We’ve all experienced the sinking feeling that comes with discovering an accident on a mattress. Whether it’s an unwelcome surprise from sleeping with your dog or an accident from your child, you’re suddenly picturing chemical fumes, hours of scrubbing, and weeks of, “do you smell that?” as you fight the lingering odour of that pesky pee stain.

So, how do you get pee out of a mattress, and can you whiten stained sheets and mattresses? We’re here to tell you that removing urine from a mattress doesn’t have to be difficult, complicated, or costly. In fact, the best method is only six steps long, uses supplies you most likely already have on hand, and will have you back in bed and peacefully dreaming in no time.

How to Remove Pee from a Mattress

What you’ll need: 

• Baking soda
• Clean towels
• Cold water
• Laundry detergent
• White vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Vacuum

In six simple steps, here’s how to get pee out of a mattress:

Step 1: Take Off Your Bedding

Before you do anything else, strip your mattress and place your bedding in the washing machine as soon as possible. Urine stains will set, so make sure to wash your sheets and comforter right away. If the urine stain or smell remains after washing your bedding, add a cup of white vinegar and run the wash again.

Step 2: Blot (but do not scrub!) the Areas

Blot the soiled area with a clean, dry towel to absorb as much excess liquid as possible. Scrubbing the spot will push the liquid deeper into the fabric of the mattress, making it more difficult to remove completely.

Step 3: Spray the Stain with Vinegar Solution

Combine two parts cold water, one part white vinegar, and a small amount of laundry detergent in a spray bottle (a few tablespoons for a standard spray bottle; more if your bottle is larger). Spray the stain liberally — don’t be afraid to soak it completely!

Step 4: Allow the Vinegar Solution to Soak

Allow 10–15 minutes for the solution-soaked mattress to sit. Blot the excess liquid with a fresh, clean cloth.

Step 5: Apply Baking Soda to the affected area.

Allow baking soda to sit on the entire surface of the soiled area for 8–10 hours. Close the door to prevent pets or children from making a baking soda mess!

6th: Vacuum the Dry Baking Soda

Vacuum the dried baking soda from the mattress with a hose attachment. If you don’t make sure the powder is completely dry, you risk damaging your vacuum. To clean up damp powder, you can also use a wet/dry vacuum.

After you’ve finished vacuuming, inspect the mattress. Repeat steps three through six if necessary to remove any remaining odours or stains.