Of all the different mattress stains, urine might be the trickiest to deal with.
Whether your child had an accident or a pet made a mess, urine can quickly seep into a mattress. The more it soaks in, the harder it is to remove — both the stains and smells (yuck).
So, how to get urine out of a mattress? You’ll first need to absorb as much of the urine as possible using rags or towels, then tackle any lingering smell or stains.
Afterwards, allow the mattress to air dry in a well-ventilated area. Keep it out of direct sunlight, though!
Accidents happen, we get it. The only thing you can do is act quickly and tackle the pee predicament pronto. (And maybe be ready to sleep in the guest bed for a bit.)
Getting Pee Out of a Mattress | Getting Pet Urine Out of a Mattress | Removing the Urine Smell | Removing Urine Stains | Tips to Protect Your Mattress
What to Know Before Treating Urine Stains
Tackle the urine stain ASAP — the sooner, the better. You don’t want the urine to seep into the mattress, as it makes the stain and scent harder to remove.
Moreover, urine becomes a bacteria hotspot if left untreated. The uric acid and other compounds can create unpleasant odours and cause health issues.
Strip the entire bed, then toss the bed sheets and doona into the washing machine. If you have a mattress topper or non-waterproof mattress protector, you’ll need to clean those, too.
Check the care label of your mattress for specific cleaning instructions or products not to use. You can also test your chosen cleaning solution on an inconspicuous spot first!
In general, avoid bleach-based products and similar harsh chemicals. These can damage the mattress and leave a harmful residue.
For foam mattresses (especially memory foam), use as little extra liquid as possible. Foam is very absorbent and trapped moisture can lead to bacteria or mould.
How to Get Pee Out of a Mattress
For fresh urine stains, the first step is to absorb and remove the liquids.
Use old towels or paper towels to blot and absorb as much moisture as possible. Lay them over the affected area and cover them with a rubbish bag, then press downwards to “squeeze” the urine out.
Avoid rubbing or scrubbing, as this can push the pee further into the mattress material.
Afterwards, focus on getting out any urine that’s seeped into the mattress. Wear gloves while working to protect your hands and open the windows to help vent the smell.
Salt
Salt is excellent for absorbing moisture, and is most effective when the pee hasn’t soaked too far into the mattress.
Start by blotting the remaining urine stains with a damp cloth. Then sprinkle a generous layer of salt (kosher salt works best) over the affected area.
Wait at least an hour so that the salt “dehydrates” the urine stain and dries out. Afterwards, use your vacuum’s upholstery or nozzle attachment to suck up the residue.
The salt must be dry before you vacuum it up, or it could clump in the machine and clog the filter.
For a small mess, baking soda is a good alternative. It can also absorb moisture and neutralise some of the urine smell.
Sprinkle baking soda over the stained area and let it sit for a few hours. Once it’s dry, “sweep” it off the mattress with a soft-bristled brush then wipe any remaining residue with a damp cloth.
NOTE: Do not vacuum up baking soda, especially if your vacuum is bagless or does not have a HEPA filter. It can clog the filter and get into the motor, damaging your machine.
Hydrogen peroxide
If you want a versatile and effective cleaning product, look no further than hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 helps break down pee and makes it easier to get out of a mattress.
Be mindful when applying it, though — even 3% hydrogen peroxide has mild bleaching properties and can discolour the material.
Avoid using peroxide on a foam mattress unless necessary, as it can damage the foam. Never mix peroxide with vinegar or bleach.
Pour some hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and lightly saturate the urine stain. Wait 5–10 minutes, then pat the stain with a dry towel to absorb the pee.
Repeat until you’ve removed all the urine from the mattress.
Wet vacuum
This method works best if there’s a large mess that’s pooled on the mattress, such as on top of a waterproof cover.
Make sure to use a wet/dry vacuum — a regular vacuum isn’t designed for liquids.
Absorb as much urine as you can with some old towels. Then follow your machine’s instructions to vacuum up liquid from a wet mattress.
Dispose of the urine properly and clean the vacuum afterwards.
You can leave a small container of baking soda or a few pieces of charcoal inside the canister to absorb lingering odours.
How to Get Cat or Dog Pee Out of a Mattress
Pet urine, especially from cats, is more concentrated than human urine and tends to leave a stronger scent.
For this reason, your best bet for tackling pet urine is an enzyme-based stain remover! The enzymes will break down nitrogen and tackle odour-causing bacteria.
Look for enzyme cleaners specifically made for pets, such as Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Eliminator or Simple Solution Stain & Odour Remover.
These products are formulated to discourage pets from peeing again in the same spot. They’re also safer to use around pets and small children.
Follow the product instructions for removing the pet urine, then allow the mattress to fully dry.
TIP: You can use cat litter to tackle a pet urine stain! Scatter some fresh kitty litter on the affected area and let it absorb the urine.
Scoop up the clumped litter afterwards and wipe off any residue with a damp cloth. Clean the mattress with an appropriate enzyme-based stain remover.
After Cleaning: How to Get Urine Smell Out of a Mattress
Once urine has seeped into a mattress, the scent can stick around for days. And no one wants pee smell around when they’re trying to sleep.
Keep in mind that foam mattresses hold onto scents longer than other types, so it may take longer or require more effort to get the urine smell out.
White vinegar
Vinegar is great for neutralising the urine smell and also helps remove stains!
Mix equal parts white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Thoroughly saturate the affected area — you want the vinegar solution to get as deep as the urine did.
Let the mattress air dry for a day (or more, if necessary). Repeat the process if there’s any lingering pee smell.
The vinegar scent should dissipate as it evaporates, but you can leave out some activated charcoal to speed up the process.
Plain vodka
Vodka is surprisingly effective at removing unpleasant scents, including urine. Make sure to use plain vodka with no flavours or colouring.
Thoroughly spray the wee stains with vodka and leave the mattress to dry. Reapply as necessary until the urine smell is completely gone.
Pat the mattress with some old towels to remove any remaining moisture.
Rubbing alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is generally safe to use since it evaporates quickly. You’ll need at least 70% concentration of undiluted isopropyl alcohol.
Spray the urine stains thoroughly with the alcohol, then leave it to evaporate. You can also apply isopropyl alcohol with a damp cloth — just wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Repeat the cleaning process until the urine smell is gone.
How to Remove Urine Stains From a Mattress
If you don’t notice pee accidents right away, the urine can dry on the mattress and leave stains. Even fresh urine that’s immediately treated might cause some staining on the surface.
No matter the situation, tackle pee stains ASAP. Otherwise, they can invite bacteria or mould to spread and create a health hazard.
When cleaning, make sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Open any windows so the room is well-ventilated.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is very effective at getting pee out of a mattress when dry. It breaks down compounds in urine, removing both the stains and smells.
Sprinkle baking soda on the old pee stains, then use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the mattress surface. Let the baking soda sit for 5–10 minutes.
In a spray bottle, mix a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of mild laundry detergent. Thoroughly saturate the dried stains with the solution (and watch out for fizzing).
Once you’ve sprayed over the affected area, wait for the solution to completely dry. “Sweep” off any baking soda residue with a soft-bristled brush and wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.
Let the mattress air dry.
Enzyme-based laundry detergent
If you need to clean urine stains on a foam mattress, try this method! It doesn’t involve as much moisture as our other recommended cleaning solutions.
Mix a teaspoon of a good enzyme laundry detergent with a cup of warm water. Dip a soft-bristled brush into the soapy solution, then gently scrub the stained area.
Start on the outer edges of the stain and work your way inwards. Keep going until the stain has lifted.
Wipe off any soapy residue with a damp cloth, then pat the area dry with a fresh towel.
Citric acid
This is one product you want to keep handy at home, since citric acid can clean all sorts of things. It’s effective at dissolving dried urine stains and has a more pleasant scent than vinegar.
Be careful, though, as citric acid has mild bleaching properties and may discolour your mattress.
Mix citric acid powder with warm water at a 5% concentration. For 1 cup of water (250ml), dissolve around 1 tbsp of citric acid.
Dip a soft sponge into the mixture and apply it to the urine stain. Work from the outside of the stain going inward, and ensure the stain is thoroughly dampened.
Let the solution sit for a few hours, then wipe off the citric acid residue with a damp cloth. Repeat as necessary until the stain has lifted.
Leave the mattress to fully dry.
Steam cleaning
If the manufacturer allows it, steam cleaning is very effective for getting old urine stains out of a mattress.
Do not use this method on memory foam, as it introduces too much moisture.
Follow your steam cleaner’s instructions for mattress cleaning. Leave the mattress in a well-ventilated space afterwards so it can fully dry.
To speed up the process, point an electric fan at the mattress or use a blow dryer on the cold setting.
Tips to Protect Your Mattress from Urine Stains
If you have young kids or your pets aren’t fully potty-trained, consider a waterproof mattress protector! They help prevent most mattress stains while also keeping out dirt and dust mites.
It’s also much easier to wash a mattress protector than to clean an entire mattress.
For pets, watch for a pattern of repeated “marking” with urine. If your pet constantly pees on your bed, consult a trainer so you can deter the behaviour or keep the pet away from your bedroom.
Regularly wash your bed sheets, since your pet is more likely to mark a bed with strong smells.
Urine can dry on a mattress surface fairly quickly, sometimes in 4 hours or less. However, even if the surface has dried, there could still be urine trapped inside the mattress.
So should someone have an accident, act fast! If you can get the bedding off ASAP, you’ll limit how much urine gets to the mattress — and make it easier for you to clean.
