How to clean mattress if child wets bed
How To Clean A Mattress After Bedwetting
If your child had a bedwetting incident that left their mattress wet, you probably took the first step after getting them cleaned up: pulling the sheets off and tossing them in the washing machine (or setting them aside for a trip to the laundromat). Now you’re probably wondering how to clean urine from a mattress effectively. Read on for some tips on cleaning up urine stains and smells — and some ideas for keeping your child’s mattress dry next time.
Before you start cleaning, it’s important to understand just what bedwetting means. It’s actually a medical condition called nocturnal enuresis. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are no definitive causes, but factors including a hormone imbalance, a small bladder or the ability to recognize a full bladder may play a role.
Bedwetting is much more common than most people think. In fact, more than 1 in 4 kids age 4-6 experience nocturnal enuresis. For children ages 4–12, the occurrence is about 1 in 6. That’s important information for any parent with a child who wets the bed to know for one big reason: It can help them understand that bedwetting isn’t their child’s fault.
If your child is experiencing regular bedwetting, be sure to check with their healthcare provider. The condition can last a while, and sometimes medical issues can be the cause. And whatever the reason, know that your child isn’t wetting the bed on purpose — and they are probably as frustrated as you are. So, let them know you aren’t upset or disappointed even if you must clean their mattress.
OK, now that you know lots of love and patience are key to getting through these tough nights together, it’s time to get that mattress cleaned up. While urine is about 95% water, that remaining portion is urea — a waste made in the liver. It adds a yellow color and an odor.
Here’s a simple process for how to clean a mattress after bedwetting and how to remove urine odor from a mattress.
These three steps make it easy with everyday household ingredients:
- Blot the urine spot. Using a dry towel, press down repeatedly to soak up the urine. Be sure you blot instead of wiping. Wiping will just push the urine deeper into the mattress — and that will make clean up a lot tougher. Some people who have a wet/dry vacuum use it to suck out the moisture as well.
- Mix up a simple cleaning solution. You can skip the fancy cleaning products and find what you need right in your kitchen: white vinegar and warm water. Mix it up 50/50 and use a spray bottle to apply it to your mattress. Then blot the mattress again with a towel. You might have to repeat this process for a bigger (or smellier!) spot. Of course, vinegar has a strong smell too, so opening a window or turning on a ceiling fan can be a smart idea.
- Neutralize the urine smell. Once you’ve cleaned up the spot, sprinkle on some baking soda. Leave it there overnight as the mattress finishes drying (the longer the better – aim for about 10 hours!).
Then, vacuum the baking soda up the next day. This should eliminate any urine smell from your child’s mattress. If you can still smell the urea after one treatment, repeat the process.
While some people may try using a scented product, keep in mind that perfumes only cover up the urine smell for a short time. They won’t make it go away. So, while the recommended cleaning process takes some time, following the above steps is a better solution for getting rid of a pee smell.
If you must clean a urine stain on a mattress — one that has been there for a while — try a different cleaning solution. Mix up 8 oz. hydrogen peroxide, 3 T baking soda, and 2-3 drops of dishwashing liquid (the kind for your sink, not a dishwasher). Use a spray bottle to apply a generous amount to the stain, and then wait until the mixture dries. You’ll see the baking soda dried on top when it’s ready. Then simply vacuum it off.
Mattress all clean? High five! You’re great at this parenting stuff.
Now, after you relax for a bit (or get back to sleep if this was a nighttime clean up!), consider these tools that can help keep your child’s mattress dry next time:
- GoodNites® nighttime underwear. Designed for nighttime, these youth pants can make your child feel more secure and make clean up much easier for you. They also offer odor absorbency for more discretion than regular training pants.
- Waterproof mattress pads. Often backed with vinyl, waterproof mattress mats are designed to absorb moisture, so your child’s mattress won’t get wet. They can be washed after use and reused.
- Disposable bed underpads. GoodNites® disposable bed mats are a great way to make clean up quick and easy in the morning — or in the middle of the night if your child wakes up wet. They are designed to absorb moisture and keep the mattress dry. Simply toss them in the trash after use.
While having your child wake up wet at night — or discovering a bedwetting incident before you’ve even finished your first cup of coffee — is never going to be pleasant, there are ways to make it easier.
And with a quick trip to the store, you can reduce your chances of needing to clean the mattress next time your child wets the bed too.
How to clean your child's mattress: wetting the bed
If you have a child, you will undoubtedly have to learn how to clean urine from a mattress at one point or another. Nighttime enuresis (that is, bed wetting) happens to almost every kid, and for some can even persist all the way up to their teenage years.
Before we get into how to clean up after an occurrence, it’s good to keep in mind that bed wetting is not a conscious decision on the part of kids. It can be caused by deep sleep, when their brain doesn’t respond to stimulus that normally tells it that it’s time to go to the bathroom. Even if you think you’ve got the problems solved, relapses can occur during times of stress (like, say, switching to a new bed or mattress).
The best way to deal with it? Although it can be frustrating, don’t get angry. Do follow a few simple daytime and evening rules.
Make sure your child uses the bathroom regularly throughout the day. Most kids put off using the bathroom until the last possible second. Encourage your child to go as soon as he or she feels the urge, and at regular times, like lunch or naptime. Restrict drinks after dinner. Have him or her use the bathroom just before bedtime. These habits can greatly reduce the occurrences of bed wetting.
You’ll also want to take precautions with your mattress. Make sure you cover it with a waterproof mattress protector. If you’re changing the bedding daily, you may want to purchase two, so you can have one in the wash and one on the bed.
But bed wetting does happen, and the smell and discomfort can make even the most comfortable kid’s mattress… less so. Here’s how to clean urine from a mattress when it does happen.
Cleaning Instructions
Note: The sooner you clean the stain, the easier it will be to get out.
- Remove the sheets and bedding, and wash normally.
If you notice a particularly strong urine scent after a single wash, add vinegar to the next one — this will help get rid of the smell. If staining is an issue, wash the spots under a hot tap with some laundry detergent before washing. - Gather up your cleaning supplies. You’ll want cold water, vinegar, baking soda, a little detergent, a cloth to dab with, a spray bottle, and a vacuum with a hose attachment. Keeping upholstery cleaner on hand can also be a good idea if it becomes a common occurrence, as this can be used in place of other supplies. You’ll also want to make sure you have a fan or blow dryer on hand to dry the mattress afterwards.
- Blot the stain with your cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. Be sure to not scrub or rub the stained area.
- Spray a mixture of 2 parts cold water, 1 part vinegar, and a small amount of detergent onto the stained area, making sure to get the area wet (without making the area a bigger mess). Let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow the vinegar time to break down the stain, and remove the smell
- After 10 to 15 minutes has passed, blot the area to absorb as much moisture as possible.
- Sprinkle the wet area with baking soda, and allow this to sit for another 10 to 15 minutes to absorb moisture and lift the stain
- Dab away the baking soda with a cold wet cloth, then use the vacuum cleaner hose attachment to remove any residue left over.
- Use a fan (or blow dryer set to a lower temperature if time is an issue) to dry the mattress out.
- If there is still a faint stain or the odor is not completely gone, repeat these steps.
Further Deodorizing Instructions
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and will reduce the smell dramatically but, if you want your child’s mattress to smell even better you can add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil (such as lavender) to step 6.
In step 6 you’ll need
- 1 cup baking soda
- 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil
- 1 medium or small glass jar with lid
Put 1 cup of baking soda in the jar and 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil, Seal the jar and shake it.
Next poke holes in the lid of the jar and shake the solution on the stained area. Allow the mixture to set for another 10-15 minutes to absorb the moisture, lift the stain and deodorize the spot.
Your child’s mattress will be clean and smell great. You can also use this baking soda and essential oil solution on your own mattress to keep it smelling clean and fresh throughout the year
Remember that bed wetting is a common occurrence in kids, and that no matter how frustrating it might be: it’s not their fault. The best way to deal with it is with patience and understanding… and a good set of instructions on-hand to clean up afterwards! When you make it past the bed-wetting stage, and it’s time for a new mattress, take a look at some of the Simmons Beautyrest Black models or the Simmons Beautyrest Platinum models. With a 10-year warranty, a Beautyrest mattress may be the last one you’ll have to buy for your child before he moves into his or her own apartment.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2013 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in march 2017. |
How to clean the mattress from urine and remove the smell? in Moscow
Urine stains on a mattress are one of the most persistent and difficult to clean stains. And many housewives simply do not know how to clean the mattress from urine and wipe the stain with water. And to combat the smell, spray your favorite perfume on the stain and around the room. But temporarily interrupting the smell with perfume is not a way out of the situation. The presence of an odor indicates that the liquid has not been completely cleaned from the mattress. And as long as the dirt remains in place, house mites, bacteria and other parasites will already find a cozy place to breed in the mattress. nine0003
In many cases, stains and the smell of urine can be removed from the mattress with improvised means. But self-cleaning must be carried out in compliance with the technology. Otherwise, the desire to return the mattress to cleanliness will result in irreversible damage to its upholstery.
So, how to remove urine from a mattress on your own?
How do I remove a fresh urine stain from a mattress?
A fresh spot of urine from a child or animal will be removed almost instantly if you start cleaning the mattress immediately after the puddle appears. In this case, you need to act very quickly and correctly! nine0012
- Remove the cover from the mattress and wash it. From the mattress itself, you need to quickly collect the liquid with a dry towel or napkins! Soak the surface of the mattress with them. Just do not put pressure on the stain and do not rub it, so as not to push the liquid even deeper.
- Vinegar will help eliminate the pungent smell of urine. It neutralizes uric acid and eliminates its odor. Vinegar must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3 and sprayed onto the mattress from a spray bottle. In the absence of a sprayer, apply the solution with a sponge, but immediately lay napkins over the treated stain so that they absorb excess moisture.
nine0016 - Ordinary baking soda, which is in the kitchen of any housewife, will help to collect the remaining moisture. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain for 10-15 minutes and it will absorb the rest of the vinegar solution and urine.
- To remove the stain from the surface of the mattress, hydrogen peroxide is useful - you will definitely find it in your first aid kit. Dilute 100 ml of peroxide in 200 ml of water and shake well. Then, using one of the above methods (spray gun or sponge with napkins), apply the composition to the stain directly on top of the soda scattered over it. As a result of a chemical reaction between soda and peroxide, a thick and persistent foam should form. Leave it to act for 2 hours. Oxygen, which is abundantly released during the reaction, effectively discolors the stain. nine0016
- After 2 hours, blot the stained area with dry wipes and vacuum thoroughly to remove the baking soda from the mattress. After such cleaning, you need to leave the mattress in a well-ventilated room for at least 10 hours to completely dry and weather the smells of soda and vinegar.
This method can be used to clean the mattress from human and even animal urine. Vinegar will do a great job even with the pungent smell of pet urine! Recall that this method is only suitable if the stain is fresh. nine0003
How to clean a dried urine stain from a mattress?
If time has passed and the puddle has already dried up - do not hesitate, no improvised means will remove the stain and smell, in any case - without harm to the upholstery of the mattress. Urine has already penetrated into its very depths.
Attention, advice! On many websites you can find a recommendation on how to remove a urine stain from a mattress if it has dried up with bleach. Never do this! Chlorine is a powerful anti-pollution chemical, but you won't be able to completely rinse your mattress of it! And a chlorinated mattress is not the best place to sleep, especially in a baby bed. In addition, the upholstery of the product will also be at risk.
At best, it will simply stiffen and become stiff. nine0003
There is a more harmless way to remove urine from the mattress with improvised means - cleaning with citric acid. Dilute a teaspoon in a glass of water and apply the composition to the stain. After 1.5-2 hours, blot the cleaning area, vacuum it and leave the mattress to dry. In most cases, the acid will corrode and discolor the stain. But, as in the case of bleach, we want to make a warning - not every mattress upholstery will survive under the influence of such aggressive agents. In some cases, the stain corrodes along with the fabric, and pellets, bumps, and, in a completely unfavorable scenario, holes form on the surface of the mattress. Take a risk or not - you decide for yourself. But our experience is that there is a more economical way to get a clean, fresh mattress than buying a new one. nine0003
The only guaranteed way to remove stains and odors while preserving your mattress is professional dry cleaning.
Dry cleaning of the mattress from urine - removing old stains in 1 hour!
Professional dry cleaning of the mattress from urine allows you to penetrate as deep as possible deep into the mattress, which means to destroy the pollution from the inside. It is carried out at home by the extractor method using potent cleaning agents. Dry cleaning takes place in several stages:
- Choose the right detergent for your type of mattress from the professional range. All professional products are environmentally friendly and safe for children and animals.
- Using a special extractor vacuum cleaner, the detergent composition is sprayed onto the mattress. The pressurized cleaning agent penetrates into the deep layers of the product and destroys the contamination from the inside.
- For stubborn stains, manual cleaning with stain removers is used - they are effective against any type of soiling, but harmless to the upholstery and mattress filling.
nine0016 - The mattress is washed with clean water. At the same stage, excess moisture is removed from it. The mattress dries completely after cleaning in 4-10 hours in natural conditions.
- Special fragrances help to completely remove the smell of urine from the mattress.
Even if the stain on the mattress is not very large, dry cleaning is carried out over its entire surface. This is done so that after cleaning the treated area does not differ in color from the rest of the area. Indeed, as a result of dry cleaning, clean upholstery will become noticeably lighter than the untreated sides of the mattress. nine0003
Please note! If you find a urine stain on the mattress, do not rub it with ordinary household cleaners! Dishwashing detergents, soap and other bottles of chemicals will not cope with the stain, but you have every chance to permanently ruin the upholstery with stains.
In case of your independent attempts to clean the mattress with improvised chemicals - no dry cleaner will give you a guarantee for work.
Don't risk your mattress and leave it in the hands of professionals right away! nine0003
Masters of "Eco-cleaning" will dry-clean the mattress from the urine of animals or clean the mattress from the urine of the child in 1 hour. An effective cleaning technique, strong detergents and our 7 years of experience cleaning mattresses from urine and other types of dirt are a guarantee of the cleanliness of your bed and the health of your family.
If, after the mattress has dried, you are not satisfied with the result, we will carry out a second cleaning at our own expense.
Andrey Kovrov, Eco-cleaning specialist
How to clean the mattress from urine and get rid of the smell
Bedding: mattresses, pillows, duvets, blankets, are one of the main components of good sleep and rest. Careful care of them contributes not only to the preservation of their useful properties, but also to the extension of their service life. One of the most important elements of a bed is a mattress.
That's why it should be clean, odorless, stained, free of dust mites.
The most common mattress stains are urine stains, especially in families with small children or pets. It is best, of course, to put on a mattress pad or a special cover made of moisture-repellent material that can be easily washed in a washing machine or washed and cleaned of stains. In addition, urine can be of different origin, which means that the selection of methods for removing stains is different. For example, in the urine of a child, the level of acid content is much lower than in an adult, not to mention a sick person. The composition of animal urine generally varies widely depending on sex, size, breed, etc. Therefore, to achieve a positive result in each case, an individual approach is required. But general recommendations can be given. nine0003
Removing stains and smells of urine from children
Since children's urine contains the least substances that leave traces and odors on the mattress material (urea, uric acid and urochrome), it is easiest to get rid of these traces.
A fresh stain may be attempted to be removed with soapy water. The solution must be exactly soapy, without the use of synthetic (chemical) detergents. At the same time, it is desirable that too much moisture does not penetrate into the structure of the product. The contaminated area must be cleaned with a brush, while drying it with a towel. nine0003
It should be remembered that old urinary stains are much more difficult to remove, and poor cleaning contributes to the accumulation of uric acids in the tissues of the mattress, the multiplication of microorganisms and the increase in unpleasant odors.
Removing adult urine stains and odors
A mattress stained with adult urine is much more work. Here it is already necessary to use stronger cleaning chemicals, and they are not always harmless, especially when a sick person or an allergic person uses the mattress. Of course, it is best in such cases to put on a mattress cover or mattress pad, which is easy to wash in a washing machine using strong chemical cleaners and high-quality rinsing.
In families with a sick person, diapers are often used. Well, if the mattress is still damaged, you can use the tips below:0003
- Borax cleans urine stains very well. To do this, mix borax with water to a paste-like state and evenly distribute over the surface of the stain; leave to absorb dirt for at least 10 minutes. Then remove the remnants of the mixture with a brush or cloth, and, if possible, vacuum the top. Probably, the yellowness cannot be completely removed, but there will be no smell.
- Ammonia solution can be used to remove particularly persistent urine odors. To prepare the solution, mix half a glass of ammonia and half a glass of hydrogen peroxide in 2 cups of heated water in a container. With a clean rag soaked in the prepared solution, carefully treat the contamination, then wash it clean (you can use a sponge or other clean rag) and blot with a dry towel. Carry out work with rubber gloves. To completely dry the mattress, you need to take it out in the sun.
nine0016 - Urine odor can be removed by wiping the surface of the mattress with a clean white cloth soaked in vinegar solution.
- You can also try removing urine stains from a mattress with a mixture of salt and lemon juice. To do this, they must be thoroughly mixed until smooth and spread out on a contaminated place. Leave in this position for a day, and then rinse and dry well so that no wet stains remain.
Removing Stubborn Urine Stains
Before taking the product to the dry cleaners, you can try using a solution of a soap mixture with baking soda. To do this, mix 100 ml of hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two tablespoons of baking soda. After the soda is completely dissolved, add a little liquid soap. Pour the resulting solution into a spray bottle and carefully treat the contamination. Dry the mattress well: you can use a fan, or you can take it out into the open air under the sun. nine0003
Removing pet urine stains and odors
It is often the pets' fault that pets can stain their bedding, especially the mattress.
Untimely cleaning after the animal or insufficient attention lead to pollution in the apartment, and things such as upholstered furniture, mattresses, clothes, which also have a significant absorbency of both moisture and odors, contribute to an increase in unpleasant odors and unsanitary conditions. To clean things, including the mattress, in cases of animal contamination with urine, it is recommended to use products that scare them away and do not provoke them to re-mark. A few tips for removing pet urine stains and odors from the surface of a mattress. nine0003
- First of all, it is recommended to use special products for neutralizing animal odors, which are sold in pet stores.
- Vinegar is a universal remedy used to eliminate the smells of various animals, especially cats and dogs. The stained places are wiped with a swab dipped in vinegar, and then rinsed with water. If the stain is small, you can dry it with a hair dryer, otherwise, take it out to the sun or use a fan.
You can use lemon juice instead of vinegar. nine0016 - Hydrogen peroxide solution removes urine odor well. It is necessary to mix half a glass of peroxide with a glass of water and, be sure to wear rubber gloves, wipe the stain, then rinse thoroughly with water.
- Alcohol and vodka are also good at removing both cat and dog urine odors. In addition, the “marked” place treated with these means no longer attracts the animal.
- The smell of urine can be removed with laundry soap. Contaminants are rubbed with a well-soaped brush, and then rinsed. nine0016
- Soda removes stains by rubbing it into a pre-moistened place or diluted in water to a paste-like state, and then applied to the soiled surface and wait for it to dry. After that, the dried soda is removed with a clean cloth and vacuumed.
- The most common method against animal litter is bleach. You need to work in rubber gloves and be very careful not to damage the mattress material.
General recommendations for mattress care
To keep your mattress clean and not spend too much time cleaning it, you can use the following tips:
- In order not to infect the mattress with dust mites, you need to wash bed linen at least once every two weeks.
