How do you neutralize urine smell in mattress?

Author: Brenda Upton MD  |  Last update: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Baking soda is alkaline, which allows it to neutralize uric acid and prevent any lingering odors. It is also good at drawing out moisture from a mattress, making it a powerful part of the cleaning process. To use it, spread a generous layer over the surface of your mattress and let it sit for at least 8 hours.

What kills urine smell in a mattress?

Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid detergent will all come in handy to remove the stronger urine odor that can be associated with your animals, especially cats.

What kills human urine smell?

Mix baking soda, peroxide, and dish soap; Make a solution of baking soda, peroxide, and any dish detergent. The combination of all three is strong enough to eliminate the strongest urine odors.

What happens if you leave urine on a mattress?

Mattresses are rarely cheap, and leaving a stain can damage a warrantee or invite a hefty fee from a landlord. But it's not just an irritation. Urine in a mattress can be dangerous and lead to health issues too, from bug bites to respiratory issues caused by fungal spores.

Is vinegar or hydrogen peroxide better for urine?

You can use hydrogen-peroxide right after using the vinegar and water solution to further eliminate the odor. Hydrogen-peroxide is best for hardwood floors suffering from cat urine smells but also works for carpets, couches, and even clothing.

How To Get Rid Of Pee Smell On A Mattress [Detailed Guide]

Is a mattress ruined if it gets pee on it?

If you notice a urine smell or a dried pee stain on a mattress, there's no reason to panic. You can still nurse that mattress back to health in a few easy steps. First, as with a fresh stain, toss the bedding and the washable mattress protector in the washing machine.

How long does it take for vinegar to remove urine smell?

Urine smells like ammonia, and this is neutralized with white vinegar. After blotting the area dry, pour the vinegar solution on the affected area, and let the solution soak for 10 minutes to reach the deepest fibers in the rug. Use paper towels to blot and dry the vinegar solution.

Can a peed on a mattress be saved?

The combination of vinegar and laundry detergent works well to remove stains and odor. You'll also want to keep baking soda handy, as it will help pull up any remaining moisture in the bed and does a great job of absorbing odors. A wet/dry vacuum can also prove instrumental in cleaning up a urine-soaked bed.

How to deodorize a mattress?

Mix white vinegar and water in equal parts to apply the vinegar solution, then pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution across the mattress until you achieve a light coverage. Then, let the mattress dry. With this in mind, you can combine this step with leaving your mattress outside in the sun.

Will Febreze remove urine smell from mattress?

Febreze and other cleaners simply masked the urine odors, and some cleaning solutions that I'd found online would remove the odor but didn't work well on the stains.

What do nursing homes use to get rid of pee smell?

Hospitals, nursing homes, health care clinics, and other facilities have relied on ZORBX® as the guaranteed odor remover for urine, bile, human waste and other body fluids. Try it and Start Enjoying The Sweet Smell of... Nothing.

What is the most powerful odor eliminator DIY?

What Is the Best Homemade Odor Eliminator: 7 DIY Solutions You Can Make Now
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Spray. This is a powerful spray that helps you tackle tough odors like pet urine and vomit. ...
  • DIY Gel Air Fresheners. ...
  • Deodorizer Disks. ...
  • Essential Oil Wax Melts. ...
  • Essential Oil Spray. ...
  • Coffee Grounds. ...
  • Vinegar Solution.

What will absorb urine smell?

Vinegar & Water

Spray the affected area well and allow it to penetrate. Then, take a cloth and push it into the carpet or material to soak up the fluid. Repeat these steps with this homemade odor eliminator solution a few times for the best results. This can be an excellent deodorizer for urine smell.

How do you clean a mattress that someone has peed on?

To harness the odor-eating power of baking soda, follow these steps:
  1. Step 1: Create a baking soda paste over a sink. Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar in a bowl to make a paste. ...
  2. Step 2: Apply the baking soda paste. ...
  3. Step 3: Let it dry. ...
  4. Step 4: Vacuum the area. ...
  5. Step 5: Inspect the mattress and repeat as necessary.

What absorbs bad smells in mattress?

Using a hand sifter, sprinkle baking soda over the surface of your mattress. If there's any moisture apparent on your mattress, let it air dry. Then, after an hour or so, simply vacuum the baking soda up, and voila! A fresh-smelling bed.

Does pee smell go away when it dries?

“The smell gets more concentrated over time,” Dr. Kornreich says. Additionally, once a urine stain dries, you may no longer see it without using a black light. But you can still smell it, and so can your cat, which can lead them to pee in that area again.

How do you fix urine smell on mattress?

  1. Strip the bed.
  2. Blot the wet mattress with a dry towel.
  3. Spray the pee-soaked area with a white vinegar solution.
  4. Sprinkle the urine with baking soda.
  5. Vacuum the soiled baking soda.
  6. Spray the urine stains with a heavy-duty solution.
  7. Let the mattress soak for a day.
  8. Let the solution completely dry.

How long to leave baking soda on mattress to deodorize?

Generally, it's recommended to leave the baking soda on a mattress for 30 minutes to an hour. But for a deeper clean, let the baking soda sit for 24 hours. To avoid caked-on baking soda, check it every several hours and remove it once it has absorbed all moisture, stains, and odors.

Can I use Febreze on my mattress?

Use fabric cleaners like Lysol, Febreze, or Resolve, ensuring you don't soak the mattress. Application Techniques: Spray evenly from a distance, targeting any odor-prone areas, and let it dry completely before making the bed.

How long does it take to get pee out of a mattress?

While you are at it, sprinkle baking soda over the entire mattress and leave it uncovered for 18-24 hours. Finally, using a vacuum cleaner, clean all the dried baking soda powder and succeed in getting rid of pee from a mattress.

What to do after peeing on mattress?

You can skip the fancy cleaning products and find what you need right in your kitchen: white vinegar and warm water. Mix it up 50/50 and use a spray bottle to apply it to your mattress. Then blot the mattress again with a towel. You might have to repeat this process for a bigger (or smellier!)

Does resolve urine destroyer work?

Removes stains fast

It's my first choice for cleaning up urine and pet vomit. It also works well on chocolate and soda. I just clean up the mess and then spray the area completely and walk away for awhile-when I come back the stain is usually gone.

How to get rid of strong urine odor?

Ways to Reduce Urine Odor
  1. Drink Enough Fluids. Many people are worried about drinking fluids because they fear it will increase their chances of leakage. ...
  2. Get an Exam. Get an examination to check for infection in your bladder or urinary tract. ...
  3. Switch it Up. ...
  4. Drink Cranberry Juice. ...
  5. Take Deodorizing Tablets.

Can you mix vinegar and baking soda?

And the long answer goes like this: When used together, baking soda and vinegar will neutralize each other, effectively canceling out the benefits of low pH for vinegar and high pH for baking soda.

Is peroxide or vinegar better on urine smell?

A solution of vinegar and water can help neutralize urine odors. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, spray it onto the stained area, then blot dry. We recommend pouring the vinegar directly on the soiled area cover with plastic over night rinse and repeat until odor is gone.

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