How to get dog and cat pee out of a mattress

Time is of the essence when cleaning dog and cat pee from a mattress. Pet urine often has a strong, acrid smell, and it can cause deep yellow stains on a white mattress cover if you don't deal with it quickly.

Once you've stripped the bed sheets off of your mattress, the first thing you need to do is blot the pee to soak up the excess and to stop the urine from dripping down into the deeper layers of the mattress.

Do that, and you've bought yourself a few minutes to gather some essential supplies to properly clean the dog or cat pee so that it doesn't stain your mattress or cause it to smell. I recently spoke to cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie, aka the Queen of Clean, and Laura Ascher, cleaning and DIY expert at Our Oily House, to get their top tips for how to clean cat and dog pee from a mattress. Here's what they recommend...

Key takeaways

• When getting cat or dog pee out of a mattress, it's important to act fast and blot the accident immediately.
• Apply hydrogen peroxide, enzyme cleaner or a DIY solution of water, white vinegar, and soap to the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Once the stain is treated, allow the mattress to fully dry in a well-ventilated room.
• To prevent further pet accidents on your mattress, invest in a waterproof mattress protector to safeguard your bed.

How to get dog and cat pee out of a mattress: 5 easy steps

1. Immediately blot the pee

The golden rule of getting pet pee out of a mattress is to always act as fast as you can. Grab a paper towel or clean cloth and start dabbing at the stain to mop up as much liquid as you can.

"Start by blotting the area immediately using clean towels or paper towels," advises Crombie.

While the cleaning guru says to tackle the accident "as quickly as possible" so it's easier to remove, don't become too aggressive.

"Avoid rubbing, as this will push the urine deeper into the mattress fibres," she adds.

2. Lightly apply your solution and let it sit

Once you've dried the liquid as much as you can with a towel, it's then time to lightly mist the cleaning solution of your choice. However, avoid saturating the mattress.

"Lightly spray the affected area until it’s damp but not soaked, then let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes," advises Ascher.

3. Blot again and leave to air dry

When the stain is treated with the solution and has been left to sit, Crombie says you should blot it again and allow the mattress to become completely dry "ideally with windows open or using a fan."

"This step is crucial as any remaining moisture can trap smells and lead to bacteria growth," warns Crombie. ,

What experts use to clean dog and cat pee from a mattress

There are plenty of ingredients you can use to get rid of pet urine, but the solution you choose can depend on availability, cost, and aim.

So, whether you want a DIY solution already under your kitchen sink, or a product strong enough to get rid of mattress odors or stains, here are three options you can use to get rid of pet pee from your mattress.

1. Enzyme cleaners

if getting rid of the smell of cat pee is your top priority, you'll probably want to try an enzyme cleaner.

"Enzyme cleaner is specifically designed to break down proteins in pet urine, so it's the most effective long-term solution," says Crombie.

"I always recommend using an enzyme-based cleaner, especially for cat urine, as it fully breaks down the source of the smell rather than just masking it."

2. Hydrogen peroxide

A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is a must if your goal is to eliminate dog or cat pee stains.

According to Laura Ascher, mixing 3% hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water or equal parts dish soap is "one of the most effective methods" to lift mattress stains.

"As it dries, you’ll usually see the stain start to fade."

The cleaning expert says the mild bleaching effect may need "more than one round" if the stain has already set into the mattress, but repeating the process can gradually lighten yellow stains.

"That’s because hydrogen peroxide acts as a mild oxidizer, helping lift the yellowing left behind from urine," she explains.

However, Ascher warns that, due to its lightening effect, hydrogen peroxide should be "spot tested" first, especially when using it on darker mattresses.

"It can lighten darker fabrics or leave discoloration, so you have to be careful with it," she adds.

3. A DIY solution

If you need to act fast, but don't have any hydrogen peroxide or enzyme cleaners at home, you may need to look in your kitchen cabinet for a solution.

"Enzyme cleaner works great, but it's not something I usually have on hand, so I almost always default to other methods," admits Ascher.

White vinegar and soap detergent are kitchen staples that you can use to clean up stains.

"My favorite, for a variety of reasons, is a simple combination of distilled white vinegar, water, and a small amount of laundry detergent," says Ascher.

"I like it because it works well, is safe for most applications, and we all have these supplies on hand," she adds.

Another versatile ingredient is baking soda, and while it's not a cleaner on its own, Crombie says it "absorbs moisture and lingering smells".

"A final sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda over the area after cleaning and dry will help absorb any lingering odours before you vacuum it away," she explains.

However, it's important to be extra careful when using baking soda — and you should avoid baking soda completely if you're getting urine out of a memory foam mattress.

"The thing is baking soda has very fine particles and foam is very porous, so when you put apply it to foam, the fine particles settle into the pores in the foam," explains Mike Handelsman, a memory foam expert at FoamOrder.

"Once that happens, you’ll never be able to get the soda fully out of the mattress," he warns.

How to protect your mattress from cat and dog pee

Okay, so you've cleaned up your pet's "little accident" and your mattress is bone dry...so how do you keep it that way?

"Prevention is always easier than cure, especially with mattresses," says Crombie.

While the cleaning expert does reccomend reconsidering your sleeping arrangement "if accidents are a regular issue" , there is another thing you can do if you can't bear kicking your little furball out of bed.

Both Crombie and Ascher say an essential you should invest in is one of the best mattress protectors with waterproof protection, which Crombie says is the "the best investment you can make".

"If you have pets that are prone to accidents, I think it’s worth choosing a protector that's specifically labeled as waterproof or designed for pet use," advises Ascher.

"It creates a barrier that prevents any liquid from soaking into the mattress, which makes cleanup so much easier," she adds.