At times, children and pets have “nasty accidents,” and at some point you will probably need to remove urine stains from the mattress. While this may seem like a daunting task, don't worry! All it takes to keep your mattress looking like new are a few simple household ingredients. To get rid of wet stains, blot off excess liquid, add baking soda, and use a vinegar-based solution to neutralize odors. To remove stubborn and dry stains, make a hydrogen peroxide solution.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: How to remove wet stains
Step 1. Blot off excess urine with a rag
Take an old dry rag and blot the stain to remove as much liquid as possible. Keep doing this until the mattress is damp. If there is a lot of liquid, use an old towel.
- Alternatively, you can use paper towels.
- Change the rag or plain / paper towel as soon as it (or it) is completely soaked.
Step 2. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain to absorb any remaining urine
Scoop up a spoonful of baking soda and sprinkle it over the entire stain. Don't be afraid to use too much product as it won't damage the mattress. Make sure all parts of the stain are covered with baking soda.
Step 3. Mix one part white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle
Pour water and white vinegar directly into a spray bottle. Use the largest container you can find, as depending on the size of the stain, you may need a lot of solution.
- To make the solution more effective, reduce the amount of water or eliminate it altogether. It's okay to spray undiluted white vinegar onto your mattress. Although it has a pungent odor, this odor will dissipate.
- White vinegar will neutralize odors and help remove stains.
Step 4. Spray the solution generously over the stain and let it soak for five minutes
Try to keep the mattress moist but not completely saturated with liquid. You may need to make more white vinegar solution if there isn't enough to cover the entire stain.
If you have some white vinegar solution left over, you can keep it in the spray bottle for later
Step 5. Use an old rag to blot off excess moisture
Blot the stain to remove as much of the solution as possible. Don't worry if some of the baking soda comes off as well, as you'll add more later. Try to dry the mattress as much as possible.
Step 6. Sprinkle baking soda over the entire top of the mattress
Apply more baking soda to the mattress and try to cover as much of the area as possible. This will also remove any other odors from the mattress.
Step 7. Leave the mattress to dry for about 18 hours before vacuuming it
Open all windows and doors and leave the fan on in the room if possible. After 18 hours, make sure the mattress is completely dry, then vacuum it to remove the baking soda. Vacuum all the kinks and dents in different directions so that nothing is left.
- The mattress cannot be used while it is drying and the baking soda is doing its job.
- The mattress may dry a little longer or faster depending on the temperature and humidity in the room.
Method 2 of 2: How to remove dry stains
Step 1. Make a hydrogen peroxide solution to remove the stain
Old urine stains can still be removed! In a small bowl, combine 240 ml 3% hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons (45 grams) of baking soda and 2 drops of liquid dish detergent. Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a spoon.
- Hydrogen peroxide is best used only on white mattresses, as it can bleach colored fabrics. If you're worried about discoloring your fabric, it's best to just use white vinegar to remove the stain.
- This solution is also effective in removing blood stains.
- The solution must be used immediately as hydrogen peroxide breaks down quickly. If you have a solution older than one to two hours, pour it out and make a new one.
Step 2. Blot the stain with hydrogen peroxide solution
Lightly dampen a white cloth in the solution. Blot the stain thoroughly to remove it and wait for the mattress to dry completely before using it again.
Although the solution should be used generously, try not to wet the mattress too much or it will take longer to dry
Step 3. Use dry foam to remove stubborn stains
In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons (50 grams) of dry laundry detergent and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water. Use a spoon to scatter the paste over the entire stain on the mattress.
- You may need to make more dry foam if the stain is large.
- Do not use detergents containing oxygen bleach, as they can damage the mattress.
Step 4. Leave the dry foam to absorb for 30 minutes and then scrape it off the mattress
After 30 minutes, the dry foam should remove the stain. Use a spoon to gently scrape dry foam off the mattress. Be careful not to scrub too hard, or you may damage the mattress.
Step 5. Vacuum the mattress to remove any remaining baking soda or dry foam
Vacuum the entire mattress on multiple sides to completely remove any baking soda or dry foam. You can remove the nozzle from the vacuum cleaner and just use the tube to crawl into all the dents and grooves.
If stubborn pieces of dry foam remain, dip a white rag in hydrogen peroxide and blot gently until removed
Advice
- You can add a fresh scent to your mattress by adding a few drops of essential oil to the cleaning solution. For example, you can add lavender oil for a relaxing scent.
- If you want to use a store-bought product to remove urine stains, you can try an enzymatic cleanser, which is commonly sold as a pet urine stain remover. You can find it at a pet store or on the internet.
- To prevent urine stains, try using a waterproof mattress topper. They cover the mattress, and it does not let the liquid through.
You will need
For removing wet stains
- Rag, plain or paper towels
- Baking soda
- Spoon
- White vinegar
- Spray
- Fan (optional)
- Vacuum cleaner
For removing dry stains
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Dish detergent
- Small bowl
- Spoon
- White vinegar (optional)
- White rag
- Dry washing powder
- Vacuum cleaner