It’s been another perfect night sleeping on your memory foam mattress. You gently wake up and stretch a little. Then you move to get up and feel it. Wetness seeps into your pajamas. You look over to see your toddler, who climbed into bed with you in the middle of the night and apparently had a slight accident. Fully awake and in panic mode, the only thought on your mind is you must find out how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress. What should you do? How did this happen? Is your beautiful bed ruined? You are near tears when you think of your urine-soaked mattress.
Just take a calming breath. You can clean urine from a memory foam mattress, and it’s not even too much trouble. That isn’t a new issue. Parents all over have ended up in your exact situation. Even pet parents have struggled with an occasional accident on the bed. So, whether it is your toddler’s midnight accident or an overly excited pet, there are a few ways to remove the urine and get your bed back to its pre-accident state.
What Is Memory Foam?
Memory foam is a special material that revolutionized sleeping forever. NASA invented it, but according to US-Mattress, it didn’t end up reaching the market as a bedding material until 1991. However, once people discovered it, they fell in love. It is a high-density foam that contours to the body. Memory foam is also incredibly durable, making its lifespan much longer than a traditional mattress.
- High-density foam
- Incredible durable
- Longer lifespan than traditional mattresses
- Relieves pressure points
- Provides customized sleeping experience
- Hypoallergenic
- Less transfer motion
Most people like how it relieves pressure points and provides a customized sleeping experience. As the foam warms, it changes and molds to your body for ultimate support. It is amazing for those with back problems or arthritis. It is also nice if you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns since movement doesn’t transfer throughout the bed as with a traditional spring mattress. Plus, memory foam is hypoallergenic, so if you suffer from allergies, it can bring relief. That’s a huge benefit for many people.
Memory foam is not perfect, though. The biggest issue with this type of mattress is it retains heat. Some people find it too hot. However, newer versions of memory foam mattresses are cooler and prevent the overheating issue. Another problem is this type of mattress does not do well with moisture. So, getting upset over a potty accident on the bed is reasonable, and you really should learn how to quickly clean urine from a memory foam mattress.
Why Is Moisture Bad for Memory Foam?
According to Overstock, moisture is one of the most devastating things to a memory foam mattress. You could say it is the mattress’ worst enemy. That’s because foam acts much like a sponge. When moisture gets on memory foam, it just sinks down into it and spreads. Thatis makes clean up more difficult and more urgent.
If you leave moisture on the mattress, it can cause a few bad things to happen. First, it may break down the foam, which ruins the mattress while also reducing its performance. It also affects the adhesive used to bind the mattress layers together. Eventually, the layers pull apart, making the bed start to fall to pieces. Finally, it causes mold growth, which is bad for your health. If you see mold, it means you will have to throw out your mattress right away. So, you can see it is imperative that you learn how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress.
How to Clean Urine from a Memory Foam Mattress
Now that you have a little background on memory foam, you can learn how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress. There is one main point to keep in mind as you begin the process. Since memory foam absorbs quickly and deeply, you want to clean moisture as soon as possible. It is ideal to clean the stain when it is fresh. However, you may still be able to clean a dry urine stain, but do note it may not be as easy or fast to do so.
- 1Soak it up
The first step in the process of how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress is to soak up the moisture. You want to pat it. Don’t press it. You need to use a super absorbent cloth that will help to draw out the moisture. Keep patting until you cannot get anything more. If the spot is dry, then you can skip this step.
- 2Treat it
Next, you want to treat the spot. That helps to neutralize the urine, which will prevent smells and make it easier to get the remaining moisture out of the mattress. When treating, remember not to add too much moisture as it will only increase your problems. There are several solutions you may use.
One option is using vinegar. Mix up a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Spray on and let sit for about 10 minutes.
You may also use a hydrogen peroxide solution. How to Clean Stuff recommends a cleaning mixture of four cups hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup baking soda and one tablespoon dish soap. Again, spray on and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Another solution is using 1/2 cup of fabric softener mixed with one cup of water. Spray it on and let it sit until it is dry. This option is best if you caught the accident before the urine had time to soak into the mattress. It won’t work as well if urine soaked into the mattress.
Finally, you can use an over-the-counter enzyme cleaner. Follow all directions on the bottle.
If you are treating a dry stain, you do need to do an additional step here. You want to treat and blot the stain right away to remove as much urine as possible. Keep adding moisture until you no longer see the urine or you see much less urine coming from the stain. Then you can treat as directed above, letting the solution sit and work on the stain.
- 3Soak it up again
If you used the hydrogen peroxide, enzyme, or vinegar methods, you need to pat up the moisture again. Keep patting until you are not getting moisture on your cloth. You may need to retreat if a stain remains or you cannot get it all out.
- 4Sprinkle on
The next step is to sprinkle the spot with baking soda. Baking soda helps absorb any remaining moisture, while also removing odor. Let the baking soda sit until it has absorbed moisture and dried out again. That could take anywhere from a couple of hours to overnight.
- 4Vacuum up
/best-lightweight-vacuum-for-hardwood-floors-and-carpet/The final step in how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress is to remove the baking soda with a vacuum. In some cases, the baking soda will not fully remove all moisture, so you may need to let the mattress continue to dry.
You should have success after following all these steps for how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress, but if the stain persists or you still feel moisture, you can repeat the process. For very deep, well-set stains, you may not be able to remove them completely. That is why it is imperative to clean a stain as soon after it occurs as possible.
Extra Cleaning Tips
There are some additional things to keep in mind as you learn how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress. To begin with, letting a stain sit is a bad idea. The older the stain is, the harder it is to clean. In fact, stains that have set in may be impossible to remove completely. Having a permanent musty urine smell is awful!
Tips for applying and using cleaners
Vinegar is the best cleaning solution to use because it is the gentlest option. Hydrogen peroxide and enzymes cleaners may damage your mattress. Always use them with care and do a test in a small spot before treating the stain. Another tip for using cleaner is to cover it with plastic wrap if you are in a dry climate or have a dry home. That allows it to soak into the mattress and do its job.
When applying cleaner, you may also want to just use the foam or bubbles. That helps to minimize the added moisture. Another option is to use a misting spray bottle. Always use a light touch when you clean and apply the cleaner to avoid damage to your mattress.
Tips for soaking up moisture and drying
Soaking up the initial moisture can be tricky. You do not want to push it down in the mattress, but you want to get it off quickly. A simple and effective trick is to use a diaper. Diapers by design absorb a lot of moisture, so they work perfectly to absorb fast and efficiently. If you do not have a diaper, try a cloth made to absorb large amounts of moisture quickly. There are a few options on the market you can try. Microfiber is especially useful for this.
If you own a wet/dry vacuum, you may also try to use it. Be cautious with this method. You may find it leaves a smell in your vacuum, so try this at your own risk. However, it can be a great way to really suck out the moisture and get a deep down clean.
When drying the mattress, always apply baking soda. Never skip this step. It does double duty to remove moisture while also removing odors. If odor persists, you can also lay the mattress in the sun. That’s a natural way to air it out, and the sun also can help with drying. Obviously, depending on where you live this may not work during all seasons.
If you need a quick dry solution, use a hair dryer on the coolest setting. Be very careful not to concentrate the heat too much or you may damage your mattress. You can also use a fan to speed up drying. With this option, you don’t have to worry about heat damage, so this works best if you want to just leave it to dry on its own with a little help.
Protecting Your Memory Foam Mattress
Ideally, you will never have to employ your newfound skills on how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress because you will take proper steps to protect your mattress from wetness. The best way is to use a protective cover. You can find these easily in stores or wherever you bought your mattress. They usually enclose the whole mattress and zip close for complete protection but some may work similar to a fitted sheet. They repel moisture and also block odors. A cover is a great investment that will help protect your mattress while also increasing its lifespan.
If you do not have a cover or you need to protect your mattress in the short term, you can use trash bags or other plastic laid over the mattress under your sheets. Do be careful if you have children sleeping with you, as plastic does pose a suffocation risk. It can also make a mattress sleep much hotter.
Summing It Up
While you may initially have the urge to completely lose it over a urine accident in your memory foam bed, keep your cool because you now know how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress. With a few steps, a little bit of cleaner, and some baking soda, you should be able to remove the urine and get your mattress back to its original condition. Keep in mind as you learn how to clean urine from a memory foam mattress that you want to catch the issue early and be gentle with cleaning so you can remove all the urine and not cause any damage to your mattress.
