How To Get Stains Out Of Mattress

Let's just get it out there—this probably isn't the most glamorous moment of your life, but accidents are inevitable and you shouldn't stress over what to do when disaster strikes.

We all know that the best way to never have to deal with this mess is using a mattress protector, but what do you do if the protector fails or you, ahem, just haven't gotten around to ordering one yet? Now's not the time to regret putting off that order. With this handy "How To Clean Urine From A Mattress" in 2021 guide, you should be able to remove any trace of that accident and become an expert on how to get pee stains and smells out of a mattress. And who doesn't want to be an expert in something, right? Right.

A rough night shouldn't ruin your mattress forever and armed with just a few household tools you can sleep on a fresh, clean bed in no time. These instructions should help you clean up a traditional mattress and serve as a handy guide for how to get pee stains and smells out of a memory foam mattress or other foam materials as well. Foam tends to absorb much quicker than a traditional mattress, so you may find that you need to repeat the process a few times to really get things clean.

Tools needed to clean urine from mattress

How To Clean Fresh Urine From A Mattress - in 6 Easy Steps!

If you just woke up to a gift from a child that snuck into your bed late last night and you need to know what to do now, follow these steps below. If the accident has had time to set and dry, jump down to the next section for a heavier method. If things are still wet, you've got a pretty good chance at making it appear as if this morning never happened at all. You'll need white vinegar, baking soda, a few towels, and a vacuum to take back your bed. Ideally, you've just awoken to this surprise and have the rest of the day to let your new best friend, baking soda, sit for a while to work its magic.

If you're wondering how to get the pee smell out of a mattress, this cleaning method should take care of it. This can also serve as a guide for how to get old pee stains out of a mattress!

What you'll need to clean up fresh pee on your mattress: Spray bottle, white vinegar, baking soda, water, a few towels and a vacuum.

Step 1: Remove all of your bedding and get it into the wash.

Step 2: Fill the spray bottle half way with white vinegar and fill it up the rest of the way with water.

Step 3: Grab a towel and blot out the urine that is on the mattress. Don't scrub, you'll run the risk of pushing the urine even further into the foam of your mattress, making it harder to get the odor out.

Step 4: Once you've blotted out the majority of the moisture away, spray your white vinegar mixture generously over the area. Continue to blot out any excess liquid.

Step 5: Cover the area in baking soda and move on with your day. Let it sit for 8-10 hours, the longer the better.

Step 6: Vacuum up the baking soda and inspect the area. If there's still a stain or a foul smell left behind, repeat the process until things are back to the way it was before the mess happened.

NOTE: Tuft & Needle explicitly advises against the removal of your actual mattress cover that came with the mattress. Be careful to only remove bedding like sheets, mattress protectors, etc.

How To Clean & Remove Dry Pee/Urine On A Mattress - in 4 Easy Steps!

If you've inherited a pee-stained mattress or missed the accident only to discover the damage once there's been time to dry, you'll need a heavier cleaning solution to do some heavier lifting. These should still be household items or easily grabbed on a quick dollar store run.

What you'll need to get dried up pee out of your mattress: Spray bottle, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, liquid detergent, vacuum

Step 1: In your spray bottle combine 1 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide, 3 tbs of Baking Soda and 2-3 drops of dish soap. Don't shake the bottle, instead a few swirls should do the trick.

Step 2: Spray a generous amount over any visible pee stains, make sure you cover everything evenly.

Step 3: Let the mixture sit until dry, you should see a layer of baking soda residue form.

Step 4: Vacuum off the residue and you should be all set!

If the stains are still visible, or a urine odor remains, you can repeat this process until they've totally disappeared. The longer you can let the mixture sit and work, the less likely it is you'll have to repeat these steps.

Rinse your bottle out when you're done or leave it in a sink before walking away so you aren't cleaning up two messes in one day!

Cat on T&N pillow

What about removing pet urine stains and smells from your mattress?

We all love our pets and while many of us welcome them into our beds with open arms, this can lead to accidents that should be handled a tad differently than human accidents. If you've come home to a mess from one of your furrier family members, have no fears. You'll need to assemble a similar kit from the instances above. Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid detergent will all come in handy to remove the stronger urine odor that can be associated with your animals, especially cats. If you're looking for how to get cat pee stains out of a mattress, or how to get dog pee out of a mattress, the process is pretty similar, though you want to soak the urine out of your mattress first.

If the accident is fresh, sprinkle baking soda over the area to draw out the urine. The baking soda should darken in color over time. Vacuum the baking soda off your mattress and sprinkle more on, to continue drawing it out. Repeat this process until the baking soda stays white. Once the baking soda has done its work, or if the stain has already had time to dry, follow the steps forHow To Get Dried Pee Out Of A Mattress for a maximum strength treatment.

Now that you know how to get pee out of a mattress, it's time to start considering looking for a good quality mattress protector to help prevent having to clean your bed again. We recommend this one below.
Child sitting on twin bed with mattress protector petting a dog