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How to remove pet urine stains from a mattress
Learn the tricks the experts use to remove pet stains from your bedding
If you have a fur baby or cohabitate with a feline roomie, you know accidents can happen. But don’t worry because we’ve compiled the best DIY methods for removing cat and dog pee stains and lingering odours from your mattress and bedding.
Let’s start with the facts first.
What are pet urine stains?
Pet urine stains are those pesky little yellow-brown spots on mattresses that are usually caused by the accumulation of pet urine over time. They can form from either direct contact with your pet’s urine or from droplets landing on the mattress and evaporating, leaving behind minerals and salts that can eventually leave a permanent mark.
It’s important to remember that these stains aren’t just aesthetically displeasing; they can also be sources of bad odours and potentially hazardous bacteria and germs.
What makes our furry friends have accidents indoors?
Dog and cat pee stains can be frustrating, and it’s important to understand the root causes of why our furry friends have accidents indoors and in our beds to try and prevent them in the future.
Medical Causes
Urinary tract infections or medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases or bladder stones can make it difficult for pets to control their bladders.
Behavioural
In some cases, behavioural issues like lack of house training, fear and anxiety, or simply not having access to an appropriate place to go could cause your pet to have accidents inside.
Marking Territory
Pets may also urinate in inappropriate places due to marking territory, and it can be difficult to unlearn this primal behaviour.
It’s important to remember that many factors may lead pets to have accidents indoors – but with the right effort (and maybe a few accidents along the way!), you’ll eventually see an end to unsightly pet urine stains!
What makes pet stains so hard to remove from bedding?
Pet stains are notoriously difficult to remove from mattresses and bedding. Pet urine comprises compounds and proteins that make complete stain removal a real challenge.
Proteins
One of the causes for their stubbornness is that pet urine contains proteins that are absorbed deep into the mattress fibres. This means that even if you manage to physically remove the stain, it will often still remain within the mattress.
It is not enough to merely soak up the urine; you must take action to break down and remove these proteins. These proteins can also become embedded in the mattress over time from multiple instances of urine contact, creating an even more stubborn stain that is harder to remove.
Uric Acid & Urea
In addition, pet pee contains both urea and uric acid, which create a sticky residue that adheres to fabric fibres. Uric acid is particularly difficult to get rid of once it bonds with fabrics due to its high acidity level and ability to crystallise when exposed to air, making it almost impossible for regular cleaning solutions or laundry detergents alone to remove them effectively.
Pet Hair
On top of that, pet hair can easily get mixed in with pet urine stains, further complicating the removal process. As pet hair contains natural oils, they can be left behind in the fabric, even when washed or vacuumed away. These oils can attract dirt and debris, ultimately leading to a darker and more noticeable stain. Pet hair can also cause mattresses and other textiles to wear out quicker as they ‘grab’ at fibres during vacuuming or washing cycles.
Umm, we love our four-legged friends, but … “Ewww!”
Mattress Protectors protect against stains
The Sleep Republic team highly recommends using a mattress protector to protect your investment from pet urine stains and other accidents. Our soft Tencel mattress protectors provide optimum waterproofing protection and a cool and silky feel to your mattress.
Expert Tips on Removing Pet Urine Stains
The key to removing pet urine stains is to act quickly! The longer you wait, the more likely it is for the stain to set in and become more difficult (or even impossible) to remove. One of the best ways to get cat or dog urine stains out of a mattress is with a cleaner specifically designed for this purpose.
Commercial Pet Urine Cleaners
These cleaners are typically enzyme-based solutions that work by breaking down proteins in pet urine, which makes them easier to remove from fabric surfaces. Be sure to read the directions carefully before using any type of enzyme cleaner, as many products have specific instructions, such as dilution ratios or rinsing requirements.
Household Cleaning Solution
Aside from using speciality cleaners, you can try several additional methods to remove pet urine stains from your mattress. For example, applying an absorbent cloth directly onto the stain and pressing down gently until no more liquid is absorbed may help eliminate some of the stain’s discolouration and odour.
Additionally, some people suggest creating a paste composed of household cleaning items such as baking soda, bleach, laundry detergent or vinegar* in order to scrub away any remaining residue. Always use caution when attempting this method, as too much scrubbing could damage delicate fabrics or fibres in your mattress.
*Disclaimer: We do not recommend using these items together as combining bleach and vinegar can create a toxic gas.
It is also important to remember that most household cleaners may not treat pet urine stains effectively because they aren’t designed to break down proteins like most speciality pet urine enzyme cleaners.
How To Get Cat Urine Stain Out of Mattress (Works for dogs too!)
There are several ways you can try to remove urine from a mattress. Choose the method that suits you best or based on what you have around the house.
These methods may be used on latex, pocket spring, hybrid or memory foam mattress but please see the manufacturer’s care instructions for guidance on how to best clean your mattress materials, as they may be affected by the cleaning solutions mentioned below.
Baking Soda & Vinegar Solution Cleaning Method
Fill a clean spray bottle with one cup of distilled white vinegar, one cup of water, and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Shake to mix thoroughly, then spray onto the stain. Let sit for several minutes before blotting dry with towels.
Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaning Method
A hydrogen peroxide solution is the best method for removing fresh urine stains. Combine 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tablespoons of warm water, and several drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the stain and repeat as necessary. Lightly rinse the area with water once you’re finished, dry it with paper towels, and then vacuum up any leftover moisture.
Laundry Detergent Cleaning Method
Soak up any excess moisture with a clean cloth or sponge. Next, apply a small amount of liquid detergent to the area and massage it gently. Leave it for two minutes before rinsing it with cool water and blotting it dry again.
Odours – How to rid your home of a stubborn urine smell
While you may have removed the offending stain, sometimes a lingering pee smell can remain. To eliminate this smell, we recommend the following DIY home remedy:
- Start with a 1/4 cup of baking soda.
- Spread a thin layer of baking soda evenly across the damp spot.
- Let it sit there overnight, then vacuum thoroughly until the area feels clean to the touch and all of the powder is gone.
- You may have to go over it a few times.
Cleaning Premium Quality Mattresses
If your mattress has a manufacturer’s tag indicating it should only be cleaned with water or other mild detergents, this is your best bet for cleaning the area without damaging it further.
Certainly, the Sleep Republic mattress should not be cleaned with anything other than careful wiping or dabbing with a damp cloth. We recommend against using solvents or chemicals and warn against getting the mattress overly wet. Let the mattress air dry completely before covering again.
Want to climb into a fresh, clean bed?
Well, now you have all the tricks of the trade on the best way to try and remove urine stains from your mattress and bedding.
But, if you’ve decided that there’s too much damage to clean your mattress thoroughly, or if it was on its last legs anyway, check out our multi-award-winning hybrid mattress in a box and see what you could be sleeping on … this week!
Our expedited delivery service means you could be drifting off in clean, fresh and blissful comfort in just a few days. Plus, with our 100-Night Trial, you can experience all the comfort and support of our mattress at home, and if you find it’s not a good match for you, we’ll arrange to pick it up and issue a full refund.
