Does Urine Ruin Memory Foam? How To Get Urine Out of Foam Mattress?

Are you on the list of this disastrous experience too? Welcome to the forum! Urine smell and stains in the memory foam mattresses are one of the most unpleasant experiences. Living with that is furthermore impossible.

Don’t worry, firstly let us tell you that you are not alone and secondly, there are innumerable simplest ways you can try to remove the stains and smell of urine from a memory foam mattress.

In this article, we shall strongly focus on all the different and easiest methods on how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress. These solutions are tried and tested by many people who have shared positive answers through the results they had experienced.

Some of these methods are also shared by DIY experts. Urine can certainly ruin your memory foam mattress especially when it doesn’t have a waterproof feature. The worst thing is, these do not get covered under the warranty either.

Let’s get straight to the ways of cleaning without wasting much time!

Effective Ways to Get Urine out of Memory Foam Mattress when Wet

Cleaning wet urine or dry urine from a memory foam mattress involves separate techniques. For dry urine cleaning, you need a stronger solution. There are certain products that you need to have at home always regardless of the level of damage caused due to urine.

You are fortunate to notice the urine stain on time. If the mattress is wet with urine, it means it is still fresh, and the fresher the urine, the easier it is to clean.

You need to act fast to get rid of the stain immediately and completely. You need to follow the basic steps 1 and 2 as explained above.

The Vinegar and Baking Soda method explained above fits well to clean the wet urine from a memory foam mattress. Don’t forget to open the windows and switch on the fan for the urine to dry and odor to pass out of the room.

The essentials needed to clean wet urine out of memory foam mattress

S. NoItem NamePurposeRecommended Product
1Spray BottleTo mix the ingredients and spray on the affected areaPlastic Spray Bottles with Sprayers
2VinegarTo melt uric acid and ammonia present in the urine.Heinz All Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar
3Laundry DetergentTo break down uric acid and urine smellArm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent
4Paper TowelsTo soak the urine as well as the excess liquid prepare for the cleaningPresto Paper Towels
5Baking SodaTo soak the moisture and absorb the urineArm & Hammer Baking Soda

7 Steps to clean urine from a memory foam mattress in wet condition

How to clean urine from a memory foam mattress in wet condition? - Step by Step

1. Take out the bedding

Wash the comfortable and mattress immediately in the washing machine. The urine/pee stains must be washed thoroughly. Regardless of the state of urine condition, you must put it to wash when you realize the stains.

2. Soak it up if wet

Gently pat a clean and dry towel on the pee area to soak up as much liquid as possible if the mattress is wet. You must dry the liquid from the mattress first. Avoid scrubbing the mattress as it will only scatter the liquid making it dry and hard to collect.

3. Vinegar spraying

In a spray bottle, pour some vinegar (one part), cold water (two parts), and laundry detergent (two to three tbsp.). Mix the mixture nicely and spray on the mattress. Even if the mattress is soaked in the liquid you don’t worry about it; that is exactly what it has to be.

4. Let the vinegar dry

Allow the mixture to settle for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat the process with another set of tissues or dry towels to transfer the excess liquid from the mattress.

5. Sprinkle with baking soda

Seal the area with baking soda and allow it to settle. Let it be for 8 to 10 hours. Avoid the mixture to come in contact with pets or kids. You may keep the room locked until the process is completed.

6. Vacuum it up

With the support of a vacuum cleaner, suction the powder from the foam mattress. Before you do that, check if the soda has completely dried. As an alternative, you may also use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to clean up the mixture.

7. Inspect the mattress

Inspect the mattress and check if there is any residue. You may repeat the process to ensure the vacuum is clean from the urine stains as well as the residue of the mixture.

Recommended Cleaning Kit to Clean Wet Urine from a Memory Foam Mattress

For your convenience, we created below custom cleaning kit including all the recommended products required to clean urine from a memory foam mattress in wet condition

Effective Ways to Get Urine out of Memory Foam Mattress when Dry

If the urine has dried up in a memory foam mattress, it means the urine has developed stains on the mattress. Thus, you need a stronger solution for the cleaning. For dry urine stains from the mattress, you will need a few products at home.

The essentials needed to clean dried urine from memory foam mattress

S. NoItem NamePurposeRecommended Product
1Baking SodaTo soak the moisture and absorb the urineArm & Hammer Baking Soda
2Dish SoapTo break down uric acid and urine smellMethod Power Dish Dishwasher Soap
3Hydrogen PeroxideTo dissolve the bacteria, smell, and tough stainsHydrogen Peroxide Solution

5 Steps to clean urine from a memory foam mattress in dry condition

How to clean urine from a memory foam mattress in dry condition? - step by step

1. Create the solution

Prepare the solution mixing all the ingredients in the proportion explained below:

  • Hydrogen peroxide: 8 ounces
  • Baking soda: 3 tbsp.
  • Dish soap (Laundry detergent): 2 to 4 drops

In a spray bottle, add all the ingredients as explained in step one. Mix it well.

2. Spray it all

Spray the mixture on the dried urine area nicely. Cover all the stained areas properly. Allow the mixture to soak in. Let it dry completely for at least 3 to 4 hours. Drying the mixture is essential before you vacuum it. Once the mixture has completely dried, you will notice the residue of baking soda in the form of layers.

3. Vacuum it

Use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the entire residue from the mattress. Vacuuming helps to take away all the leftover particles of the mixture. You must avoid using a broom or other similar products to pick the residue. That will unnecessarily scatter the particles in the other areas of the mattress.

4. Inspect the mattress

Inspect and check if there is anything left to be picked from the mattress. The mixture should have taken up everything however, it is still better to check again to be on the safer side.

5. Repeat the process

If you still see the stains or some portion of the stain left behind, repeat the process to get rid of the stains completely.

Technically, the process should pick up all the dried urine stains from the memory foam mattress, however; some stains are tough and take time to go if they have been there for a long time. Thus, you will have to repeat the steps until they are gone completely.

How to clean tough pet or dog urine stains out of a memory foam mattress

Other than human urine, pet urine can be more smelly and bad to remove. It is because animal urine is more concentrated due to different substances present. For your reference, human urine contains 95% water whereas pet urine is more concentrated comparatively.

Another most important reason to treat pet urine immediately is that pets have a habit of marking their territories for repeated actions. Thus, your pet may repeat the same habit of peeing after seeing the stains or feeling the smell of its urine in the mattress.

Although most steps are similar, a few things need to be added. Check out these tweaks that are simple but effective to follow for pet pee stains on memory foam mattresses.

The essentials to clean pet urine from memory foam mattress

S. NoItem NamePurposeRecommended Product
1Baking SodaTo soak the moisture and absorb the urineArm & Hammer Baking Soda
2Vacuum CleanerTo clean up the residueLOZAYI Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
3Enzyme CleanerTo clean the tough elements present in UrineAmazonCommercial Enzyme Cleaner
4Pet RepellentTo restrict pet to trace trace the pee areaBodhi Dog Not Here! Spray

5 Steps to clean Pet urine from a memory foam mattress

How to clean Pet urine from a memory foam mattress? - Step by Step

1. Apply baking soda

Unlike other methods where you dilute the baking soda, sprinkle the baking soda directly on the pee stain. Baking soda powder helps to absorb wet moisture.

The color of the baking soda turns darker as it continues to absorb the urine and the moisture from the mattress.

2. Repeat Process

Pick up the soiled and dried baking soda powder from the mattress. Add more ounces of fresh baking soda powder and let it soak the remaining urine too from the mattress.

You will need to repeat these steps until the color of the baking soda remains white on the soiled surface.

3. Cleaning the mattress

Once the urine is completely cleaned with baking soda, clean the mattress as you would do in the case of human urine i.e. vacuum the powder and clean the mattress by washing it in the washing machine with a good detergent.

4. Enzyme method

You may also use enzyme cleaner instead of laundry detergents to clean the mattress. Enzyme cleaners are stronger to clean tough elements present in ammonia, fatty acids, animal urine, and more. You may find enzyme cleaners at the pet store or online.

5. Pet Repellent

Despite the mattress being cleaned, there could be some smell or traces that would allure your pet to pee again on the same spot. It could be due to urine’s chemical footprints that are sometimes left behind.

After all the steps of cleaning are completed, you need to use a pet-friendly repellent so that your pet doesn’t trace the pee area to repeat the habit.

*Tip: Avoid toxic products or products containing chemicals. The place where your pet, kid sits or plays around cannot have strong chemicals. You must avoid using cleaning agents that contain hydrogen peroxide or similar bleaching agents that could be hazardous to babies and animals.

How to clean urine from memory foam mattress topper

Leaving the memory foam mattress topper dirty and smelly of urine for long could be dreadful. It could also lead to various other issues as explained below:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Skin rashes
  • Skin Itchiness
  • Uncommon skin bites
  • Cough and cold due to bad odor
  • Presence of insect bites due to urine smell and stains

Keeping the bedding and mattress clean is essential. The fungi and moisture make it almost impossible to wake up with a foul smell. Moreover, if left untreated for a long time your mattress may tear apart during washing.

Cleaning the mattress topper along with the mattress at least once a year regardless of whether the mattress has urine stains or not is an ideal thing to do.

A clean mattress topper is free from dust, bacteria, fungi, dust mites, and other types of allergens that are not too friendly with humans as well as pets.

The essentials to clean urine from memory foam mattress topper

S. NoItem NamePurposeRecommended Product
1Handheld Vacuum CleanerTo clean up the residueLOZAYI Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
2DetergentTo break down uric acid and urine smellArm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent
3VinegarTo melt uric acid and ammonia present in the urineHeinz All Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar
4Enzyme CleanerTo clean the tough elements present in UrineAmazonCommercial Enzyme Cleaner
5Baking SodaTo soak the moisture and absorb the urineArm & Hammer Baking Soda

5 Steps to clean urine from a memory foam mattress topper

How to clean urine from memory foam mattress topper? - step by step

1. Vacuum often

Regularly vacuuming the mattress topper helps to get rid of the smell and dirt caused by urine. Vacuuming also takes away the micro-organisms released from the urine.

You need to place the mattress topper on a flat surface and clean all the spots and corners using your vacuum cleaner.

Use a strong handheld vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to pick all the dust. Handheld vacuum cleaners help to clean the mattress nicely in circular motions.  

For dry and tough urine stains, use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner and let the topper dry for some hours under the fan or sun to use it again.

2. Use a detergent

As soon as the vacuum process is completed, spray some detergent to get rid of any odor or smell of urine. Pour a small amount of detergent in lukewarm water and mix it well.

Shift the liquid in the spray bottle to store the detergent water and spray on the mattress topper gently. Do not wet or soak the mattress topper too much with the liquid.

Bloat the excess water and moisture, clean with a dry cloth, and let the topper dry naturally. This will soak up all the urine and remove the bad smell from the topper.

3. Patch cleaning

Patch or spot cleaning involves cleaning the specific area of the topper that has become affected due to urine. Mix white or clear vinegar in water.

Dip a dry clean towel or cloth in the solution and rub the stains gently from the topper with the solution. Rub gently in a circular motion.

After the stains seem fading away, clean with just plain water gently in a circular motion. If you still notice stains, then you can follow the detergent method again.

Don’t forget to be gentle on the foam while rubbing else you may risk its quality.

*Tip: As an alternative, you may also add baking soda to water, dissolve it until you see a milky white solution, and dip a cloth to follow the same process of cleaning as explained in step 3.

4. Odor removal

Urine stains, vomit stains, and cigarette smoke can sometimes create a foul smell on the mattress topper making it difficult to live with it.

After the spray cleaning, you need to sprinkle baking soda on the area and leave it overnight for the best results.

You may also sprinkle baking soda overnight before the vacuum process as well for best results. Other than baking soda, you have good cleaning agents that contain citrus products.

5. Topper cover

Protecting the topper with a cover is essential. After you have finished cleaning the mattress topper cover it with a waterproof and leak-proof cover. It also helps to protect the mattress and the topper from dust mites and spillage.

Another benefit of using topper covers after cleaning is that you can throw the cover for several machine washes keeping the topper in perfect shape and state as it was while cleaning.

Things you must remember while cleaning urine from the memory foam topper

  • Prevent following the above steps with the topper attached to the mattress. You need to remove the topper from the mattress and place it on the ground or on a flat surface. Until the topper is completely cleaned and dry, do not place it back on the mattress.
  • Avoid keeping the topper under the sun for too long. Too much heat can damage the quality of the topper. You must choose a shady area or where there is enough airflow for the mattress topper to dry properly. It will also help to take away any smell of the urine.
  • Avoid using hydrogen peroxide to clean the topper. Harsh chemicals can damage the texture, fabric, and material of the memory foam topper.
  • Always wash the topper with your hands and avoid washing or drying in the washing machine. It will tear apart the topper.
  • Avoid squeezing the topper after washing for getting rid of urine stains and other cleaning agents. Squeezing or wriggling can form a crack in memory foam harming the quality of the topper fabric.
  • Always use cold or normal water to clean the topper from urine stains. Avoid using hot water.

How to remove urine smell from a memory foam mattress:

The process of removing the urine smell is the same as the process of removing urine stains from the memory foam mattress.

1. Baking Soda Method

Sprinkle the baking soda on the area where it stinks and let it sit for the entire day. You may tie up the curtains, let the natural sunlight come in, and allow the window to remain open.

Natural sunlight helps baking soda to work like magic. You may vacuum is like you would for removing the stains. This will help take away all the bad urine smell from your memory foam mattress.

2. Corn Starch Method

Corn starch not only removes the smell but also helps in removing the urine stains too. Just sprinkle corn starch powder over the affected area and add a few drops of water to it. Allow 5 to 10 minutes for it to settle. Remove the corn starch and use a paper towel to blot the affected area.

Corn starch has components that help break down the smell and soak up all the moisture due to the urine smell and stains. Corn starch also acts as a natural deodorizer to your memory foam mattress.

3. Tips to secure memory foam mattress from urine stains              

  • Keep your mattress covered in a protector that is leak-proof and waterproof. That will help the mattress to save from any stains and smell. You may also choose an antimicrobial cover for your memory foam mattress.
  • Vacuum your mattress and the cover regularly to avoid any residue and odor.
  • Always keep baking sodas, dry towels, mild detergent, and vinegar at home in case of accidental urine stains.
  • You need to follow the above steps immediately as soon as you notice urine stains on your mattress.
  • You must rotate or turn your memory foam mattresses every 1 to 2 years to avoid stains and smell. Flipping helps keep both sides dry.
  • Give your mattress some breather under the sun and in airflow once a week or whenever you notice the urine smell.

Final Comments:       

Removing urine stains from memory foam mattresses is no more annoying when you know the right steps at the right time. We understand noticing it and cleaning the stains could be frustrating at times.

But you cannot afford to lose an expensive piece of mattress just like that. Just follow the steps to maintain your foam mattress and get products as recommended by us to avoid further delays on stains and smells.

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