How to Get Urine Out of a Mattress (and Kill the Odor)
29.07.2026
To get urine out of a mattress, blot up the liquid, spray the spot with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water, blot again, then cover the damp area with baking soda and let it sit 8 to 10 hours before vacuuming. Work while the stain is fresh and never soak the mattress, which pushes moisture into the foam core.
What you'll need
- Clean white towels or paper towels (white so no dye transfers)
- White distilled vinegar
- A clean spray bottle
- Baking soda (a full box for a large spot)
- An enzyme-based pet or laundry cleaner labeled for urine
- 3% hydrogen peroxide (for light-colored, colorfast fabric only)
- A vacuum with an upholstery attachment
- A fan, or your window cracked if it opens
Step by step
- Strip the bed and blot fast. Pull off all bedding and start a hot wash. Press a dry towel straight down onto the wet spot. Don't rub, which spreads it wider. Keep switching to dry sections until little transfers.
- Spray with the vinegar mix. Combine equal parts white vinegar and water in the spray bottle. Mist the stain until damp, not drenched. Wait five minutes, then blot again with a fresh towel.
- Bury it in baking soda. Once the area is just damp, sprinkle a thick, even layer of baking soda over the whole spot. It pulls moisture and odor out of the surface fibers as it dries.
- Let it sit and dry the room. Give the baking soda 8 to 10 hours, overnight is ideal. Aim a fan at the mattress or open the window to move air, which matters in a tight bedroom with no cross-breeze.
- Vacuum thoroughly. Use the upholstery attachment to lift every bit of dried baking soda. Run your hand over the spot; if it feels gritty, vacuum again.
- Treat leftover odor with an enzyme cleaner. If a smell lingers, follow the enzyme product's label directions exactly. Enzyme cleaners break down the residue that causes odor, but they need the full dwell time printed on the bottle to work.
- Confirm it's fully dry. Don't re-make the bed until the mattress is dry to the touch several layers down. Trapped moisture in foam invites mildew and dust mites.
What NOT to do
Don't pour water or cleaner directly onto the mattress. Foam and pillow-top layers hold liquid, and once it reaches the core you can't blot it back out. Skip ammonia-based cleaners, which smell like urine and can pull pets back to the spot. Never mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar in the same container. Keep peroxide off dark or patterned covers, where it can bleach a pale ring. And don't set a wet mattress against a warm steam radiator to speed drying, which can scorch the ticking and warp the foam; use a fan and air instead.
When to call a pro
DIY handles a fresh, surface-level accident. It does not fix a mattress that was soaked through, urine that reached the foam core, a set-in odor that survives an enzyme treatment, or the dust-mite buildup that comes with repeated dampness. Home blotting can't pull liquid out of the middle of a mattress, and a spot that stays faintly sour usually means the residue is deeper than any towel will reach. If your mattress falls into that category, professional extraction equipment can flush and pull moisture out in a way household tools can't. Book deep cleaning with CleanWhale and we'll assess whether the mattress can be saved.
FAQ
Does baking soda actually remove urine odor?
Baking soda absorbs moisture and surface odor as it dries, which handles a fresh, shallow spot well. It won't reach urine that has soaked into the foam, so for a deep accident pair it with an enzyme cleaner or call a pro.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide on my mattress?
Only on light-colored, colorfast fabric, and test a hidden corner first. Peroxide can lighten dyes and leave a pale ring on darker or patterned ticking. Never combine it with vinegar in one container.
How long does a mattress take to dry in a small apartment?
Plan on a full day, sometimes longer. Bedrooms with a non-opening window or no airflow trap humidity, so run a fan and keep the door open. Don't rush it near a hot radiator, which can damage the mattress.
What if the urine dried before I could treat it?
Re-wet the spot lightly with the vinegar mix to loosen the residue, then follow the same blot, baking soda, and enzyme steps. Set-in stains often need an enzyme cleaner and repeat treatments, and deep old stains may not fully lift at home.
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