With a problem like urine stains on a mattress, it’s important to act fast! Soak up as much liquid as possible with clean cloths or paper towels as soon as you become aware of the situation. With kids in the house, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll end up having to deal with a bed-wetting incident at some point – it’s a perfectly natural part of growing up, and occasionally happens in later life as well. Dealing with it is hardly fun, but removing urine from a mattress is something that can actually be pretty simple if you act fast, and treat the situation sensitively and sensibly. Stains and odours set in fast, so the quicker you can treat a stained mattress, the better. All urine (animal and human) is made up of crystals of uric acid, so to permanently remove the acid, odour, and bacteria and properly clean urine from mattress fabric and bedding, it is best to use an enzyme-based cleaning solution (like a biological laundry detergent). There is also a wide selection of products specifically developed for treating urine stains caused by pets, which are often perfectly suitable for use on human accidents too.
Check the label on your chosen product and follow the instructions to ensure you use it safely and effectively. Always test any cleaning product in a small area first before continuing. How to Clean a Mattress: Urine Stains Use a dry towel, cloth, or paper towels to lightly blot up the excess urine, then strip the bed. Avoid rubbing the stain, as this will only spread the urine deeper into the mattress. Sprinkle baking soda onto the affected area to absorb the remaining moisture. Make a solution of biological washing powder – we like Persil Bio – and water. Alternatively, if you don’t mind the smell (which can be somewhat potent at first) you can try a solution of one part white vinegar to one part warm water. Spray your chosen solution onto the stain and leave to sit for 3-5 minutes. If using a commercial stain remover, always carefully follow the instructions on the product packaging, be sure to wear protective gloves, and open the windows for ventilation.
You should use enough of the stain remover to counterbalance the amount of urine that has soaked into the mattress before leaving to air-dry. Repeat step one, blotting up any moisture with a towel or dry cloth. This is to get rid of any residual urine and prevent mould, so try to get the mattress as dry as possible. Bring back the baking soda and sprinkle over the entire mattress. The mattress needs to be given time to dry out thoroughly, so you will need to make other sleeping arrangements for the night. Leaving the stained mattress for at least 18 hours to dry overnight. Vacuum up the baking soda and prop the mattress up outside or in a well-ventilated area to allow air to circulate and shift the last of the odour. The above guide explains how to clean urine from mattress fabric and stuffing – check out our article on cleaning mattresses and bedding for tips on doing a regular clean. Now that you know how to clean urine from a mattress, you can be prepared for future incidents.
Sealed protectors are available for pillows, duvets, and mattresses that will not only shield your family’s beds from urine, but also help protect you from dust mites, bacteria and all number of other allergens. Don’t be put off by uncomfortable childhood memories of crackly waterproof covers and cases – the latest products are far subtler, and won’t leave you slipping and sliding with every movement. Choose from zippered or fitted styles, with breathable fibres that will keep you and your children protected and relaxed. Now that the mattress is clean again, you and your family are ready for a good night's sleep!Specific techniques can be used to remove wet and dried urine from your mattress. Whether in their own bed or in the family bed, with young children and pets, it is inevitable that eventually you will have to deal with pee on your lovely memory foam mattress. Even if you have a zipped off mattress cover, such as the GhostBed CertiPUR-US certified plush cover, you will still want to get that urine out before heading to the washing machine.
The pee smell and stain may only get embedded when machine washing with standard detergent. You will want to work fast to remove any urine that could be soaked into the mattress. The dreaded wet urine problem should be tackled immediately but do not fret if the stain is not found until dry. There are methods to remove both dried up and fresh pee and its stains from your mattress. Along with a roll of paper towels a spray bottle, toothbrush and vacuum, all you will need is baking soda, and distilled white vinegar. Wet stains should be soaked up by blotting with paper towels as best as possible. Be sure to not press the towels hard onto spots as this may push the urine deeper into mattress. In addition to using paper towels to blot a stain that is wet, you will need hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish detergent, a bowl and spray bottle. Mix together in the bowl 10-ounces of hydrogen peroxide with 3-tablespoons of baking soda and a couple of drops of ordinary dish detergent.
Then pour the mixture into your spray bottle. To prevent from foaming you do not want to mix directly in spray bottle. Special Enzyme cleaners are on the market in both liquid and powder form that are made to specifically attack urine stains. In addition to your enzyme cleaner of choice you will need paper towels to blot wet areas, baking soda and a vacuum. Blot up any wet stains with paper towels and you can sprinkle baking soda as well for drenched areas. Once the baking soda has dried up brush it off of the area before proceeding. Hydrogen peroxide can be used full strength, but poring it onto a mattress will just soak through layers of memory foam creating a drying nightmare. Instead mix up a recipe to create a stain removing paste. Remember that any of these methods can be repeated numerous times to ensure that the urine issue is removed as best as possible. If one method is not working for you then try another. Once you have removed the pee stain you will want to stay ahead of any future urine problems.