Remove Urine Stains from a Mattress

So, you spent a lot of time and money choosing the right mattress for you or a loved one only to find that someone (or thing) has wet the bed. Now what? There are several methods you can choose from -- see what's underneath your sink and get started.

Steps

For a Dry Stain

  1. Dampen the affected area, but do not saturate it. Wetness spreads the urine. You simply want to dilute the odor and strength of the stain.
  2. Sprinkle heavily with borax. Borax will neutralize the urine odor. Be sure to cover the whole area.
    • The jury is out on whether or not Borax is toxic.[1] Just don't eat it or leave it on your skin. It will irritate your skin, just like baking soda.
  3. Rub borax into the mattress. Work borax into the stain well. It should seem to get beneath the surface. Use rubber gloves if you're concerned with its toxicity level.
  4. Allow to dry completely. This could be in sunshine, if possible, or in a well-ventilated area away from dampness. Turn a fan onto the area or open the windows and doors.
  5. Vacuum up the powder. Depending on how much you used, there may or may not be a residue to wipe away. Even if there doesn't seem to be one, you may want to take a vacuum to it just in case.
  6. Return the mattress to the bed. You're all set! Take some preventative measures if you're concerned it may happen again.

For a Wet Stain

  1. Blot up as much of the urine as possible. Use a sponge and go over the area several times. If the sponge gets saturated, grab a new one or wring it out.
  2. Dampen the area. This will dilute the urine and blot out more; repeat until odor is negligible. You can use rubbing alcohol to kill the bacteria in the urine -- vinegar is another suggestion.
  3. Allow to dry completely. Turn on the fan, open the windows, and get some sunshine on the area that now used to have a stain.

For All Stains

  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a spray bottle, measuring cup, funnel, and tablespoon. Grab your ingredients, get the kids to the living room, and start mixing.
    • 8 ounces (237 ml) hydrogen peroxide, 3%
      • This can be found in a brown bottle in the first aid aisle of most pharmacies or stores.
    • 3 tablespoons (45 g) of baking soda
    • 1 drop of liquid hand dish washing soap
  2. Mix your ingredients into a spray bottle. Do this when you want to actually spray the mattress -- the concoction is most potent when used immediately. Do not attempt to store the leftover solution; it will leak out of the bottle.
    • Add the drop of dish soap last. Let the baking soda dissolve entirely and then add the soap to make it bubbly.
  3. Shake it up and spray the area. Right after you've gotten your mixture all shaken together, spray it generously over the area. You should see the stain lift and disappear within 5-10 minutes. If you leave it to dry with a fan on, your work should be done!
    • If a baking soda film does remain, then simply wipe or vacuum it off. It won't leave a ring.

Tips

  • Use a liquid proof mattress cover to prevent future stains and protect occupant from possible mildew formation or fungal blooms.
  • If you happen to have a Tempurpedic™ mattress with the Tempurpedic™ liquid-proof mattress cover, be advised that although this mattress cover is of very high quality (and very comfortable to sleep on), it is not highly durable and should not be washed in a machine with the sheets. Such treatment will eventually lead to tiny rips and tears resulting in leaks and a dramatic loss in effectiveness. Instead, this mattress cover should be spot cleaned by hand or carefully inspected for leaks. It can lose effectiveness in as little as two years if not cared for properly.
  • There are store-bought solutions designed just for this purpose that are available in most pet supply stores.
  • Use remaining borax to boost laundry.
  • Normal urine is sterile and does not contain any bacteria or other organisms, so there is no need to sterilize, unless you suspect a urinary tract infection is present. You may still wish to use a sterilizing agent, such as alcohol, to neutralize any organisms that are present in the mattress itself, the surrounding air, or the water used for cleaning.

Warnings

  • Borax is anhydrous and toxic so wash your hands with lots of soap and water and do not rub your eyes or touch your face.
  • Keep children away while you are working.
  • Abandon all hope if you have a latex foam mattress; they act like giant sponges and are almost impossible to remove stains from as the liquid that would remove the stain simply seeps deeper into the foam.

Things You'll Need

For a Dry Mattress

  • Sponge
  • Borax
  • Vacuum

For a Wet Mattress

  • Sponge
  • Cloth
  • Water/vinegar/rubbing alcohol

For All Stains

  • Measuring cup
  • Funnel
  • Spray bottle
  • Tablespoon
  • Vacuum

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not
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