How to Get Rid of a Urine Stain on a Mattress

Discovering a mattress stained with urine is a nightmare, and mattresses are too expensive to simply throw away and replace. Besides the issue of expense, in our throwaway society many choose to throw things away rather than try to save them, but I try to clean and conserve whenever and wherever possible.

Whether the urine staining a mattress is from an animal, a child, or an adult person, it can be difficult to know where to start when cleaning, and it can seem like an overwhelming task to say the least. I have a friend who once worked in a hotel, and she had to occasionally clean mattresses stained with urine. My friend provided the following tips for cleaning urine stains on a mattress. When my children were young I personally tried my friend’s suggestions, and they effectively get rid of urine on a mattress as well as the offensive smell that accompanies the stain.

Precautionary Statement

Since there are many different types of mattresses, follow product label instructions regarding cleaning for best results. Use common sense, and consult the manufacturer if unsure of any of the following tips to get rid of urine on a mattress.

Where to Begin

Immediately upon discovering a wet urine stain, soak it up with absorbent paper towels. Apply pressure, and change toweling often until all of it is absorbed. It may take an entire roll of paper toweling, but it’s important to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Once the urine has been completely absorbed, go over the stain with clear water to dilute any urine remaining in the fabric. Rinse out the rag under running water as often as necessary.

What if the Urine Has Dried?

It’s impossible to absorb dry urine, so you’ll have to wet the area with clear water and absorb it using the instructions mentioned above. After following the aforementioned directions, continue with the instructions below. If the stain hasn’t set in it should come out fairly easily, and when properly cleaned, the mattress will smell clean and fresh once again.

Soaking up the Stain and Odor

After the stain has been treated with clear water, don’t blot up it up. Instead, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the wet area, and allow it to dry completely. It may take a few days for the baking soda to dry, but once it does it can be vacuumed away along with the discoloration and odor.

If you don’t have baking soda, salt is a fantastic substitute. It will also absorb the stain and odor, and it can be vacuumed away in the same manner as the baking soda. Salt or baking soda are far less expensive and more effective at cleaning up urine stains than any commercial products I’ve found in stores.