How to Get Urine Stains and Odors Out of a Mattress

An accident might occur on a mattress for many reasons. Young children may still be getting acquainted with signals that tell them to go potty. Our beloved pets sometimes have accidents too. And adults can experience leaks or incontinence.

“Accidents happen, and they can do so at any age,” says Sophie Officer, co-owner of Dustpan & Brush, an organic and eco home cleaning service in Melbourne, Australia. “So if you find urine on your mattress, there’s no need to panic.”

A few easy steps can get urine out of your mattress and linens. The best methods depend on whether the pee came from a person or pet and how long the urine has been there.

“As someone who has spent years in the cleaning industry and has potty trained two toddlers,” says Taylor Riley, founder of Boom Facility Services Advisors, a cleaning business consulting company for entrepreneurs. “I know just how tough it can be to remove urine from mattresses. The key to success in cleaning these messes is acting quickly.”

“The faster you address it,” Officer adds, “the easier it will be to prevent set-in stains and lingering odors.” Here is what you need to know to eliminate urine stains and smells from a mattress right away.

If you’ve encountered a fresh pee spot from a human, grab some trusty rubber gloves. Then strip the mattress of bedding right away. You’ll have time to come back to these items and deal with their stains and odors once you’ve triaged your mattress.

Blotting and absorbing fresh stains

Mattress triage for fresh urine stains begins with blotting to soak up as much of the urine as possible before you start the cleaning process.

“Ideally [use] a white microfiber cloth, but paper towels will work in a pinch,” Riley says. “This simple step helps prevent the liquid from seeping deeper into the mattress, where it becomes much harder to clean. The longer it sits, the more difficult it is to remove both the stain and the odor.”

“But be careful not to scrub,” Officer cautions. “Scrubbing creates more of a chance to make things worse by pushing the urine further into the mattress fibers, making it harder to remove.” You may need to use several blotting cloths if the stain is large.

After you’ve blotted a fresh accident or have discovered an already dried urine stain, the next step is to clean the problem area. Thankfully, you likely already have on hand the items you need.

“There are plentiful home remedies that work wonders for cleaning urine out of a mattress,” Officer says. “Better still, many of them use common household items, reducing the need to waste any time running out to grab extras. Baking soda and vinegar are two of the best go-to solutions for common urine accidents.”

The vinegar method involves creating a diluted solution using distilled white vinegar. Jessica Samson, a cleaning expert at The Maids recommends mixing two parts water with one part vinegar. “Spray the stain until it is really wet with the solution,” she says. “Give the solution about 15 minutes to set and do its magic, and then blot the area and dry up the stain.”

How vinegar works

The main odor in urine, whether human or pet, is ammonia. The acetic acid in vinegar can neutralize ammonia and the bacteria present in pee. Vinegar can serve as both your disinfectant and deodorizer. But the vinegar method may work best when used in combination with a deodorizer.

“The combination of using both these products gives you a powerful neutralizing effect on any lingering smells and odors,” Officer explains.

When deodorizing, you have a few options that can help, including the household item baking soda or any enzymatic cleaner you have on hand.

Sprinkle baking soda liberally on the stain. Baking soda performs double duty. It will further control odors, including from the vinegar, and it will help absorb the remaining moisture from your mattress.

Moisture can attract dust mites, so this step is helpful. Let the baking soda sit for as long as possible. “If you’re able, it’s even better to leave it overnight, which will really help fight those odors and soak up all the remaining ingrained liquid,” Officer adds. Ultimately, the goal is for the spot and the baking soda to dry completely.

Next, grab your vacuum cleaner and use an upholstery or other fabric-safe attachment. “Once it’s had time to work its magic,” Officer explains, “vacuum the baking soda away, and your mattress should be looking and smelling as good as new.”

If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner or an attachment that will work, you may wish to use an enzymatic cleaner. Spray the affected area liberally, blot excess liquid, and let dry.

“The key to using enzyme cleaners,” Officer says, “is giving them time to break down the organic matter. After applying the cleaner, be patient and allow it to sit for a while. Time is how it effectively removes odors and stains.”

If you have to run out and buy a cleaner, your best bet for finding one quickly is to check the pet supplies aisle at a nearby supermarket or pharmacy, which will usually have a pet-specific enzymatic cleaner, Officer says. Pet cleaners work just as well for human urine.

“Unlike traditional cleaners that may only mask the odor,” Riley adds, “enzyme cleaners break down the proteins in urine that cause both the stain and the smell. Products like Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer Plus are great for tackling these kinds of stains because they work at the source, neutralizing the odor so it doesn’t return later.”

While you’re letting the baking soda or enzymatic cleaner do its work, you can tackle any issues with soiled bedding, such as sheets, comforters, or duvets.

“Each item will have its own cleaning guide,” Officer says, “so as long as you’re following accordingly, you’ll be safe and have good-as-new bedding.”

If the laundering directions for these items don’t have any restrictions on using vinegar and baking soda, Officer recommends using a similar process as you did with your mattress.

First, rinse any wet or dry stains on the bedding. Then spray the affected areas with your diluted vinegar solution and cover with baking soda. The two household items will work well together. Let sit for about 15 to 20 minutes, but you don’t need to wait for them to dry. Instead, toss in the wash and follow any applicable laundering instructions for each item.

Whether by accident or as a behavioral territory issue, many pet accidents occur on mattresses. As much as we love our pets, this can be frustrating, not to mention noxious. After all, pet pee — particularly cat urine — often smells very potent.

Urine smells may differ between humans and animals, and even from animal to animal, because of varying metabolites and other factors, like the bacteria and steroids present. The odors tend to magnify as pee dries and the bacteria decomposes.

Dried urine can also have the added problem of crystallizing into a hard-to-remove salt because of the uric acid. Some pets may have more uric acid present in their pee than others. “Enzymatic cleaners are designed to dissolve uric acid crystals,” says Paola Cuevas, MVZ, a veterinarian and behaviorist with Hepper.com. “In the case of mattresses, [enzymatic cleaners] work great because they can achieve a great cleaning with limited mechanical action in hard-to-reach areas, such as inside a mattress.”

Grab your rubber gloves and strip the bed. Later, you can follow the bedding instructions noted above. But first, tackle the problem spot directly on the mattress. If the spot is still wet, blot with a microfiber cloth or paper towels first.

If you have an enzymatic cleaner — Cuevas recommends that every pet parent have one on hand — it’s the only product you’ll need. “Make sure you allow the cleaner to penetrate as deep inside the mattress as the urine might have reached,” she says. “The cleaner will completely remove any residual stain or smell. This last part is very important because pets have a tendency to repeat marking [or] on places they have previously left their scent on.”

If you don’t have an enzymatic cleaner at home, don’t panic. You can also use vinegar and cold water. Cuevas recommends a half-and-half mixture for the job. Spray the stain liberally. Then let it sit for 30 minutes while you play fetch with Buster or scratch his ears — with clean hands, of course.

Then get those gloves on again and blot the spot with a fresh rag. Next, sprinkle with baking soda. The baking soda will help absorb any moisture and lift any residual odor or stain. Let the baking soda sit for several hours while the spot dries thoroughly, as dampness in a mattress can attract dust mites or breed bacteria. Then use your upholstery vacuum attachment to vacuum up the baking soda.

“Make sure your pet does not have access to this room until the baking soda has been removed,” Cuevas cautions.

Accidents happen. But a few steps can help lessen their chances. And you can even take measures to protect a mattress from the occasional calamity.

FYI, bedwetting is common in young children. About 20% of kids at age 5 occasionally still wet the bed. To help prevent bedwetting, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends limiting liquids before bedtime, encouraging a potty trip before lights out, waking your child in the middle of the night for a bathroom break, and avoiding any punishing behaviors.

For pets, similar strategies can also work. Take your dog for a potty walk right before bed. And make sure your cat has litter box access throughout the night. If you have multiple cats, get one box per cat. If you have a puppy with a small bladder or an older dog with health conditions, a middle-of-the-night pee break might be necessary. Or you can use wee pads if your furry friend is trained to use them. These steps may be especially necessary if an aging pet is taking any medications that may cause them to urinate more frequently. If you’re unsure why your pet is suddenly having accidents in the house, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. Do not restrict your pet from drinking water, however.

Finally, a waterproof mattress protector is the best way to protect your investment in your sleep. It protects your mattress from stains and soiling, and it can help minimize dust mites. If you have a potty-trained kid who still has occasional accidents, double up on the protectors so you can strip one in the middle of the night without having to make the bed on a bare mattress. The same is true if you have a new pet who is still learning all the potty rules or an older one with a health condition that makes oopsies more common.

Accidents are a fact of life. But they don’t have to ruin your mattress. Whether you encounter a wet pee spot or a dried urine stain, the situation can ultimately be remedied with a few easy cleaning steps. And preventive measures can help lessen the chances of a mattress mishap altogether.