How to clean cat pee out of a mattress

Four Ways To Get Cat Pee Out Of A Mattress

A urine-soaked mattress is a situation where speed is crucial. The faster you can get to the urine, the more of it you can get out of the mattress and the less lingering smell you’ll have to deal with.

If you have a wet-dry vac, this is the perfect place to use it! If not, blot up as much of the wetness as you can.

Don’t stop with the surface wetness – put pressure on the mattress and try to extract as much of the urine from the inside as possible.

There are many excellent commercial products made specifically for removing cat urine odors, and there’s no doubt that one of these is probably your best and surest bet.

But don’t panic – if you don’t happen to have any of those products at hand, try one of the alternatives below.

Method One

After extracting as much of the urine as you can soak the urine stain with white vinegar.

Some recommend a mixture of half vinegar and half water, but I’ve used straight vinegar with good results.

Let the vinegar sit for a few minutes, then use more paper towels to extract as much of it as you can from the mattress.

Next, drizzle some dishwashing liquid over the area and scrub it with a damp brush (like a soft scrub brush or nail brush).

Wipe with plain water, then sprinkle the area liberally with baking soda and rub it lightly into the fabric. When the baking soda has dried, vacuum the area.

This method tends to leave the mattress smelling slightly like vinegar, but it beats the alternative.

Method Two

After extracting as much of the urine as you can, sprinkle the area liberally with baking soda, then soak the area with hydrogen peroxide.

Work the soda/peroxide mixture into the fabric with a soft brush and let dry. Vacuum up any remaining soda.

If the smell remains after the mattress is dry, repeat the process. It can take two or three scrubbings to completely eliminate the smell.

Method Three

After extracting as much of the urine as you can, make a paste from hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing liquid, and baking soda and work it into the fabric. Let dry and vacuum.

If the smell remains after the mattress is dry, repeat the process as often as you need to until the smell is gone.

Method Four

Extract the urine, scrub down the area with shampoo or dishwashing liquid, then soak the area with rubbing alcohol.

If the smell remains after the mattress is dry, repeat the process as needed.

If the urine has already dried into the mattress when you discover the problem, getting rid of the odor will be more of a challenge.

Just spraying the area with a fabric odor treatment like Febreeze won’t work unless you do something to neutralize the urine that has dried deep in the mattress, so you’ll have to scrub it with something.

Again, a commercial product specifically made to get rid of cat urine odor will probably be the most effective, but the methods above are definitely worth a shot.

If the weather permits and you can shift the mattress, doing the scrubbing outdoors and letting the mattress dry in the sun can help.

This behavior frequently can be a sign of an elimination-related illness such as a urinary tract infection.

Cats who are feeling stress may also exhibit this behavior. A waterproof mattress cover can be a lifesaver.

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Four Ways To Get Cat Pee Out Of A Mattress

A urine-soaked mattress is a situation where speed is crucial. The faster you can get to the urine, the more of it you can get out of the mattress and the less lingering smell you’ll have to deal with.

If you have a wet-dry vac, this is the perfect place to use it! If not, blot up as much of the wetness as you can.

Don’t stop with the surface wetness – put pressure on the mattress and try to extract as much of the urine from the inside as possible.

There are many excellent commercial products made specifically for removing cat urine odors, and there’s no doubt that one of these is probably your best and surest bet.

But don’t panic – if you don’t happen to have any of those products at hand, try one of the alternatives below.

Method One

After extracting as much of the urine as you can soak the urine stain with white vinegar.

Some recommend a mixture of half vinegar and half water, but I’ve used straight vinegar with good results.

Let the vinegar sit for a few minutes, then use more paper towels to extract as much of it as you can from the mattress.

Next, drizzle some dishwashing liquid over the area and scrub it with a damp brush (like a soft scrub brush or nail brush).

Wipe with plain water, then sprinkle the area liberally with baking soda and rub it lightly into the fabric. When the baking soda has dried, vacuum the area.

This method tends to leave the mattress smelling slightly like vinegar, but it beats the alternative.

Method Two

After extracting as much of the urine as you can, sprinkle the area liberally with baking soda, then soak the area with hydrogen peroxide.

Work the soda/peroxide mixture into the fabric with a soft brush and let dry. Vacuum up any remaining soda.

If the smell remains after the mattress is dry, repeat the process. It can take two or three scrubbings to completely eliminate the smell.

Method Three

After extracting as much of the urine as you can, make a paste from hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing liquid, and baking soda and work it into the fabric. Let dry and vacuum.

If the smell remains after the mattress is dry, repeat the process as often as you need to until the smell is gone.

Method Four

Extract the urine, scrub down the area with shampoo or dishwashing liquid, then soak the area with rubbing alcohol.

If the smell remains after the mattress is dry, repeat the process as needed.

If the urine has already dried into the mattress when you discover the problem, getting rid of the odor will be more of a challenge.

Just spraying the area with a fabric odor treatment like Febreeze won’t work unless you do something to neutralize the urine that has dried deep in the mattress, so you’ll have to scrub it with something.

Illness

Again, a commercial product specifically made to get rid of cat urine odor will probably be the most effective, but the methods above are definitely worth a shot.

If the weather permits and you can shift the mattress, doing the scrubbing outdoors and letting the mattress dry in the sun can help.

This behavior frequently can be a sign of an elimination-related illness such as a urinary tract infection.

Cats who are feeling stress may also exhibit this behavior. A waterproof mattress cover can be a lifesaver.

Owning a cat is a unique source of joy, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always easy. If you’ve had cats for a while, you’ve probably dealt with an accident once or twice. If your cat pees on a tile floor or an old t-shirt, it’s easy to clean up, but other accidents are a bit more challenging. You can’t throw a mattress into your washing machine, and you might be reluctant to use harsh chemicals on your mattress.

Luckily, there are other solutions —in fact, there are several different ways of getting rid of urine smells and stains from a dirty mattress. If you want to know how to clean cat urine from a bed, here are four methods you can try. These methods can be used on a conventional mattress, but they are also suitable for removing cat urine from a foam mattress.

Before You Start

Cleaning a stained mattress always starts with getting together any tools and ingredients that you need. For fresh urine stains, always blot up as much as you can with a rag or a paper towel before you start. Don’t rub deeply with the towel; just press gently until it is soaked. Scrubbing can press urine deeper into the mattress and make it harder to clean.

How to Get Cat Urine Smell & Stains Out of a Mattress (4 Ways)

Tools and Ingredients Needed:

• Shampoo or dishwashing detergent
• Sponge
• Rubbing alcohol

The first step is to scrub down the stained area using a cheap shampoo or some detergent. Work your cleaner of choice into the mattress with a sponge. Scrub at any marks or stains, and then let it soak in for a few minutes. After about 5-10 minutes, use rubbing alcohol to rinse the stained area. As the alcohol dries, it will dissipate and leave your mattress clean.

Tools and Ingredients Needed:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Baking soda
• Cleaning brush
• Vacuum

You can also use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to clean the mattress. Mix them together to form a paste, and then rub it into the mattress. An old toothbrush or a similar brush can help you work it in. Let the mixture dry overnight. Once the mixture is fully dry, vacuum any remaining baking soda mixture from the mattress. The peroxide breaks down urine, while the baking soda absorbs moisture and odors. You may need to repeat this a few times.

Tools and Ingredients Needed:

Mild stains might not need anything more than baking soda to clean the mattress. Wet the baking soda with a few teaspoons of water and then rub the paste into the stain. Once the baking soda is dry, vacuum the mattress to remove any dirty powder. This method works well if you’ve previously cleaned a stain but still have lingering odors.

Tools and Ingredients Needed:

• Enzyme-based cleaner or 50% vinegar solution
• Baking soda
• Paper towels or rags
• Vacuum

If you have an especially tough stain, a multi-stage approach can help clean it completely. This method works with an equal mixture of water and vinegar, but an enzyme-based cleaner is even better. Chemical cleaners use enzymes that break down urine better than household products.

Using your chosen cleaning solution, spray down the mattress thoroughly so that the stained area is covered by the cleaner. Allow it to soak for 10-15 minutes. Blot as much liquid out as you can.

Once you’ve finished cleaning with the enzyme cleaner, use baking soda to remove anything that’s left. Massage baking soda into the mattress and allow it to dry. Vacuum up any remaining baking soda.

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Reasons Your Cat Might Wet the Bed

Most cats can grasp litter box training without too much trouble, so it’s always a surprise when they pee somewhere they shouldn’t. If accidents occur frequently, it might take some effort to redirect your cat. The smell of a prior accident might draw your cat back to the “scene of the crime” and cause more accidents, even if the smell is too faint for humans. A thorough cleaning should help.

If your cat is having frequent accidents, it might be a litter box issue. Make sure that your cat has access to clean, fresh litter. This might mean moving your litter box to somewhere more accessible, adding a second box, or cleaning yours more frequently.

A third possibility is that a health issue is interfering with your cat’s bladder control. If your cat suddenly starts peeing in odd places, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your cat’s health. There are many different conditions that cause frequent urination or loss of bladder control, so bringing your cat in for a check-up is a good way to make sure your cat is in good health.

Last Thoughts

It might be annoying to clean up cat urine, but don’t fret too much. Each of these methods will work for cleaning urine smell and stains out of a foam mattress or a traditional mattress. And even if you’re frustrated in the moment, a purr and a cuddle from your feline friend will remind you that the trouble is worth it.

Featured Image Credit: FotoDuets, Shutterstock