The longer urine is left untreated, the more stubborn the stains and odours become. That’s why it’s important to clean up the urine immediately after an accident happens. If you act quickly, you can remove urine stains and eliminate odours from your mattress by following these simple steps.
How to Clean Urine Out of a Mattress? [Step by Step Guide]
DEC 21, 2025
Last updated: DEC 21, 2025
1025 views, 4 mins read
Accidents happen – toddlers may wet the bed, pets can have an overnight surprise, or an elderly family member might leak. The good news is you don’t have to throw out your mattress or panic.
Acting quickly and correctly can completely eliminate urine stains and odours. The key is to soak up any liquid immediately and apply the right cleaning steps. Experts warn that urine stains and smells become harder to remove the longer they sit — bacteria and ammonia odours will “stick around”.
Below are simple, fast, and proven methods using common household items to help restore your mattress.
In this article
How to Clean Fresh Pee Out of a Mattress?
What You Should Prepare
- Clean towels, cloths, or paper towels
- An empty spray bottle
- Cold water
- Distilled white vinegar
- Laundry detergent
- Baking soda
- A vacuum cleaner
- Step 1: Remove and Wash All Bedding – Take off any soiled sheets, blankets, or mattress protectors straight away. The sooner you wash them, the less likely urine stains and smells will set in. For best results, add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and about 500g of baking soda to the wash cycle.
- Step 2: Blot the Mattress – Use clean towels, cloths, or paper towels to gently blot the affected area of the mattress. Avoid rubbing, as this can push the urine deeper into the mattress layers. Pat gently to absorb as much moisture as possible.
- Step 3: Make a Cleaning Solution – Fill a spray bottle with equal parts cold water and distilled white vinegar, then add 1–2 tablespoons of laundry detergent. Shake gently to mix.
- Step 4: Spray the Affected Area – Lightly but thoroughly spray the solution over all areas that came into contact with urine. Let it sit for about 15 minutes so it can break down the stain and odour.
- Step 5: Blot Again – After the solution has had time to work, blot the area once more using clean towels or paper towels to absorb excess moisture.
- Step 6: Apply Baking Soda – Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the damp area. Leave it in place for at least 8 hours (overnight is ideal). This helps draw out moisture and neutralise lingering smells.
- Step 7: Vacuum and Check – Once the baking soda is completely dry, vacuum it up thoroughly. Check the mattress for any remaining stains or odours. If needed, repeat steps 3 to 6 until the mattress is clean and fresh.
How to Removes Old Urine Stains from Your Mattress?
If you weren’t able to clean the urine right away, or only discovered the accident the next morning, the urine may have already soaked deep into the mattress and the smell can be overwhelming. In these cases, removing the stain and odour may take more time and several cleaning rounds — but don’t worry. There is still an effective solution.
What You Will Need:
- An empty spray bottle
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Dish soap or liquid laundry detergent
- A vacuum cleaner
- Plastic wrap (optional)
- Step 1: Prepare the Cleaning Solution – For stubborn, set-in urine stains, a stronger solution is needed. In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent. Shake gently to combine.
- Step 2: Apply the Solution to the Stain – Spray just enough solution to lightly dampen the stained area. Avoid oversaturating the mattress. Let the solution sit and work on the stain. If needed, cover the damp area with plastic wrap to slow evaporation and leave it for 12–24 hours.
- Step 3: Allow the Mattress to Air Dry – As the mattress dries, the baking soda will form a powdery residue on the surface.
- Step 4: Vacuum the Area – Once the area is completely dry, vacuum thoroughly to remove all baking soda residue.
- Step 5: Inspect and Repeat if Necessary – Check the mattress for remaining stains or odours. If needed, repeat Steps 1–4 until the stain fades. Deep-set urine stains may require multiple treatments.
- Step 6: Final Surface Clean – After the urine is fully removed, lightly wipe the surface with a small amount of clean water and a paper towel or dry cloth to finish the cleaning.
Important Notes:
- Use hydrogen peroxide with caution. It can damage foam or latex mattresses if overused, so always start with a small amount and only apply what is necessary. Hydrogen peroxide may also bleach fabrics, so be careful not to spray it on bedding, carpets, or surrounding surfaces.
How to Remove Lingering Urine Smells from Your Mattress
Even after a visible stain is gone, urine odours can linger deep inside the mattress. This is usually caused by ammonia and bacteria trapped in the foam or fibres. The goal here is neutralising the smell, not just masking it.
Additional Warning:
- Never use steam or high heat to dry a urine-stained mattress.
- Avoid steam cleaners or high heat settings on hair dryers. Heat causes the proteins in urine to bind to mattress fibres, locking in stains and odours permanently. For foam or latex mattresses, even mild steam can “overcook” the material. Instead, keep the room well ventilated — open windows or use a fan. Fresh airflow helps speed up drying and remove lingering smells.
What You’ll Need:
- Baking soda
- Vacuum cleaner
Steps:
- Step 1: Apply Baking Soda Generously – Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the area. Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralises ammonia smells.
- Step 2: Leave for Several Hours (or Overnight) – For best results, let the baking soda sit for at least 8 hours.
- Step 3: Vacuum Thoroughly – Once dry, vacuum the mattress to remove all baking soda residue.
Note
- Never underestimate the power of fresh air. If you can't drag the mattress outside, strip the bed completely and open every window in the room. Set up a standing fan to blow air directly across the surface of the mattress. Sunlight and airflow are natural deodorisers that cost you absolutely nothing.
How to Clean Pet Urine from a Mattress?
We love our fur babies, but let’s be real: cat or dog pee is a different beast entirely compared to human accidents. It is much more concentrated and can smell significantly stronger (especially cat urine, which is high in ammonia).
If your staffy or tabby has mistaken your bed for a fire hydrant, here is your battle plan.
Step 1: The "No Ammonia" Rule
Crucial Tip
- Never use ammonia-based cleaners (like some window sprays) on pet stains. Since urine contains ammonia, using these cleaners actually smells like "fresh pee" to your pet, encouraging them to mark the same spot again.
Step 2: The Deep Soak
Pet urine often penetrates deeper because our pets tend to release a larger volume in one go, or they do it right in the middle of the bed where the foam is thickest.
Use paper towels and stand on them if you have to. Get as much liquid out as possible.
You must use a pet-specific enzyme cleaner here. Pour enough on the spot so that it soaks into the mattress layers.
To prevent the enzyme cleaner from evaporating too quickly (it needs to stay wet to work), cover the wet spot with a plastic bag or some cling wrap for 24 hours. This keeps the enzymes active longer.
Step 3: Bicarb Soda Reinforcement
After the 24-hour enzyme soak, remove the plastic and let it air dry. Once it's damp (not soaking), sprinkle a generous amount of bicarb soda over the area to draw out the moisture and any remaining "wet dog" smell. Vacuum it up once dry.
Bonus Tips for Preventing Future Stains and Smells
You’ve done the hard work. You’ve saved the mattress. Now, let’s make sure you never have to do this again. Prevention is cheaper, easier, and far less stressful than scrubbing foam at 2 AM. If you have kids, pets, or just enjoy a morning coffee in bed, you may need to consider buy a mattress protector.
We recommend keeping two waterproof, skin-friendly, non-toxic mattress protectors on hand.
Use one on the bed and store the other in your wardrobe. That way, if an accident happens in the middle of the night, you can simply remove the soiled one, put on a clean protector, and get back to sleep straight away.
Waterproof Mattress Protector
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- Clean and Breathable.
- Waterproof, Machine Washable.
- OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Certified.
- 10-Year Warranty.
- Suitable for mattresses up to 35cm in height.
Frequently Asking Questions
1. Can I use a steam cleaner on a urine stain?
No. Despite sounding effective, steam cleaning is a bad idea for urine. High heat sets urine proteins and can bond the stain permanently into fibres. Steam and hot water will also soak the mattress and risk mould. Always use cold or lukewarm DIY solutions and air-dry.
2. How do I know if the mattress is completely dry inside?
Test it like this: place a dry, white paper towel on the spot and press firmly for 10 seconds. If the towel picks up any moisture, the mattress is still damp internally. Keep fans on and wait longer. A mattress may feel dry on top but still hold moisture deep inside, which can lead to mould or a returning smell.
3. Is pet urine different from human urine?
Yes. Pet urine (especially from unneutered dogs or territorial cats) is often stronger and more concentrated, with proteins that cause persistent odours. Pets may also re-mark areas that have a vinegar scent. For pet accidents, an enzymatic cleaner is strongly recommended: it breaks down the specific compounds (uric acid and pheromones) that normal cleaners can’t. Human urine is generally milder, but enzymes will still help eliminate tough smells from any bedwetter.
4. Can I use hydrogen peroxide on any mattress?
Exercise caution. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach and can discolour fabrics or damage foam/latex if used excessively. Use only a 3% solution (about pharmacy strength) and always test in an inconspicuous spot first. For memory foam or latex, spray sparingly and blot immediately. Innerspring covers and mattress fabrics tolerate peroxide better than delicate foams.
5. Are there products that make this easier?
Besides DIY, you can buy mattress-safe stain removers or commercial enzymatic sprays (e.g. Natures Miracle, UrineOFF). If you go this route, follow the product instructions carefully. In all cases, remember that simple actions – prompt blotting, a good vinegar spray, ample baking soda, and thorough drying – are the fastest, most cost-effective solutions.
6. Will I ever get rid of the smell 100%?
In most cases, yes – especially if you act quickly. Some lingering trace smell can reappear if the mattress wasn’t fully dry or the urine was very concentrated, but thorough cleaning (and repeating if needed) usually clears it. Good ventilation and freshening (baking soda or mild fabric spray) help ensure the odour truly fades. If none of this works, your mattress might have absorbed too much. But with the methods above, many parents, pet owners, and carers successfully restore mattresses to fresh condition.
7. How long should the baking soda sit?
Ideally, leave baking soda on the spot overnight (8–12 hours). If that’s not possible, allow at least 4–6 hours. The longer, the more odour it will absorb. After vacuuming, you can repeat the process 1–2 more times for really stubborn smells.
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