Need to know how to clean a mattress that has been peed on without throwing it away? I remember panicking the first time this happened, thinking my mattress was completely ruined forever.

You’re probably feeling stressed right now, staring at a wet spot and wondering where to start. Accidents happen with kids, pets, or adults, and there’s no need to feel embarrassed about it at all.

The good news is that you can remove both the stain and smell with household items. Acting quickly makes the biggest difference in saving your mattress from permanent damage.

I’ve successfully cleaned multiple accidents and want to share exactly what worked for me.

Why are Urine Smells and Stains Hard to Remove?

I used to think wiping the surface would solve everything, but urine works differently than regular spills do. Urine doesn’t just sit on top of your mattress like water or juice would when spilled.

It soaks deep into the foam, padding, and fabric layers where you can’t see or reach easily. The liquid spreads horizontally and vertically through the mattress materials, reaching areas far beyond the visible wet spot.

Urine contains uric acid crystals that bond to fabric fibers and stay there even after drying. These crystals cause that terrible smell to come back, especially when the humidity is high.

Surface cleaning only addresses what you can see, leaving deep stains and odor-causing crystals trapped inside.

What You’ll Need to Clean Pee Out of a Mattress?

I always make sure I have all my cleaning supplies ready before I start tackling the mess. Here’s everything you need to tackle the stain and odor properly:

• Clean towels or paper towels
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Mild dish soap
• Spray bottle
• Vacuum

Most of these items are probably already in your home, so you can start cleaning right away. Having everything ready means you won’t waste time searching for supplies while the stain sets deeper.

How to Get Pee Out of a Mattress: Step-by-Step Method

I’ve cleaned countless mattress accidents using this exact method, and it works every single time. Here’s the step-by-step process I follow to remove both stains and odors completely:

Step 1: Blot the Urine

I always start by pressing clean towels firmly onto the wet area to absorb as much liquid as possible. The key is blotting straight down without rubbing or scrubbing the stain at all, which I learned the hard way.

Rubbing pushes urine deeper into the mattress layers, making it spread and soak in further. I keep replacing towels with dry ones until they stop coming away wet from the mattress.

Step 2: Apply a Vinegar Solution

Next, I mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle for the cleaning solution. I spray the mixture generously over the entire stained area until it’s damp but not soaking wet.

The vinegar breaks down the uric acid crystals that cause that stubborn smell to linger in mattresses. I let the solution sit for about ten minutes so it can penetrate and neutralize the odor.

Step 3: Let the Mattress Air Dry

After treating the stain, I leave my mattress to air dry completely before moving to the next step. Drying usually takes several hours, depending on how much liquid was absorbed into the mattress initially.

I speed things up by opening windows, turning on fans, or pointing a hairdryer at the damp spot. Making sure everything is bone dry prevents mold and mildew from growing inside the mattress layers later.

Step 4: Use Baking Soda to Remove Odor

Once dry, I sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the entire treated area thoroughly. I use at least half a cup, maybe more if the stain was particularly large or smelly.

The baking soda sits on the mattress for several hours, ideally overnight, to absorb any remaining odors. I’ve found that leaving it longer always gives better results than rushing this crucial deodorizing step.

Step 5: Vacuum the Mattress

Finally, I vacuum up all the baking soda using the upholstery attachment on my vacuum cleaner. I make sure to use a slow, thorough technique to pick up every bit of powder left behind.

After vacuuming, I lean down and smell the area closely to check if any odor remains. If I still detect urine smell, I repeat the baking soda step until the mattress smells completely fresh.

How to Clean Pee Out of a Mattress When the Stain Is Dry?

Dried urine stains are way tougher to remove because the crystals have already set into the mattress fibers. Here’s how to tackle old stains that have been sitting there for a while:

• Step 1: Find the dried stain by using a blacklight in a dark room, which makes old urine glow bright.
• Step 2: Wet the dried area with plain water first to soften the crystals before you add any cleaning products.
• Step 3: Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a thick paste, then spread it all over the stained spot.
• Step 4: Let the paste sit for several hours until it dries hard, then scrape off the crusty residue gently.
• Step 5: Spray enzyme cleaner made for pet stains over the area to break down the remaining uric acid completely.

I’ve had to repeat this process twice on some really stubborn old stains before they finally disappeared. The smell got way stronger when I first started cleaning because the crystals reactivated with moisture, but it eventually went away.

What People Say Works Best: Real-Life Tips

Parents and pet owners share tons of helpful advice in online communities about what actually works for mattress accidents.

Enzyme cleaners come up again and again in discussions as the most effective solution for breaking down urine.

People swear by the vinegar and baking soda method because it uses ingredients everyone already has at home. One common mistake people regret is rubbing the stain instead of blotting, which pushes urine deeper into the layers.

I’ve read through a helpful Reddit discussion where people shared what actually worked for them after trying everything else first.

Hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda gets praised constantly for dried stains that seem impossible to remove completely.

Mattress Cleaning Mistakes You Must Avoid

I’ve made several of these mistakes myself and learned the hard way what not to do. Here are common errors that actually make your mattress problem worse:

Avoiding these mistakes saves time, money, and frustration when dealing with accidents. Taking the right approach prevents accidentally causing permanent damage to your mattress.

When Cleaning Isn’t Enough?

Sometimes even the best cleaning methods can’t save a mattress that’s been too damaged by urine. Here are the signs that it might be time to consider replacing your mattress instead:

• Persistent smell after multiple cleanings: If the odor returns even after several thorough cleaning attempts, the urine has soaked too deeply.
• Visible yellow stains that won’t fade: Deep-set stains that remain after proper treatment indicate permanent damage to the mattress core.
• Mold or mildew growth: Black spots, musty smells, or visible mold mean the mattress has become a health hazard.
• Allergy symptoms or respiratory issues: Ongoing sneezing, coughing, or breathing problems may be caused by bacteria trapped inside the mattress.

I know no one wants to throw away a mattress, but I’ve learned that my health matters more. I bought a waterproof protector with my new mattress, and it’s saved me from this nightmare situation multiple times.

How to Prevent Future Mattress Accidents?

I’ve dealt with enough mattress accidents to know that prevention is way easier than cleaning up messes. Here are the best ways to protect your mattress before another accident happens:

• Invest in a quality waterproof mattress protector that completely encases your mattress and zips shut on all sides.
• Use washable, waterproof bed pads on top of sheets for extra protection in areas most likely to get wet.
• Keep cleaning supplies ready in an easily accessible spot so you can act immediately when accidents happen.
• Replace old mattress protectors every year or two since the waterproof layer breaks down over time with washing.

Taking these preventive steps saves you hours of scrubbing and stress when the next accident inevitably occurs.

Final Words

Now you know exactly how to clean a mattress that has been peed on using simple household supplies. I really hope these methods help you tackle your current stains like they’ve helped me countless times.

Remember that speed matters most when dealing with fresh urine, which I learned through my own mistakes. Please don’t skip the baking soda step because it’s saved my mattress from permanent odors more times than I can count.

I wish I’d bought a waterproof protector years ago instead of cleaning my mattress over and over again.

Your mattress can look and smell fresh again, just like mine did after following these exact steps. Have you tried any of these methods? I’d love to hear how it worked for you in the comments below!