How to Remove Pee Stains from a Mattress

Once you’ve taken care of little kids, you become no stranger to a myriad of kid messes. Among these messes are pee stains, which, if you have kids, will almost certainly end up on a mattress at some point. A kid mattress is an investment, of course, and having a clean one that both looks and smells clean is important. 

Removing pee stains from mattresses is doable, so don’t despair when someone has an accident. As with any stain, the sooner you address the stain, the easier it will be and the better the end result. Also keep in mind that foam mattresses will soak up the stain more than traditional mattresses, which makes the process of removing the stain more difficult. Avoid using bleach and other harsh chemicals on pee stains that occur on mattresses; you don’t want to damage the mattress or expose the people sleeping on the mattress to unhealthy substances. 

Here’s how to remove pee stains from mattresses, which you’ll probably have to do more than once or twice.

The best supplies for removing pee stains from mattresses are things you most likely already have on hand at home. This is what you’ll need.

• Rags, towels, or paper towels
• Spray bottle 
• Cool water
• Distilled water vinegar
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Baking soda
• Vacuum cleaner 
• Fan
• Enzyme cleaner (for pet pee stains only)

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you’re treating pet pee stains, replace the vinegar solution with an enzyme cleaner. Pets may begin to mark the area if they smell vinegar in a place they previously peed. 

1. Remove the bedding: Remove all bedding from the mattress. 
2. Blot: Blot the mess with towels, rags, or paper towels. 
3. Make a cleaning solution: Make a solution of 50/50 cool water, distilled white vinegar, and one to two tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent. Shake well. 
4. Spray the affected area. Be sure to cover the entire stain, and don’t be afraid to spray liberally. Allow the solution to sit for at least 15 minutes, but up to an hour. 
5. Rinse: Blot with clean rags dampened with water to rinse. 
6. Apply a baking soda paste: Make a baking soda paste and cover the affected area. Allow the paste to sit at least eight hours or overnight. 
7. Vacuum: Vacuum the baking soda. 
8. Repeat: Repeat as necessary until the stain and the smell are gone. 
9. Dry: Allow to dry completely, using a fan to speed up the process. 

A mattress protector can help prevent pee stains and smells from happening in the first place! Check out Cubby’s list of the best mattress protectors for kids.