How To Get Dog Pee Out Of Mattress: Effective Solutions

It’s a moment of dread every dog owner hopes to avoid. You pull back the covers to make your bed and are hit with a distinct, unpleasant odor. Your eyes land on a damp, discolored spot on your mattress, and the sinking realization hits: your dog has had an accident.

Panic sets in, followed by a wave of questions. Is my mattress ruined? Will the smell ever come out? How on earth do I clean something I can’t just throw in the washing machine?

Discovering dog pee on your mattress can feel like a disaster. The porous nature of a mattress means the urine can soak deep into the foam and fibers, leaving behind not just a stain but a lingering, hard-to-remove odor.

Simply blotting it and spraying some air freshener won’t solve the problem; it will only mask it temporarily. The key is to act quickly and use the right ingredients to neutralize the uric acid, which is the source of that persistent smell.

This guide is here to walk you through effective, proven solutions for how to get dog pee out of a mattress.

We’ll provide a step-by-step cleaning process using common household items, as well as recommendations for powerful enzymatic cleaners. Forget the panic; with the right technique, you can save your mattress and restore it to a clean, fresh-smelling state.

Why Time is of the Essence and What You’re Fighting

Before we dive into the cleaning process, it’s important to understand why quick action is so critical and what makes dog urine so difficult to remove.

Dog urine is composed of several components, but the one that causes the most trouble is uric acid.

When the liquid part of the urine evaporates, it leaves behind these uric acid crystals. These crystals are not water-soluble, which is why simply cleaning with soap and water often fails to eliminate the smell.

When moisture (like humidity in the air) comes into contact with these crystals, the ammonia odor is reactivated, which is why the smell can return on damp days, long after you thought you had cleaned the spot.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is twofold:

1. Remove as much of the liquid urine as possible before it soaks deeper into the mattress.
2. Neutralize the uric acid crystals to permanently eliminate the source of the odor.

The methods below are designed to tackle both of these challenges head-on.

The DIY Cleaning Method: How to Get Dog Pee Out of Your Mattress with Household Staples

This method uses a powerful combination of white vinegar and baking soda to effectively treat a fresh urine stain. These ingredients are affordable, non-toxic, and incredibly effective at neutralizing odors.

Step 1: Blot, Don’t Rub! (The Initial Response)

As soon as you discover the wet spot, your first priority is to absorb as much of the urine as possible.

1. Strip the Bed: Immediately remove all bedding—sheets, blankets, mattress protectors—and get them into the washing machine.
2. Grab Your Tools: You’ll need several clean, dry towels or a thick stack of paper towels.
3. Blot Vigorously: Press a dry towel firmly into the wet spot on the mattress. Stand on it or apply significant pressure to soak up the liquid from deep within the mattress fibers.
4. Repeat with a Fresh Towel: Once the first towel is saturated, replace it with a fresh, dry one and repeat the blotting process. Continue until no more moisture is being absorbed.

Crucial Tip: Never rub or scrub the stain at this stage. Rubbing can push the urine deeper into the mattress and spread the stain over a larger area. Your goal is to lift the liquid straight up and out.

Step 2: The Vinegar Solution (Neutralizing the Ammonia)

Now that you’ve removed the excess liquid, it’s time to tackle the ammonia and start breaking down the uric acid. White vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer, and its acidic nature helps to neutralize the alkaline salts in the urine.

1. Mix the Solution: In a clean spray bottle, create a solution of 50% white distilled vinegar and 50% cool water.
2. Saturate the Stain: Liberally spray the vinegar solution onto the entire affected area of the mattress. Don’t be shy; you want the solution to penetrate as deeply as the urine did. The goal is for the vinegar to make contact with all of the urine-soaked fibers.
3. Let it Sit: Allow the vinegar solution to sit and work its magic for at least 15-20 minutes. You can let it air dry slightly, but don’t let it dry completely.

The area will smell strongly of vinegar at this point. This is normal, and the vinegar smell will dissipate as it dries, taking the urine smell with it.

Step 3: The Baking Soda Application (Drawing Out Odor and Stains)

Baking soda is a fantastic natural deodorizer that will draw out the vinegar solution and any remaining urine residue from deep within the mattress.

1. Cover the Area: After the vinegar has had time to sit, generously sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the entire damp area. You should have a visible, almost paste-like layer covering the stain.
2. The Magic Happens: You might hear a slight fizzing sound as the baking soda reacts with the vinegar. This is a good sign! The baking soda will now begin to wick the moisture and odors out of the mattress fibers.
3. Patience is Key: This is the longest step. You need to leave the baking soda on the mattress until it is completely dry. This can take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours, depending on the humidity in your home and how much solution you used. The baking soda will form a dry, crusty layer as it works. To speed up the process, you can open windows or use a fan to increase air circulation in the room.

Step 4: The Final Clean-Up

Once the baking soda is bone dry, the final step is to clean it all up.

1. Use a Vacuum: Using a hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner, thoroughly vacuum up all of the dried baking soda. Go over the area several times from different directions to ensure you get all the powder out of the fabric.
2. Inspect Your Work: Once vacuumed, the mattress should be dry, and the stain and odor should be significantly reduced or completely gone. If a faint odor remains, you can repeat the process.

The Power of Enzymatic Cleaners: A Commercial Solution

If you’re dealing with an old, set-in stain, or if the DIY method doesn’t completely eliminate the odor, your next best step is a high-quality enzymatic cleaner.

How Enzymatic Cleaners Work to Get Dog Pee Out of a Mattress

Enzymatic cleaners contain beneficial bacteria that produce enzymes specifically designed to break down and “eat” organic matter like the uric acid crystals in pet urine. Instead of just masking the smell, they completely destroy the source of the odor. This is crucial because if your dog can still smell even a faint trace of their urine, they are more likely to mark the same spot again.

Using an Enzymatic Cleaner Effectively

1. Choose a Quality Product: Look for a cleaner specifically formulated for pet urine and stains. Brands like Rocco & Roxie Supply Co., Nature’s Miracle, or Angry Orange are popular and highly effective choices.
2. Read the Instructions: Always follow the directions on the product label, as application methods can vary.
3. Saturate the Area: Just like with the vinegar solution, you must completely saturate the stain and the underlying padding. The enzymatic cleaner needs to reach every spot the urine did.
4. Cover and Wait: Many enzymatic cleaners work best when they remain damp. The instructions may advise you to cover the treated area with a damp towel or plastic wrap to slow the evaporation process and give the enzymes more time to work. The waiting period can be several hours or even overnight.
5. Blot and Air Dry: After the recommended waiting time, blot up any excess moisture with a clean towel and then allow the mattress to air dry completely. The drying process can take a day or more.

Dealing with Set-In Stains and Stubborn Odors

If the stain has been there for a while, you may need to bring in more firepower.

• Hydrogen Peroxide Boost: For tough, yellowed stains on a white mattress, you can try a solution of 8 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap. Spray it on, let it dry, and then scrape or vacuum off the residue. Warning: Hydrogen peroxide can have a bleaching effect. Spot-test on an inconspicuous area of your mattress first.
• Use a Carpet Cleaner: If you have an upholstery cleaner or a carpet cleaner with a hose attachment, it can be an excellent tool for deep cleaning your mattress. After treating the spot with your chosen cleaning solution (DIY or enzymatic), you can use the upholstery tool to rinse the area with clean water and then powerfully extract the liquid, which will significantly speed up the drying time.

Prevention: Protecting Your Mattress for the Future

Once your mattress is clean and fresh, you’ll want to ensure this never happens again.

• Invest in a Waterproof Mattress Protector: This is the single best investment you can make. A high-quality, waterproof mattress protector creates an impenetrable barrier. If an accident happens, you can simply strip it off and throw it in the wash, while your mattress remains completely pristine.
• Address the Cause of the Accident: Why did your dog pee on the bed? It could be a medical issue (like a UTI), a behavioral problem (like separation anxiety or territorial marking), or incomplete house training. Consult with your veterinarian to rule out any health problems and with a professional trainer if you suspect a behavioral issue.
• Limit Bedroom Access: If accidents are a recurring problem, you may need to make the bedroom a dog-free zone or only allow them on the bed when you are there to supervise them.

Conclusion: Reclaiming Your Bed and Your Peace of Mind

Discovering dog pee on your mattress is a frustrating experience, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of your mattress. By acting quickly, blotting up the excess, and using the right neutralizing agents like vinegar, baking soda, or a powerful enzymatic cleaner, you can effectively remove both the stain and the odor.

The key is to tackle the problem at its source by breaking down the uric acid crystals. Be patient, allow each step of the process the time it needs to work, and let the mattress dry completely.

Once you’ve restored your bed to its former glory, take preventative steps to protect it for the future.

With these effective solutions in your cleaning arsenal, you can rest easy knowing that you’re prepared to handle any future accidents with confidence and keep your bedroom a fresh, clean, and peaceful sanctuary for everyone in the family—furry members included.