3 Ways To Clean Urine From A Memory Foam Mattress

baby urine bed

Urine can ruin an otherwise perfect mattress. Learn how to remove pee from memory foam like an expert!

Urine can be removed from a memory foam mattress in three ways. These effective methods include the vinegar and baking soda technique, the dishwashing liquid and peroxide technique, and commercial cleaning products.

Accidents happen. Whether it is a family member or a pet, there will come a time when you are faced with a urine stain on your memory foam bed. We show you 3 of the best methods to clean up the spill and also how to avoid it in the future.


The Best 3 Ways To Get Rid Of Urine On A Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam has changed the mattress industry. The comfy material is loved by countless sleepers for its affordability and luxurious feeling. Unfortunately, memory foam has its weaknesses. Like any other foam, it has absorbent properties and when it comes to pee accidents, the results can be less than desirable.

The good news is that there are several ways to remove urine from a memory foam mattress. We have found the top 3 methods and here they are:

  1. The baking soda and vinegar method.
  2. The dishwashing liquid and peroxide method.
  3. Using a commercial cleaner.

Here are the best memory foam mattresses.


Pre-Cleaning The Mattress

The method you choose is the second step. The first is to quickly clean up what you can the moment that you notice that there has been an accident. 

The most important thing is never to rub the spot. It might feel instinctive but this can actually make the problem worse. This rule counts for any stain on a bed including coffee, blood, and more. The right way to do it is blotting. Take an absorbent item, like tissue or cloth and gently dab at the spot. Do not press too hard otherwise you might push the urine deeper into the foam. 

Also, remove the bedding and place it in the laundry machine for a wash. The sooner you clean the bedding, the more likely it will not stain or smell afterwards.

You can also grab all our best tips on overall care and how to clean a mattress.

The Baking Soda And Vinegar Method

baking soda and vinegar

For this method, you will need the following items. 

  • Vinegar. Always use real vinegar and not a product that is imitation vinegar or diluted. 
  • A clean cloth or paper towels.
  • A clean and empty spray bottle.
  • A box of baking soda.
  • A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery nozzle.

Step 1: Pour the vinegar into the empty spray bottle. Do not dilute the vinegar.

Step 2: Spray enough vinegar onto the stain to completely saturate it.

Step 3: Allow the vinegar to sit for roughly 15 minutes.

Step 4: Take the cloth or paper towels and gently blot the vinegar and the stain.

Step 5: Once you have removed as much moisture as you can, take the baking soda.

Step 6: Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the stain and leave the bed like that for a few hours. It is actually recommended to leave it for a whole day. 

Step 7: Check on the baking soda. If the method is working, the baking soda should start to form clumps as it absorbs more vinegar from the mattress.

Step 8: Once you notice that the baking soda is dry, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to thoroughly remove the baking soda. 

If you think that it is time to let that mattress go, we have the best tips on how to dispose of a mattress that is eco-friendly.

The Dishwashing Liquid And Peroxide Method

dishwash liquid

This method is perfect for dried pee, which can be much harder to remove than a fresh accident. Make sure that you remove all the bedding since hydrogen peroxide can stain certain materials. But why use hydrogen peroxide at all? It is great at removing difficult odours like urine and it also gets rid of bacteria. Begone smell and germs!

You will need to gather the following kit:

  • A bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Make sure that it is the kind that says 3% on the label. 
  • A clean and empty spray bottle.
  • A box of baking soda.
  • Dishwashing liquid.
  • Clean cloths (one should be dry and another must be damp). 

Step 1: Take the empty spray bottle and add some dishwashing liquid, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and between 230 and 300 millilitres of hydrogen peroxide. 

Step 2: Gently swirl the bottle to mix the ingredients. Do not shake the bottle! 

Step 3: Spray and thoroughly saturate the stain with the mixture. Leave the mixture on the mattress for an hour. 

Step 4: Use the damp cloth to gently clean the area, taking care not to rub or scrub too hard.

Step 5: Use the dry cloth to blot the area dry as much as possible. You can also put a fan nearby to help the mattress dry out faster.

These are the best Dunlopillo mattresses.

Use A Commercial Product

Luckily, if you rather prefer shop-bought solutions, there are many products that deal with stains. Finding the right one might be confusing at first. There are so many stain removers! Which one is the best for urine stains on a memory foam mattress? 

Step 1: Search for a product that is an enzyme cleaner, these are particularly effective against urine stains. Here is a great product if you don’t want to spend your time searching envii Bed Fresh.

Step 2: Gather paper towels, a box of baking soda, and a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery nozzle. 

Step 3: Read the instructions on how to use the commercial stain remover. 

Step 4: Spray the cleaner on the stain as per the instructions and allow it to sit for the recommended time. If there is no recommended time, let it sit for about 10 minutes. 

Step 5: Use the paper towels to blot away excess moisture. 

Step 6: Liberally cover the stain with baking soda. 

Step 7: Allow the baking soda to sit for at least a few hours and a day at most (the longer the better).

Step 8: Use the vacuum cleaner’s upholstery nozzle to suck away the baking soda. 


Avoid Future Urine Accidents With A Mattress Protector

mattress protector

When made from waterproof materials, mattress protectors protect a mattress fully from a pee accident. The urine will pool on the removable protector and never get through to the mattress. You will still have to wash the sheet covering the protector but that is certainly less of a drag than trying to clean urine from a memory foam mattress. It is definitely worth it to invest in a waterproof mattress protector! 


A Summary On How To Remove Urine From A Memory Foam Mattress

  • Urine can badly stain a memory foam mattress and also make a bed smell.
  • There are several home remedies you can try as well as commercial products.
  • The two most popular home remedies include the vinegar and baking soda mix, and the dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide mix.
  • Commercial cleaners also work better if you use them in conjunction with baking soda.
  • A waterproof mattress protector can avoid future pee accidents from reaching the mattress. 

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About the Author Tom

My journey into the world of sleep came about through living in several properties over my lifetime and always seeming to have the worst luck with neighbors. All but one have been extremely noisy and very inconsiderate. What this made me realize early on, was that the little sleep my neighbors allowed me to get needed to be of great quality. So I started to learn all about sleep, and what helps people get the best quality sleep possible.