How to Get Pet Urine Out of a Mattress (Step by Step)

A pet accident on a mattress is harder to deal with than one on the floor. A mattress is thick, it soaks up liquid fast, and you cannot put it in the washing machine. If urine is left to sit, or the mattress is soaked during cleaning and never dries properly, you can end up with a smell that keeps coming back or with mold inside. This guide walks through a fresh accident, an old spot, drying, and how to keep it from happening again.

It draws on guidance from Humane World for Animals, the Cornell Feline Health Center and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Always check your mattress maker’s care label too, since some warranties are voided by stains or by certain cleaning methods.

Before you start

Strip the bed at once. Pull off the sheets, mattress pad and any blankets so urine stops soaking through to the mattress.
Check the care label. Memory foam, latex and hybrid mattresses can be damaged by soaking. Most makers say to spot clean only.
Put on gloves and have plenty of absorbent towels or paper towels ready.

Fresh accident: step by step

Blot, do not rub. Press dry towels firmly into the wet spot to pull out as much urine as you can. Swap in fresh towels until they come away almost dry. Rubbing spreads urine wider and pushes it deeper.
Use an absorbent. Sprinkle an absorbent powder over the damp area to draw out more moisture, let it sit as the label directs, then vacuum it up.
Treat the odor. Apply a pet odor product made for fabric and mattresses, following the label. Cornell notes that odors must be neutralized, not just deodorized, to escape a cat’s keen sense of smell. Use enough to reach as deep as the urine went, but do not pour so much that the mattress becomes soaked.
Let it work, for the time the label gives, then blot up what is left.
Dry it completely (see the next section). This step matters as much as the cleaning.

Sheets, the mattress pad and any blankets go in the wash; our laundry guide covers soaking, washing and checking for leftover smell.

Drying: the step people skip

The inside of a mattress stays damp long after the surface feels dry. The EPA says it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and notes that mold in porous materials can be difficult or impossible to remove completely.

Stand the mattress on its side or prop it up so air reaches both sides of the spot.
Run a fan pointed at the area, open windows, and use a dehumidifier if you have one.
Do not put sheets back on until the spot is dry all the way through. Press a dry paper towel hard into it: if it picks up any dampness, keep drying.
Do not use a steam cleaner or hot hair dryer up close. Humane World for Animals warns that heat can permanently set urine stains and odors in upholstery and carpet, so keep heat away from the spot on a mattress too.

Old or dried urine on a mattress

If you have found a yellow ring, or the bed smells but you cannot see anything:

Find the spots. Humane World for Animals suggests using a black light to find soiled areas and outlining them with chalk. Check the sides of the mattress and the box spring too. Our black light guide explains how.
Lightly dampen the spot with cool water and blot it, so dried urine can be lifted and the odor product can reach it.
Treat with a pet odor product, following the label for dwell time.
Dry fully, then check by smell. Old spots often need two or three rounds.
Treat any remaining stain last with a fabric stain remover that is safe for your mattress cover, tested on a hidden spot first.

When a mattress cannot be saved

Sometimes cleaning is not enough. Consider replacing the mattress if:

urine soaked deep into foam or padding and the smell is still there after several rounds,
there are signs of mold, such as dark spots or a musty smell, since the EPA notes porous materials may have to be thrown away once they are moldy, or
the mattress has been soiled many times in the same place.

What not to use

Ammonia and vinegar. Humane World for Animals advises avoiding both, because strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to mark the area again. Cornell advises against them because they smell like urine and can be irritating.
Bleach. It can discolor the cover and does not treat urine deep in the padding. Never mix it with other cleaners.
Steam and heat. Heat can set the stain and odor (see above).
Large amounts of liquid. Soaking the mattress makes drying much harder and raises the mold risk.
Air freshener alone. It covers the smell for you, not for your pet. Our comparison of home remedies explains what each one actually does.

Washing the bedding

Wash sheets, the mattress pad and blankets as soon as you can, following their care labels. Humane World for Animals suggests adding a one-pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent for washables a pet has soiled, and using an enzymatic cleaner in the wash if the smell remains. Check each item by smell before you put it in the dryer. If it still smells, wash it again.

Prevent the next one

Use a waterproof mattress protector. It is the single easiest way to keep urine out of the mattress. Humane World for Animals suggests covering the bed with a vinyl, flannel-backed tablecloth while you retrain a pet that soils bedding.
Close the bedroom door while you work on the problem. Cornell lists denying access to soiled areas as one way to discourage repeat soiling.
Look at the litter box, for cats. Cornell notes that cats that soil soft surfaces such as beds and clothing tend to prefer soft materials, and suggests a softer, finer litter. Our cat urine guide covers litter box causes.
For puppies, keep them off the bed until they are reliably house trained. See our potty training basics.
Talk to your veterinarian if a house-trained pet starts having accidents. A medical cause should be ruled out first.

Keep supplies by the bed

Gloves, absorbent powder, a pet odor product, a brush and a black light handle most mattress accidents. Our Pet Cleanup Kit includes all five. For couches and chairs, see how to clean pet stains from a couch; for floors, see pet urine on carpet.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get dog or cat pee out of a mattress?

Strip the bed, blot up as much urine as you can, use an absorbent powder, treat the spot with a pet odor product made for fabric, and then dry the mattress completely with airflow and a fan.

How long does a mattress take to dry after cleaning?

It depends on how wet it got and the airflow in the room. Use as little liquid as possible and aim to have it fully dry within 24 to 48 hours, the window the EPA gives for drying wet items to prevent mold.

Can I use vinegar and baking soda on a mattress?

Baking soda can help absorb moisture. Animal welfare groups advise against vinegar on soiled spots, because strong smells can draw pets back to mark the area again.

Why does my mattress still smell after cleaning?

Usually because urine went deeper than the cleaner reached, or the mattress was not fully dry. Find the full spot with a black light, treat again, and dry thoroughly. If the smell stays after several rounds, the padding may need replacing.

Sources

Humane World for Animals: How to remove pet stains and odors
Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline behavior problems: house soiling
U.S. EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow your mattress maker’s care instructions and the product label, and test cleaners on a hidden area first.