towels
• An empty spray bottle
• Cold water
• Distilled white vinegar
• Laundry detergent
• Baking soda
• A vacuum cleaner
• For pet messes only: enzyme cleaner

As soon as possible after discovering the accident, follow these cleaning instructions:

1. Remove bedding and launder it. The sooner you wash soiled sheets and blankets, the less time urine stains have to set. If possible, add a one-pound box of baking soda and a cup of vinegar to the load.
2. Blot urine on the mattress with clean towels, rags, or paper towels. Absorb as much moisture as possible without rubbing, which can push urine in deeper.
3. Create a cleaning solution. Combine equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle, and add 1 or 2 tablespoons of laundry detergent.
4. Spray and blot the affected area. Generously spray with cleaning solution all parts of the mattress that came into contact with urine. Wait 15 minutes. Blot with clean towels, rags, or paper towels.
5. Coat the area with baking soda. Spread a thick layer of baking soda over the affected area. Let it sit at least 8 hours to absorb moisture from the mattress.
6. Vacuum baking soda, and inspect the mattress. After vacuuming the baking soda, check to see if any stains or odors remain. If so, repeat steps three through six.

For pet messes, it may be better to use an enzyme cleaner designed to neutralize pet urine instead of a homemade cleaning solution. The strong smell of vinegar can cause some pets to engage in marking behaviors, which may lead to more incidents in the future.

Do not clean your mattress with bleach or harsh cleaning agents, which can be harmful to humans and pets and damage mattresses.

How to Remove Yellow Stains From a Mattress: Step-by-Step

It’s best to clean a mattress immediately after an accident, but if you discover dried urine stains, you can still take action to remove them. 

Method 1: Vinegar Solution

Vinegar is good at breaking down urine stains. To get rid of yellow mattress stains using vinegar, you’ll need:

• An empty spray bottle
• Cold water
• Distilled white vinegar
• Laundry detergent
• Baking soda
• A clean towel

Once you have everything you need, follow these steps:

1. Create the cleaning solution. Fill a spray bottle with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of laundry detergent. 
2. Spray the stain. Thoroughly soak the stain. Large stains may go deep into a mattress.
3. Let the mattress air dry. This may take several hours to several days, depending on the stain’s size and the humidity level in your house.
4. Repeat as necessary. 
5. Blot treated area with a damp washcloth, and air dry. This will remove residues and reduce the vinegar odor.

Method 2: Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent, which helps it remove dried urine stains. You will need:

• An empty spray bottle
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Baking soda
• Dish soap or liquid laundry detergent 
• A vacuum cleaner

Follow these steps:

1. Create the cleaning solution. Mix 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the stain. Spray enough solution to dampen the stain. 
3. Let the mattress air dry. As it dries, a baking soda residue will form on the treated area.
4. Vacuum the area, and inspect the mattress. If the stain remains, repeat these steps. 

Hydrogen peroxide has the potential to damage foam or latex mattresses, so only use as much cleaning solution as is needed. Hydrogen peroxide can also discolor fabric, so make sure to avoid accidentally spraying the solution on bedding or carpet.

How to Get the Urine Smell Out of a Mattress: Step-by-Step

The more urine a mattress absorbs, the more challenging it is to eliminate the smell. Because foam quickly absorbs liquid, all-foam mattresses may be more likely to retain the smell of urine.

The vinegar solution and hydrogen peroxide solution described in the previous section can both remove or reduce a urine smell. There are a couple of additional ways to tackle the unpleasant odor.

Method 1: Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda excels at eliminating the scent of urine. To draw out a stubborn odor, you’ll need:

• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• A large mixing bowl and spoon
• A scrub brush
• A vacuum cleaner

To harness the odor-eating power of baking soda, follow these steps:

1. Create a paste over a sink using equal parts baking soda and vinegar. Combining these products initially creates a lot of foam, so use a large bowl or container, and combine them over a sink. 
2. Spread a thick layer of the paste over the affected area, then scrub it in with a brush. Leave the paste on the mattress until it dries.
3. Vacuum the area, and inspect the mattress. If the odor remains, repeat these steps.

Method 2: Enzyme Cleaner

Pet urine can smell worse than human urine because it is more highly concentrated, and its odor can be particularly stubborn. Removing the odor of pet urine is important, because if pets can smell it, they may urinate there again.

Enzyme cleaners work well for pet messes, because they break down the odor-causing components of pet urine. They’re non-toxic and biodegradable. Some enzyme cleaners also contain ingredients, such as essential oils, intended to deter pets from marking.

You can purchase enzyme cleaners at grocery stores, pet stores, and online. Choose one designed to treat urine messes for your particular type of pet. Instructions may vary, so follow the steps listed on the bottle.

Tips for Preventing Future Stains and Smells

If you’ve recently invested in a great mattress, you might be considering how to keep it free from urine stains. Try these tips to avoid future accidents:

• Limit liquid intake before bedtime. If bedwetting is a consistent problem, limit the amount of liquid consumed the hour before sleep. If you or a child in your care feels thirsty, sip water, but steer clear of caffeinated beverages, like soda and tea.
• Schedule visits to the bathroom. Encourage children to use the bathroom before going to sleep. You can also try waking the child and having them visit the bathroom later in the night, potentially before you go to bed.
• Give pets regular opportunities to urinate. For pets who urinate outside, make sure to take them out regularly.
• Clean your bedding regularly. Pets are more likely to mark bedding with strong smells, and cleaning your sheets at least once a week can help ensure that your bed stays odor-free.
• Keep pets off the bed. If a pet has established a pattern of marking the bed, consider keeping the pet out of the bedroom. If this isn’t possible, remove bedding that the pet might associate with marking. You might also try a pet training mat designed to deter marking behaviors.
• Protect your mattress. If future accidents seem likely or unavoidable, a waterproof mattress protector or mattress cover can prevent urine from absorbing into your mattress. These products make cleanup easier and can prolong the life of your mattress, maintaining its quality, color, and fresh smell.