There's nothing better than lying down for a great night's sleep on a mattress that's the perfect level of firmness while being comfortable and guaranteed to leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed. However, it's not always easy to keep that mattress in perfect condition.
If your household includes small children, pets, elderly people or others who may struggle with nighttime bladder control, it's likely to be inevitable that, at some point down the line, you'll find yourself Googling, "how to get urine out of a bed mattress".
If you fail to deal with the problem properly and quickly, you'll give the urine time to soak down into the depths of the mattress, making it harder to clean effectively and making it even more likely that smells and stains will linger.
If you've spent good money on buying a bespoke mattress, like those we offer here at Endurance Beds, you'll want to make sure it stays in great condition. The great news is, it's easier than you may think to get urine out of a mattress, whether it's old or new human or pet urine. Read on to find out how...
How to get urine out of a bed mattress
If it's a fresh accident...
If the accident has only just happened, acting quickly can make a big difference. Immediately strip the sheets and wash them as soon as you can. The longer you leave them, the longer you'll give the stains and smell to set. If they still smell after one washing machine cycle, wash them again, adding a cup of white vinegar to the machine cycle.
It's then time to tackle the mattress. Using a clean and dry kitchen towel or paper towels, blot the affected area of the mattress repeatedly to soak up as much of the moisture as you possibly can. Keep blotting until your towel or kitchen towel is no longer picking up any liquid. It's really important to make sure that you blot, rather than rub; the latter can just push the urine deeper into the mattress, making it even harder to clean.
If you have any bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in your kitchen, sprinkle a little over the affected area, as it can help to soak up any remaining moisture. Next, fill an empty spray bottle with 2/3 warm water and 1/3 white vinegar. Add a couple of tablespoons of laundry detergent powder, or an essential oil like lavender if you use liquid or tabs instead and have no laundry powder in the house. Mix well in the bottle, then spray the affected part of your mattress liberally. Let it soak for a good five minutes, then, using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, blot the area to remove the moisture, repeating if needed.
Once dry, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda liberally over the area and leave it to sit for 10 hours. After this time, use your vacuum cleaner to remove the excess powder, and your mattress should be moisture, stain and odour-free.
Product: Memory Foam 1200 Mattress
For older stains and smells...
Cleaning up urine stains that have had the time to dry involves a slightly different process. Make the same mixture as above (2/3 warm water and 1/3 white vinegar, plus a couple of tablespoons of laundry detergent powder or a few drops of essential oil) and spray liberally over the stain. This time, though, don't blot; you want the solution to sit there for longer to draw out the stain. Cover the area with cling film and leave it to sit for as long as possible (at least 24 hours if you can) then remove the cling film and leave it to dry out completely.
It may be that one application doesn't remove the stain completely, so repeat if necessary. Once you're happy with the result, use water to spot clean the area to remove any residue from the vinegar or laundry detergent. If there's no stain but a lingering smell, use bicarbonate of soda. Sprinkle over the affected area, leave it for up to ten hours, then vacuum and repeat if needed.
For dog or cat urine...
Often, Googling "how to get urine out of a bed mattress" will throw up ways of dealing with human accidents, but what about those caused by our pets? Pet urine is very different to human urine, and once it's been there a while, it can smell far, far worse than human urine can.
Cat pee in particular is notorious for being tricky to remove all traces of, and if they can smell it in an area they've previously urinated in, they could well go back to that place and do it again. If it's fresh urine, start by sprinkling the area with bicarbonate of soda, leaving it to draw out the moisture (which should make it darker in colour), then vacuuming, repeating until the bicarb no longer changes colour.
If this has been successful, follow the same steps for cleaning up human urine. If not, you'll want to try something stronger. An enzyme-based cleaner will often do the trick, as it'll help to break down ammonia. You'll be able to find these cleaners in pet shops and many supermarkets, as they are often marketed for cleaning up pet urine. Just be sure to check that the cleaner you use is non-toxic to animals (and children, if you have them), and follow the instructions on the label.
Follow these steps, and you should find that your mattress is looking - and smelling - as good as new in no time at all. Accidents happen, but dealing with them in the right way can keep our UK-made, handcrafted mattresses in great condition for the years to come.
If you're looking for a brand new mattress that's made in the UK, comes with a five-year guarantee and can be tailored to suit your exact needs, contact Endurance Beds to find out how we can help.
