Few things are worse than crawling into bed, exhausted and ready for sleep, only to be met with the unpleasant stench of urine emanating from your mattress. Whether from an ill pet, child bedwetting, or incontinence issues, pee stains and odors can disrupt sleep comfort.
At Mattress To Door, we fully understand the hassle of mattress accidents. Through our years of experience, we have developed specialized techniques to effectively tackle pesky pee stains. Our step-by-step guide will explore mistake-proof methods to get pee out of a mattress fully and restore freshness.
Pro Tip: The sooner stains are treated, the easier removal becomes. Time allows urine to oxidize and bond to materials, creating stubborn buildup. Be sure to act right away when discovering any accidents.
Key Takeaways: Your Mattress Cleaning Cheat Sheet
Before diving into specifics, here are the key points that serve as your mattress cleaning cliff notes:
- Blot - don't aggressively scrub - for quick extraction without driving urine deeper into mattress materials.
- Leverage the power of enzyme cleaners tailored to eradicate pet urine proteins.
- Create dilution solutions when using potentially abrasive products like hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.
- Employ odor absorbers like baking soda to soak up lingering smells left behind after stains are removed.
- Block future accidents with waterproof mattress protectors from Mattress To Door.
For a full education, review our mattress cleaning fundamentals detailing supplies, techniques and maintenance strategies.
How Urine Damages Mattresses
In order to form an effective counterattack strategy, it is vital to understand exactly how urine wreaks havoc on mattresses on a deeper level.
When urine comes into contact with the quilted top layer or foam layers beneath, a natural process of oxidation occurs. The urea in pee breaks down into stubborn salts and acids that bond aggressively to materials through absorption.
Mattress Protector Tip: Shield your mattress right away with a [**waterproof protector**](https://mattresstodoor.com/products/king-size-mattress-protector) to repel liquids and prevent saturation into inner layers.
This bonding process has three detrimental effects if left untreated:
- It feeds bacteria, providing an ideal damp environment for mold, mildew and microbes to multiply. This leads to foul stenches and compromised hygiene.
- It damages materials and glue through corrosion, breaking down the integrity and durability of mattress components.
- It sets stubborn stains that become harder to extract over time. The longer the bonding process, the more difficult removing salts and acids becomes.
Understanding this chemical reaction illustrates why timely treatment is imperative. The below solutions all aim to dissolve salts, counteract acidity and extract urine residue before permanent bonding and material erosion occurs.
Causes of Accidents
When discovering unpleasant surprises, instead of assigning blame, have some empathy. Common culprits for mattress peeing include:
- Pets lacking house-training or suffering UTIs. Consider repellents or more frequent outdoor trips.
- Children struggling with profound bedwetting. Don't reprimand, support through understanding and mattress protection.
- Illness making urgent bathroom trips a challenge. Offer alternates like urinals.
- Incontinence robbing individuals of bladder control. Seek medical guidance for therapies and protective bedding.
The path forward is through patience, protection and effective cleaning protocols. Our guidance will tackle all three fronts.
Cleaning Up Fresh Urine Accidents
The key advantage of discovering pee accidents immediately is moisture. As long as the urine stain is still damp, quick action can prevent the stubborn salt/acid bonding process from taking root.
Step 1: Blot Excess Liquid
Time is of the essence with fresh stains. The moment wetness is discovered:
- Start blotting vigorously with clean cotton towels to lift away excess surface moisture before it penetrates deep into the mattress.
- Avoid scrubbing or quick side-to-side motions which will spread liquid outwards. Strictly blot.
- Use as many dry towels as needed to extract dampness.
For large accidents, consider renting a wet vacuum or carpet cleaner to aide extraction after blotting up any pools of urine. The suction will lift moisture from deep within mattress layers.
Step 2: Create a Vinegar Cleaning Solution
Once standing moisture has been removed from the surface, it's time to leverage vinegar's non-toxic cleaning power to dissolve remaining residue and neutralize odors.
In a spray bottle, combine:
- 1 part distilled white vinegar
- 2 parts cool water
Vinegar's acetic acid profile effectively counters the alkaline content in animal and human urine. An equal mixture would be too strong for mattress materials, thus diluting with water prevents corrosion while still dissolving stubborn salts.
Step 3: Spray and Blot Treatment
With your vinegar solution in hand:
- Mist the affected area until thoroughly damp.
- Allow the solution to soak in for 2 to 3 minutes so vinegar can work its dissolving magic.
- Blot with clean towels to lift residue. Avoid aggressive scrubbing motions.
- Repeat spray/soak/blot cycles as needed until towels no longer yield yellowish stains, indicating urine remnants still present.
Ideally, the vinegar will break urine bonds before they have time to set into materials. Visible stain removal and odor neutralization indicates success.
For old or heavy stains not sufficiently treated by vinegar, consider an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle which digests uric acids.
Once towels lift no further residue, do a final blotting to remove all moisture. Allow the surface to completely air dry before replacing bedding to prevent mildew risks.
Tackling Set-In Urine Stains
Even with quick discovery, stains can sometimes linger due to prior pet accidents or a poorly aimed late-night clean up. Have no fear, Mattress To Door is here with advanced removal techniques for stubborn odors.
For these worrying yellow remnants, oxidation has already occurred, bonding urea salts and uric acid to materials. To reverse this process, use either vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Both dissolve salts. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Create Cleaning Solution
For small stains, mix the aforementioned diluted vinegar solution.
For large or heavy stains, use 3% hydrogen peroxide solution instead, which has greater stain-fighting potency.
Warning: Do not use higher concentration hydrogen peroxide solutions as these can bleach or corrode fabrics.
Step 2: Spray and Let Soak
Using either vinegar or peroxide-based solution:
- Thoroughly saturate the affected area, using roughly ? cup of solution per square foot of mattress.
- Allow ample dwell time for the solution to completely penetrate and dissolve salt/acid bonds. At least an hour for vinegar, or 3+ hours for hydrogen peroxide.
- Come back after elapsed dwell time to check if stain appears lighter, indicating treatment is effective at breaking urine bonds. If still dark, allow more time.
This long soak time is vital to allow the solution to fully penetrate and lift residue from interior foam layers. Patience pays off.
Step 3: Blot and Rinse
Once dwelling time has passed:
- Blot the area with clean towels to extract excess moisture and lifted residue.
- Since vinegar and peroxide can leave behind residues, carefully rinse the area with cool clean water using minimal pressure.
- Blot again with dry towels to remove all moisture.
Allowing the mattress surface to completely air dry protects from mold and mildew growth. A fan speeds evaporation.
Neutralizing Urine Odors
The most frustrating scenario is when stains lift after cleaning efforts but a stubborn general funk still lingers, especially with pet accidents.
Kick pesky residual odors to the curb with the absorptive power of baking soda. When applied generously and given ample dwell time, it literally lifts and traps odorous molecules.
Step 1: Sprinkle Baking Soda
Liberally coat all affected areas with baking soda. Use at least ? cup per square foot of mattress but feel free to use more, even completely covering the surface to address pervasive odors.
The high surface area of fine baking soda particles provides abundant sites for odor molecules to bond to. The more particles, the greater absorptive capacity.
Step 2: Let Bake
Allow the baking soda application to sit for at least an hour, or optimally 24 hours. This gives proper dwell time for full odor absorption to occur before removal.
If you can tolerate sleeping with the powder, allow it to work its magic overnight for maximum effect.
The reward will be waking up to a smelling sweet mattress. But you still need to...
Step 3: Vacuum Up
Because baking soda does not evaporate or get fully absorbed, residue needs to manual removal. Use a hand vacuum on its highest suction setting to remove all traces of powder along with stowaway odors.
Avoid tastes testing mattresses but do employ your nose to detect any lingering whiffs. Reapply baking soda if necessary.
Cleaning Pet Urine Accidents
Cat and dog pee poses the toughest odor and stain challenges, requiring advanced solutions. Their urine has a high relative protein content, creating far more ammonia gas and residue upon breakdown.
To properly combat pet urine accidents, specialized enzymatic cleaners are the MVPs of your remediation lineup.
Step 1: Employ Enzyme Cleaners
Invest in a reputable enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle designed specifically for eliminating pet urine proteins and odors.
Check that the active ingredient list features either "urease" or "protease" enzymes. These work to fully digest and break down the compounds causing stains and smells.
Follow product instructions closely, thoroughly pre-treating the affected area. Soaking may be required.
Step 2: Allow Full Dwell Time
This is the most vital step - patience. In order for enzymes to completely break down all trace proteins and urea salts, ample dwell time is imperative.
Most enzymatics require at least 30 minutes of contact time. For heavy stains or odor issues, allow sitting overnight if possible. This prevents the pesky "phantom odor" phenomenon.
Enzymes require moisture, so re-mist the area if it fully dries out before the minimum duration passes.
Step 3: Rinse and Blot Dry
Once ample dwell time has elapsed, based on product instructions:
- Gently blot excess moisture with towels.
- Rinse the area with cool, clean water to lift residue.
- Blot again with dry towels to remove all moisture.
Allowing surfaces to completely air dry inhibits future mildew growth. Consider positioning a fan to speed evaporation.
Protecting Against Future Accidents
While the aforementioned cleaning guidance aims to refresh mattresses after accidents, ounce of prevention is worth a pound of urine cure.
Implement these proactive measures to help avoid repeats requiring intensive stain removal:
Use a Mattress Protector
This is the first line of defense for mattress protection. Effective options include:
Waterproof Protectors: Shield the surface while wicking moisture away from skin through laminate or terry cloth layers. Check out Mattress To Door's selection.
Waterproof Mattress Pads: Fit around the entire mattress like a sheet, with an absorptive pad core enclosed in a water barrier covering.
Hypoallergenic Covers: Woven terry surface with membrane backing blocks allergens and liquids. Ideal for severe allergy/bedwetting.
Wash Bedding Frequently
Prevent buildup of residues in linens that transfer back to a mattress by:
- Washing sheets weekly in hot 140°F water to sanitize using detergent alone or detergent + oxygen bleach (no chlorine bleach).
- Adding borax or vinegar to washes acts as a deodorizer.
- Using non-fabric softener or dryer sheets helps linens fully release soils.
Let Pets Out Regularly
For house soiling issues, reverse triggers through:
- Feeding scheduled meals vs free feeding to predict times for bathroom breaks.
- Trips outside immediately upon returning home and before bed.
- Overnight crating if accidents mainly occur in owner's absence.
Medical issues can also cause accidents requiring vet assistance.
Notice Warning Signs
Monitor pets closely for increased thirst/urination indicating potential:
- Bladder infection
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
Catching these early prevents tough cleanups down the road through prompt treatment adjustment. Elderly or ill pets may need pee pads.
When to Replace a Mattress
In cases of extreme, frequent accidents or failures to fully extract odors/stains after exhaustive measures, it becomes time to retire a weary, damp mattress prone to contaminating bedding and inhabitants with mold and bacteria.
Prioritize containment via mattress protectors rather than endlessly battling lost causes requiring frequent intensive cleaning disruptions.
Contain Damage Areas
If stains prove unyieldy in a small, localized spot:
- Continue applying spot treatments to affected areas.
- Install mattress protector covering to shield spread of damage.
This allows still using uncompromised portions while containing issues.
Invest in a Fresh Mattress
When miniature biohazards overwhelm large swaths or accidents occur daily with elderly/sick inhabitants, replacement is the sanitary solution.
Research optimal mattress types for needs through Mattress To Door's shop or reach out for personalized guidance from our sleep specialists. They will educate on models best meeting feel preferences, health conditions, risk factors and budget.
Explore Mattress To Door's Offerings
Ready to protect against future accidents or research fresh mattress options meeting unique needs? Mattress To Door provides:
👉 Free shipping
👉 90-night home trials of any mattress, bed or sleep accessory.
👉 Waterproof protectors guarding all mattress investments.
Click here to shop online or visit a location near you today!
Key Takeaways: Your Mattress Cleaning Cheat Sheet
Let's review the Cliff Notes encapsulating effective urine removal:
✅ Respond immediately by blotting liquid from fresh stains
✅ Use vinegar or enzymatics to dissolve salts and lift stains
✅ Sprinkle baking soda or enzymatics thoroughly to absorb odors
✅ Shield your mattress early on with waterproof protectors
Have any other questions about eliminating pee from mattresses?
FAQs: Your Mattress Cleaning Questions Answered
Still seeking solutions for pesky pee stains? Explore answers to commonly asked questions about urine removal below:
How long does it take for pee to dry on a mattress?
If left untreated, urine takes 6-12 hours to fully dry on a mattress. But acting while still damp speeds cleaning and curbs material damage. Always respond ASAP.
Can I use this mattress cleaning method for other stains?
Yes, the vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and enzymatic cleaning methods work on other organic stains like blood, sweat, vomit or feces. Just tailor dwell time and avoid abrasives.
How do you get pee out of a mattress without vinegar or baking soda?
Enzyme cleaners effectively remove pet urine without vinegar. Or use a 50/50 water/hydrogen peroxide solution instead. Always dab, never scrub stains.
What else gets rid of urine smell in mattresses?
White vinegar neutralizes odors during stain removal steps. Sprinkling extra baking soda post-cleaning absorbs residual whiffs. Open windows also help air things out.
How do I fully dry a mattress post accident?
After cleaning urine accidents, allow mattresses 72+ hours to fully air dry before making beds. Speed drying by flipping over, using fans to circulate air and replacing pads.
Still have questions? Call Mattress To Door at 1-647-530-9100 or contact us online for guidance from our mattress care technicians. Let us help restore your mattress and peace of mind.