How to Clean Pee Out of a Memory Foam Mattress & Get the Smell Out

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An expert guide to removing fresh & dried urine stains (plus pet stains)
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When you have children or pets, accidents are bound to happen on your memory foam mattress. Luckily, all you need are simple household products like vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide to clean urine stains. We spoke with several cleaning experts to learn the best ways to treat wet urine stains, dried stains, and stubborn pet stains and how to keep your mattress in good condition. Read on to learn more!

Removing Urine From a Memory Foam Mattress

For fresh, wet stains, blot the spot with a cloth and spray it with a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 10 parts water. Then, sprinkle on baking soda and let it sit for 8-12 hours. For dried stains and pet stains, spray the spot with 1 c (237 ml) of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tbsp (51 g) of baking soda, and some dish soap.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Fresh Urine on a Memory Foam Mattress

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  1. Take off your covers, sheets, and pillowcases and throw them in your laundry machine. If your mattress has a removable and washable protective cover, wash it, too. [1]
    • Wash your covers, sheets, and mattress protector in the warmest water that’s safe for them. Hot water is effective at killing germs and deodorizing fabric.
    • Check the care label on your bedding and protector to determine what water temperature and wash cycle are safe for them so they don’t get damaged.
    • If your bedding is very smelly, remove the urine smell by adding 1 cup (237 ml) of white distilled vinegar to the washer’s drum. Or, use an enzyme-based detergent .
  2. Blot the urine stain with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Cleaning expert Nat Ismaeil say to repeatedly dab the urine stain with a cloth or paper towel to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Do not rub or scrub the spot, as this can cause the urine to soak deeper into your mattress. [2]
    • House cleaning professional James Sears recommends putting on a pair of cleaning gloves as you blot and clean the stain to protect your skin.
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  3. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part white distilled vinegar and 10 parts cool water. Then, lightly spray the stain so it’s damp, but not soaking wet. [3]
    • White vinegar is great for cleaning urine stains because it kills bacteria, neutralizes smells, and lifts stains. [4]
    • The vinegar smell usually disappears as the vinegar dries and evaporates.
    • Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil , like lavender or lemon, to give the cleaner a fresher scent.
    • Note : Memory foam mattresses are more absorbent than regular mattresses, so they take longer to dry. Soaking your mattress can make your mattress difficult to dry, which can cause mold and mildew to grow.
  4. Leave the vinegar to clean the urine stain and remove the smell for about 15 minutes. Then, grab a clean white cloth or paper towel and dab at the spot. This soaks up the urine stain and removes any excess moisture so your mattress dries faster. [5]
  5. Ismaeil says baking soda is a powerful deodorizer that also absorbs moisture. [6] Simply sprinkle a light dusting of baking soda over the urine stain and leave it be for at least 8 to 12 hours. [7]
    • This gives the baking soda plenty of time to neutralize any odors and draw out any remaining urine.
    • The baking soda might bubble when you sprinkle it on the stain. This is a natural reaction when baking soda and vinegar mix.
  6. Use a small handheld vacuum or a brush attachment to clean off the baking soda on your mattress. Then, dry the spot completely. Leave your mattress in a well-ventilated room, turn on an overhead fan, and open your windows. [8]
    • Note : It can take memory foam mattresses several days to completely dry because they are so dense.
    • House cleaning professional Amy Mikhaiel also recommends taking the mattress outside to dry in the fresh air.
    • Speed up the drying process by placing fans directly over the stain and leaving the mattress in the sun for up to 30 minutes each day.
    • Do not use heat to dry the stained spot, as heat can damage memory foam.
    • Do not put any bedding on your mattress until it is dry to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
  7. Once the mattress is completely dry, check that the stain and urine odor are completely gone. If the mattress still smells or the spot is still visible, spray on more vinegar cleaner and sprinkle on more baking soda until the stain is gone.
    • Add more vinegar to the spray bottle to make the cleaner more potent, if needed.
    • If the stain and smell are still present after reapplying the vinegar cleaner, use the method below to get rid of the urine stain.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Dried, Stubborn, and Pet Urine Stains on a Memory Foam Mattress

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  1. Strip your bed of your covers, sheets, and pillowcases. If your mattress has a protective cover that’s removable and washable, take it off too. Then, wash your bedding in your laundry machine. [9]
    • Use the warmest water that’s safe for your bedding, as hot water helps disinfect and deodorize fabric.
    • Read the care labels on your bedding to determine what water temperature and washing cycle are safe to use.
  2. Fill a spray bottle with 1 cup (237 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons (51 g) of baking soda, and a squirt of dish soap. Mix the ingredients together and then spray the urine stain so it’s damp but not soaking wet. [10]
    • Ismaeil says hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant and stain remover. It works through oxidation, which kills germs and lifts off stains. [11]
    • Feel free to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the cleaner, or squeeze in some lemon juice for a fresh scent.
    • Note : Hydrogen peroxide can potentially bleach your mattress, so spot-test the cleaner on a hidden spot before spraying it on the stain.
    • Note : Do not soak the mattress with cleaner, as memory foam is dense and takes long to dry. Lightly dampening the spot helps prevent mold and mildew from forming.
  3. Let the cleaner sit for 15 minutes and then blot it with a white cloth . Allow the hydrogen peroxide to soak into the urine stain for about 15 minutes. Then, use a white clean cloth or paper towel to dab and blot at the spot. This lifts up the stain and helps remove excess moisture. [12]
  4. Apply a light dusting of baking soda directly on the urine stain. Then, leave it to sit for at least 8 hours. [13] Sears says the baking soda works to neutralize odors, absorb moisture, and sanitize the mattress.
  5. Use a brush attachment or handheld vacuum to clean up the baking soda on your mattress. Then, keep your mattress in a well-ventilated room to dry it completely. Turn on an overhead fan and open any windows to help it dry faster. [14]
    • Note : It can take several days for your memory foam mattresses to completely dry.
    • Place fans on top of your mattress or leave it in direct sun for up to 30 minutes to help speed up its dry time.
  6. If your mattress still has a visible stain or smells like urine, Ismaeil recommends spraying it with more hydrogen peroxide cleaner and apply more baking soda. Or, spray it with an enzyme cleaner . [15]
    • Ismaeil says enzyme cleaners are specifically made to remove protein-based stains, like urine, and remove urine odors, especially those caused by pets. [16]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining a Clean Memory Foam Mattress

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  1. The best way to keep your memory foam mattress clean and extend its lifespan is to remove stains as soon as they happen. Simply blot the stain with a white cloth or paper towel. Then, spray it with a vinegar and water mixture or a dish soap and water mixture. Simply sprinkle baking soda on top to absorb odors and moisture. [17]
    • Let your mattress completely dry before putting your mattress protector and bedding back on.
  2. Put on a waterproof mattress protector . To prevent urine and other spills from staining your mattress, protect it with a waterproof mattress protector. This covers all sides of your mattress to keep liquids, dirt, sweat, and bugs from damaging it. [18]
    • Clean your mattress protector about every 2 months. Read the protector’s care label to determine what water temperature and cycle to use.
  3. Vacuum your memory foam mattress weekly. Cleaning your memory foam mattress about once per week gets rid of dust, skin cells, and other debris that can degrade it and cause it to smell. Simply use a brush attachment or a small handheld vacuum to sweep the entire mattress. [19]
    • Clean your mattress when you change your sheets, which you typically wash once per week.
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Join the Discussion...

How do you get urine out of a mattress?
WikiMistRunner633
14
WikiMistRunner633
My child is 4 and sometimes she has trouble with bladder control and wets the bed. What do you do to get urine (and the urine smell!!) out of the... Read More
Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional
Take everything off the bed and use vinegar to scrub out any urine or urine stains. Then, put towels on the area and step on the mattress to suck... Read More
WikiDolphinChaser917
WikiDolphinChaser917
Ms. Dulude has it right. The vinegar scrub is really your only solid option. But one thing I’d recommend after that is to deodorize the entire... Read More
See all 5 Replies and
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      Tips

      • Rotating or flipping your mattress every 6 months can help extend its lifespan. If only one side has memory roam, rotate it 180°. If both sides have foam, flip it over. [20]
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      • Replace your mattress when it starts to get saggy, looks visibly worn, or impacts your sleep. This generally happens around the 7 to 10-year mark. [21]
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Sprinkle baking soda over your mattress once every couple of months to absorb moisture and odors from the top layer.
      • Open your bedroom windows and turn on a fan to help your mattress dry faster and to remove odors from the room.
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      Warnings

      • Clean urine stains as soon as you notice them. Ignoring the stains can cause your mattress to smell and lead to bacteria and mold growth, which makes your mattress unhygienic to sleep on.
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      • Do not soak your memory foam mattress with cleaner. Memory foam mattresses are dense and take a long time to dry. Getting your mattress wet can harm the foam and encourage bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow.
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      • Do not put your sheets and other bedding back on your mattress until it is completely dry.
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      • Do not use heat to dry your memory foam mattress, as this can damage the foam and harm your mattress.
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      • Never clean your memory foam mattress with a steam cleaner, as the heat and water can damage the foam.
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      • Don’t use harsh cleaners like bleach to clean your memory foam mattress, as they can harm the foam.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam-mattress/
      3. ↑ https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam.htm
      4. ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/home-cleaning-chemicals
      5. ↑ https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam.htm
      6. ↑ https://oconto.extension.wisc.edu/files/2011/02/Baking-Soda.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/bedrooms/how-to-clean-a-memory-foam-mattress
      8. ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/bedrooms/how-to-clean-a-memory-foam-mattress
      9. ↑ https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam.htm
      1. ↑ https://www.scarymommy.com/how-to-get-pee-out-of-mattress
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-hydrogen-peroxide-good-for
      3. ↑ https://www.scarymommy.com/how-to-get-pee-out-of-mattress
      4. ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/bedrooms/how-to-clean-a-memory-foam-mattress
      5. ↑ https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/bedrooms/how-to-clean-a-memory-foam-mattress
      6. ↑ https://www.scarymommy.com/how-to-get-pee-out-of-mattress
      7. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/how-to-get-rid-smell-dog-urine/
      8. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam-mattress/
      9. ↑ https://www.sleepadvisor.org/how-to-clean-memory-foam-mattress/
      10. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-memory-foam-mattress/
      11. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/mattresses/signs-your-mattress-is-shot-when-to-replace-mattress/
      12. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/mattresses/signs-your-mattress-is-shot-when-to-replace-mattress/

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