How do you clean urine on a mattress???

Question

Like there was an "accident" and now there's urine on the bed mattress. Do I simply wait for it to dry then use some sort of Febreeze or whatever, or do I have to buy a new one, which is expensive!!

Answer 1

Just soak up what you can, then sun-dry it. The sun will help kill the odor. If it doesn't work, try a little vinegar or baking soda. You may have to sun the mattress for a few days in a row -- just be sure to bring it in around 3 p.m., and it won't get damp from the dew.

In the future, use some sort of mattress pad to soak up any more accidents. A rubber liner with a towel on top would work best, IMO.

I've got kids, and Grandfather was also incontinent, so I know this works.

Answer 2

You can't clean urine off a mattress because it soaks in to the material underneath. Fabreeze will take care of the odor on the outside, but it's not going to anything for the urine that soaked through.

You could try airing the mattress out in sunlight, but you would have to watch it to make sure bugs and other assorted pests didn't decide to setup house inside it.

If it still stinks after all your efforts, you might have to replace it. Then I would suggest a plastic cover.

By the way, using the plastic cover now would not allow the stuffing to dry and then not only will you have the urine smell, you will have a bacteria and mildew smell as well which can be a hazard to your health.

Answer 3

Strip the sheets and mattress pad off and wash them in the washing machine. Let the mattress air dry and sprinkle liberally with baking soda (Arm and Hammer) to absorb the odor. Vacuum the mattress with a hand-held vacuum. Febreeze will probably not work because you have to neutralize the ammonia in the urine to eliminate the smell. If you have soaked the mattress too much, you will probably have to replace it.