How to Get Pee Out of a Mattress: Complete Removal Guide (2026)

CONTENTS

• What to Do in the First 5 Minutes
• How to Remove Fresh Urine Stains
• How to Remove Dried/Set-In Urine Stains
• How to Clean Pet Urine from Mattresses
• How to Clean Different Mattress Types
• How to Get Rid of Urine Smell
• How to Prevent Mattress Accidents
• Getting Pee Out of Your Mattress: Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Urine from Mattresses

What to Do in the First 5 Minutes

The first few minutes after discovering urine on your mattress determine how easy or difficult the cleanup will be. Quick action prevents the liquid from soaking deeper into the mattress layers, which makes stains and odors much harder to remove later.

• Strip all bedding immediately. Remove sheets, mattress protectors, and any blankets touching the affected area. Wash these separately in hot water with detergent and a cup of white vinegar.
• Blot the wet area with paper towels or clean cloths. Press down firmly to absorb as much liquid as possible. Never rub or scrub, as this pushes urine deeper into the mattress fibers.
• Assess whether the stain is fresh or dried. Fresh stains feel damp and may still have a wet ring around the edges. Dried stains appear yellow or brownish and feel crusty to the touch. This determines which cleaning method you'll need.

How to Remove Fresh Urine Stains

What You'll Need

Get these items ready before you start:

• White vinegar (lemon juice works too)
• Baking soda
• Clean spray bottle
• Paper towels or clean white cloths
• Cold water
• Vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment
• Fan or hairdryer (optional, speeds up drying)

Cleaning Steps

Step 1: Soak up the wet area (1-2 minutes)

Press clean towels firmly on the wet spot. Keep blotting until the towels stay mostly dry. Switch to fresh towels when they get saturated. You're ready to move on when pressing down doesn't transfer much wetness to the towel anymore.

Step 2: Spray vinegar solution (30 seconds)

Mix equal parts white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Spray enough to dampen the stained area, but don't soak it. The vinegar will smell strong right away—that's normal and the smell goes away once it dries.

Step 3: Wait (5-10 minutes)

Let the vinegar mixture sit on the stain. The acid in vinegar breaks apart the uric acid in urine during this time. The wet area might look a bit darker while it sits—this is fine.

Step 4: Blot dry (2-3 minutes)

Use fresh, dry towels to soak up the vinegar solution. Press down hard and keep going until you've gotten out as much liquid as you can. The area should feel damp, not wet, when you finish.

Step 5: Cover with baking soda (1 minute)

Pour baking soda directly onto the damp stain. Use enough to cover the whole area with about 1/4 inch of powder. The baking soda will clump a little as it soaks up what's left of the moisture.

Step 6: Vacuum once dry (wait 8-10 hours, then vacuum for 2 minutes)

Leave the baking soda for at least 8-10 hours. Overnight works well. The powder will dry out completely and might get crusty. Vacuum it all up using your upholstery attachment. Go over the spot several times until all the powder is gone and the surface feels clean.

How to Remove Dried/Set-In Urine Stains

Choose the Right Method for Your Mattress

Dried urine stains need stronger cleaning than fresh ones because the uric acid has bonded to the mattress fibers. Your mattress type determines which method to use:

• Memory foam, pillow top, or innerspring mattresses: Use hydrogen peroxide method (safe for white/light-colored covers) OR enzyme cleaners (safe for all colors)
• Latex mattresses: Use enzyme cleaners ONLY—hydrogen peroxide damages latex
• Dark-colored or patterned mattresses (any type): Use enzyme cleaners to avoid bleaching risk
• Very old stains or pet urine: Enzyme cleaners work best

Method 1: Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Best for: Light-colored memory foam, pillow top, and innerspring mattresses

What You Need:

• 8 ounces (1 cup) of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2-3 drops of liquid dish soap
• Spray bottle
• Clean towels

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl until baking soda dissolves, then pour into spray bottle
• Spray directly on dried stain until damp (not soaked)
• Wait 5-10 minutes—fizzing or bubbling means it's working
• Blot with clean towels to remove excess moisture
• Let air dry completely (4-6 hours)

Safety Warnings:

• Test first: Always test on a hidden spot (like the mattress bottom edge) and wait 10 minutes to check for color changes before applying to the stain
• Never mix: Don't combine hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or ammonia-based cleaners—this creates harmful fumes
• For dark mattresses: Use a weaker solution (1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup water + 2 tablespoons baking soda) or switch to enzyme cleaners instead

Method 2: Enzyme Cleaners

Best for: Latex mattresses, dark-colored mattresses, old stains (days/weeks old), pet urine, or when other methods failed

Why Enzyme Cleaners Work:

Enzymes are natural proteins that break down uric acid and bacteria in urine. They continue working as long as the area stays damp, making them highly effective on deep, set-in stains.

Steps:

• Saturate the stain completely with enzyme cleaner (follow product instructions)
• Let air dry naturally—do NOT blot, use fans, or hairdryers
• Wait 12-24 hours for enzymes to work (they need moisture to function)
• For very old stains, apply a second treatment after the first dries completely

Note: Enzymes stop working once the area dries, so patience is essential. Don't rush the drying process.

How to Clean Pet Urine from Mattresses

Pet urine is more concentrated than human urine, with higher levels of uric acid and ammonia. This makes stains sink deeper and smells last longer.

The bigger problem is territorial marking. Even after you clean, tiny traces of smell can remain that you can't detect but your pet can. These traces tell your pet to urinate in the same spot again. This is why enzyme cleaners work better for pet accidents—they break down the specific compounds that attract pets back to the area.

Step 1: Soak up what you can (5 minutes)

If the urine is still wet, blot up as much as possible with paper towels. Press down hard to pull liquid from deep in the mattress. For dried pet stains, move to step 2.

Step 2: Saturate with enzyme cleaner (2 minutes)

Use an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine. Spray or pour enough to soak the stain and the area around it. Pet urine spreads wider than what you can see, so treat about 2 inches beyond the visible stain. The mattress should feel quite wet.

Step 3: Keep it damp (12-24 hours)

Cover the wet area loosely with plastic wrap or a plastic bag. This stops the enzyme cleaner from drying too fast. Enzymes only work when wet, so trapping moisture helps them break down all the uric acid. Leave it for at least 12 hours. For old or strong pet stains, leave it for 24 hours.

Step 4: Let it dry and check results (24-48 hours)

Remove the plastic covering after 12-24 hours. Let the area air dry completely for another 12-24 hours using a fan. Once fully dry, smell the area closely.

Step 5: Repeat treatment if needed (one time only)

If you still smell urine after the first treatment is completely dry, apply enzyme cleaner ONE more time and repeat the 12-hour covering process followed by 24-hour drying.

Step 6: When to replace your mattress

If odor remains after two full enzyme treatments (which takes 4-5 days total), the urine has likely penetrated too deep to remove. Consider:

• Contacting a professional mattress cleaning service as a last attempt
• Replacing the mattress if professional cleaning fails
• The urine may have reached the inner core, making complete removal impossible

How to Clean Different Mattress Types

Different mattress types need different cleaning approaches. Memory foam mattresses trap moisture and take longer to dry, hybrid mattresses have coils that can rust, latex mattresses can't handle sunlight exposure, and spring mattresses need careful blotting to prevent deep saturation.

1. Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses absorb liquid quickly and hold onto moisture for a long time, making fast action essential. This is especially true for thicker 12-inch and 14-inch memory foam mattresses, which can take up to 48 hours to dry completely. If you have a multi-layer mattress like the Starry Night Memory Foam Mattress with its gel memory foam, comfort foam, and bamboo charcoal layers, you'll need to be extra careful since liquid can soak through each layer.

Thicker foam = longer drying time. Check every 6 hours by pressing firmly—should feel dry and room temperature throughout. Never use steam cleaners or lots of water on memory foam—these will soak the dense foam and lead to mold growth.

2. Pillow Top Mattresses

The extra quilted padding on pillow tops absorbs more liquid and spreads it horizontally, requiring more thorough blotting.

Use a waterproof protector designed for extra-deep or pillow top mattresses, since standard ones don't fit properly over the thick padding.

3. Latex Mattresses

Latex resists odors naturally but needs careful handling—especially protection from sunlight, which permanently damages the material.

Never expose latex mattresses to direct sunlight at any time during cleaning or drying—UV rays will crack and damage the material permanently.

4. Hybrid and Innerspring Mattresses

These mattresses have metal coils inside that rust if moisture seeps through the padding layers, so preventing deep saturation is critical.

Waterproof mattress protectors are especially important for hybrid and spring mattresses since they're much harder to fully dry once moisture reaches the internal coils. Consider this essential protection regardless of whether you have a standard 10 inch hybrid mattress or a thicker 12-14 inch model.

How to Get Rid of Urine Smell

Sometimes the stain looks gone but the smell remains—this happens because urine soaks deep into mattress layers where cleaning solutions can't always reach.

• Use Baking Soda Treatment: After cleaning and blotting, sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda (about 1 cup) over the entire affected area. Let it sit for at least 8 hours or overnight—the powder absorbs odor molecules as it dries. Vacuum thoroughly with your upholstery attachment, making several passes until all powder is gone.
• Apply Enzyme Cleaners for Stubborn Odors: If smell persists after baking soda, enzyme cleaners work better since they actually break down the odor-causing compounds. Spray the area generously, cover with plastic wrap, and leave for 12-24 hours. The enzymes need time and moisture to eliminate deep odors.
• Add Essential Oils: Add 3-4 drops of lavender or tea tree oil to your final baking soda application only after the urine smell is completely gone. Never use essential oils to mask urine odor—they won't eliminate it and mixing scents makes the problem worse.

How to Prevent Mattress Accidents

Buy a Waterproof Mattress Protector

Quality mattresses like the Starry Night Memory Foam Mattress come with OEKO-TEX certified fabric covers and anti-slip bottom fabric, but even certified materials need protection from liquid damage. A waterproof mattress protector blocks all liquids while still letting air through so you don't get too hot at night. For families dealing with bedwetting, choosing the best mattress protector for bedwetting is essential—look for ones specifically rated for incontinence with extra-thick barriers.

Look for protectors with polyurethane or vinyl backing and a cotton or terry cloth top. Measure your mattress thickness first—10 inch mattresses need standard 12-14 inch pockets, 12 inch memory foam mattresses need 14-16 inch pockets, and 14 inch or pillow top mattresses need 18-20 inch deep pockets. Choose ones labeled "noiseless" to avoid crackling sounds.

For Parents with Kids

• Control Evening Drinks: Stop all drinks except small sips of water 2 hours before bed. Have your child use the bathroom twice—once 30 minutes before bed, then right before getting in.
• Try Bedwetting Alarms: Clip a moisture alarm to your child's underwear at night. When it sounds, walk them to the bathroom immediately. Use it every night for 8-12 weeks and track dry nights on a calendar. These work best for kids 6-7 years and older.
• Make Nighttime Bathroom Trips Easier: Put nightlights every 6-8 feet between the bedroom and bathroom. Clear the path of toys and furniture. For younger kids, keep a small potty chair in their room.
• Make Nighttime Bathroom Trips Easier: Put nightlights every 6-8 feet between the bedroom and bathroom. Clear the path of toys and furniture. For younger kids, keep a small potty chair in their room.

For Pet Owners

• See a Vet First: Book an appointment within 3-5 days of the first accident. Medical issues like infections, bladder stones, or diabetes cause 60-70% of sudden accidents in house-trained pets. Bring a urine sample if possible. If a medical problem is found, follow the treatment plan and keep your bedroom blocked for 1-2 weeks. If no medical issue exists, the problem is behavioral—maintain bedroom restrictions for 3-4 weeks while using the strategies below.
• Block Bedroom Access: Close your bedroom door or use a baby gate immediately after any accident. This prevents repeat incidents while you determine the cause. Wash all bedding in hot water with enzyme detergent during this time.
• Make Their Bed More Appealing: Place an orthopedic pet bed next to yours at floor level. Add one of your worn shirts under the cover and a familiar blanket. Give treats every time they use their bed instead of yours—continue for 2-3 weeks.
• Reduce Stress: Identify recent changes like new pets, a new baby, moved furniture, or schedule shifts. Use pheromone diffusers near their sleeping area and keep feeding and walk times consistent. If accidents continue past 2-3 weeks, ask your vet about anxiety medication.
• Use Pet Deterrent Spray: Spray your comforter and pillows every 3-4 days with citrus or bitter apple scent deterrent. Apply in the evening so it dries before bed. Continue for 4-6 weeks to break the habit.

Getting Pee Out of Your Mattress: Final Thoughts

Cleaning urine from your mattress is totally doable with what you already have at home. Fresh stains need vinegar and baking soda, while older ones respond better to hydrogen peroxide or enzyme cleaners. The real trick is acting fast and letting everything dry completely. Once you've got it clean, grab a waterproof mattress protector so you never have to deal with this mess again.