Pet urine is strongly acidic in nature and contains odor-causing bacteria. If your pet has accidentally spoiled your mattress, it can not only make it unsightly but also spread a musty odor across your room.
The other washable bedding items can be easily thrown into a washing machine to remove their lingering odors. But how to get pet urine smell out of the mattress?
Here are some steps that can help you get rid of it using some natural deodorizers.
How to Get Pet Urine Smell Out of Mattress?
1. Blot The Area
When you have spotted the accident on your mattress, remove all the bedding immediately and start blotting the affected area of the mattress with fresh paper towels. Attending the urine spot early will prevent it from spreading deeper and stop its odor from getting worse.
2. Address The Stain First
Take 1 cup of warm water and add to it ½ tsp of enzyme-based stain remover or a strong laundry detergent. Dip a soft brush into this solution and apply it to the affected area. When it makes its way into it, blot the moisture with a dry towel.
3. Spray Vinegar Solution
Vinegar, being citric, can easily help neutralize the odor caused by pet accidents. Take white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle mixed with equal amounts of cold water and thoroughly spray it over the urine stain. Let it sit and get absorbed for about 20 minutes and then you can blot the excess moisture with paper towels.
4. Sprinkle Baking Soda
The next step is to spread a generous layer of baking soda over the stained area of the mattress. This baking soda will absorb the excess moisture and the odor trapped in the mattress fabrics. Let the sprinkles baking soda dry for about 8 to 10 hours or more for strong smells. You can later vacuum the area to remove the residual left.
5. Repeat if Needed
If treated quickly, once is enough to remove the pet urine smell from your mattress, but if you need, you can repeat the vinegar and baking soda application steps until it thoroughly goes away.
One tip to make the process easier is the use of enzyme-based cleaners to remove strong lingering odors. These cleaners also prevent the pets from repeatedly marking their territory.
What if The Pet Urine Smell is Old?
Unaddressed pet accidents tend to develop stronger smells, working their way deeper into the mattress fibers.
We will need stronger methods/solutions to handle such stubborn odors.
But before using strong chemicals it is recommended to try the most reliable methods first.
- Use a concentrated vinegar solution to spray on the urine spot. Vinegar will work with a much stronger effect when not diluted with water.
- Make a baking soda paste by mixing 1 cup of baking soda with 1 tbsp of water. Apply the paste on the stain, leave it for several hours, and see the odor vanish.
If the above methods are not sufficient enough. Then hop to the following:
Warning: Test the below solutions on a hidden area of your mattress first, as there are chances of discoloration. Also, cover your hands before the application of these solutions.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is a mild bleach and an effective solution for removing stubborn odors. Take 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and sprinkle a generous amount on the affected area, coating it thoroughly. Let the solution air dry and your mattress will be back to its odor-free state.
2. Borax
Borax is an alkaline mineral salt capable of effectively neutralizing the acidic odor of pet urine stains. What you have to do is make a thin paste of 1 cup of borax mixed with 1 tbsp of water. Apply it on the spot and use a brush to make it penetrate the mattress. Let it dry after which you can vacuum the residue thoroughly.
Bottom Line
These were some DIY steps stating how to get pet urine smell out of a mattress using household cleaning solutions. The above methods should effectively bring your mattress to a fresh and odor-free state.
However, if the odor is extremely musty and does not vanish even after the mentioned applications, you will need to hire professional pet odor removal services for your mattress.
