How to Get Pee Out of a Mattress: Removing the Stains and Smells Step by Step

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Do you know how to get pee out of a mattress quickly and easily? This common problem happens in many homes. Children sometimes have accidents at night. Pets may urinate on beds. Even adults can experience spills or health issues that cause accidents.

When urine gets on a mattress, you need to act fast. The longer it stays, the harder it becomes to clean. Fresh urine is much easier to remove than old, dried stains. Quick action helps prevent bad smells and permanent marks.

In this article, we will talk about how to get pee out of a mattress. You will learn how to remove the stains and smell from your mattress. You will also find how to get pet pee out of a mattress effectively. We gathered the information from various sources, Tuesday (30/9/2025).

Fresh urine needs immediate attention to prevent lasting damage. When you discover a wet spot on your mattress, start cleaning right away. The faster you work, the better your results will be.

What You Need:

- Clean towels or paper towels

- Cold water

- White vinegar

- Laundry detergent

- Baking soda

- Spray bottle

- Vacuum cleaner

Step 1: Remove All Bedding

Take off your sheets, blankets, and mattress covers immediately. Put them in the washing machine as soon as possible. Urine stains set quickly in fabric, so wash these items right away. Add one cup of white vinegar to your wash load to help remove the smell and stains from your bedding.

Step 2: Blot the Wet Area

Use clean towels or paper towels to soak up the urine. Press down firmly on the wet spot to absorb as much liquid as possible. Do not rub or scrub the area. Rubbing pushes urine deeper into the mattress materials. Keep blotting with fresh towels until no more liquid comes up. \

Step 3: Make a Cleaning Solution

Mix equal parts cold water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add one or two tablespoons of laundry detergent to the mixture. Shake the bottle gently to combine everything.

Step 4: Spray the Area Generously

Spray your cleaning solution all over the affected area. Use plenty of solution to reach deep into the mattress where urine may have soaked. Do not be afraid to use a lot of liquid. Let the solution sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 5: Blot Again

After waiting, use fresh towels to blot the area again. Press firmly to remove the cleaning solution and any remaining urine. The towels should pick up moisture and some discoloration. Keep blotting until the area feels only slightly damp.

Step 6: Apply Baking Soda

Cover the entire wet area with a thick layer of baking soda. Spread it evenly over the spot. Let the baking soda sit for at least 8 hours or overnight if possible. Baking soda absorbs moisture and helps eliminate odors. Close the bedroom door to keep children and pets away from the baking soda.

Step 7: Vacuum the Mattress

After the baking soda has dried completely, vacuum it up using an upholstery attachment. Check the area to see if any smell or stain remains. If you still notice problems, repeat the cleaning steps until the mattress is completely clean.

Sometimes the stain disappears, but the odor stays in your mattress. Urine smell can be strong and unpleasant. The smell comes from ammonia and bacteria in urine. Foam mattresses often hold odors longer because they absorb liquids quickly.

What You Need:

- Baking soda

- Vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment

Step 1: Sprinkle Baking Soda Liberally

Pour a generous amount of baking soda over the entire area that smells bad. Focus on the spot where the accident happened, but spread some baking soda around it too. Use more baking soda than you think you need. A thick layer works better than a thin one. The baking soda will absorb odor molecules from deep inside your mattress.

Step 2: Let It Sit Overnight

Leave the baking soda on your mattress for a minimum of 5 to 10 hours. Overnight is better because it gives the baking soda more time to work. The longer you wait, the more odor it will remove. You may need to sleep somewhere else for the night, like on a couch or in a guest room.

Step 3: Vacuum Thoroughly

Use your vacuum cleaner with an upholstery or fabric attachment to remove all the baking soda. Vacuum slowly and carefully to pick up every bit of powder. Make several passes over the area to ensure complete removal. After vacuuming, smell the mattress to check if the odor is gone. If you still detect a smell, repeat this process one or two more times.

Old, dried urine stains are more difficult to remove than fresh ones. If you did not clean the accident immediately, the stain may have set into the mattress fabric. However, you can still remove dried stains with the right approach.

What You Need:

- White vinegar

- Cold water

- Laundry detergent

- Spray bottle

- Plastic wrap

- Clean towels

Step 1: Prepare Your Vinegar Solution

Mix two parts cold water with one part white vinegar in your spray bottle. Add a small amount of laundry detergent.

Step 2: Soak the Stain Completely

Spray a large amount of solution directly on the dried stain. Use enough liquid to soak through to the depth where the original urine went. The stain on the surface may look small, but urine often spreads inside the mattress. Apply solution generously to reach all affected areas.

Step 3: Cover with Plastic Wrap

Place plastic wrap over the wet stain immediately after spraying. Press the plastic wrap down so it touches the mattress surface. The plastic prevents the cleaning solution from evaporating too quickly. Leave the plastic wrap in place for 24 to 48 hours.

Step 4: Remove Plastic and Air Dry

After one or two days, remove the plastic wrap. Let your mattress air dry completely. This may take several hours or even a full day, depending on how much solution you used. Open windows or turn on fans to speed up drying time. Good air circulation helps your mattress dry faster.

Step 5: Check and Repeat if Needed

Once the mattress is totally dry, examine the stain carefully. Deep stains often need multiple treatments to disappear completely. If the stain is still visible, repeat all the steps again. Some very old stains may require three or four rounds of treatment. Be patient and persistent for best results.

Step 6: Final Cleaning

When the stain is finally gone, wipe the area with a cloth dampened with plain water to remove any leftover vinegar residue and help reduce the vinegar smell. Blot dry with clean towels and let the mattress air out before putting sheets back on.

Pet urine is different from human urine and needs special attention. Animal urine contains more ammonia and other compounds that make it smell stronger. Cat urine is especially potent. Pet urine also dries into crystals that are hard to remove with regular cleaning methods.

What You Need:

- Enzyme cleaner (specifically for pet stains)

- Baking soda

- Vacuum cleaner

- Rubber gloves

Step 1: Put on Gloves and Strip the Bed

Wear rubber gloves when cleaning pet urine. Remove all bedding and wash it separately following the instructions from earlier sections.

Step 2: Blot Fresh Accidents

If the pet urine is still wet, blot it first with paper towels to remove excess liquid. Press firmly but do not rub. For dried pet urine, skip this step and move directly to applying the enzyme cleaner.

Step 3: Apply Enzyme Cleaner Generously

Spray or pour the enzyme cleaner on the affected area. Use a lot of product to ensure it reaches as deep into the mattress as the urine went. Pet urine often soaks deep into mattress layers, so thorough application is important. Follow the specific instructions on your enzyme cleaner bottle.

Step 4: Let the Enzyme Cleaner Work

Leave the enzyme cleaner on the mattress for the time recommended on the product label. This is usually several hours or overnight. The enzymes need time to break down all the urine components. Do not wipe or blot during this waiting period. Keep pets away from the room while the cleaner is working.

Step 5: Blot and Apply Baking Soda

After the recommended time has passed, blot the area with clean towels to remove excess moisture. Then sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the spot. Let the baking soda sit for at least 8 hours to absorb any remaining moisture and odor. Make sure your pet cannot access the bedroom during this time, as baking soda can be harmful if animals eat it.

Step 6: Vacuum and Inspect

Vacuum up all the dried baking soda using an upholstery attachment. Check the area carefully. Smell the spot to see if any pet urine odor remains. If odor persists, repeat the enzyme cleaner treatment.