How to get urine out of memory foam mattresses - Mattress Genius (2023)

That terrible feeling when you realize there's been an accident in bed is well known to everyone.

Whether it's an unwanted surprise from sleeping next to your dog or a bed-wetting accident with your child, it's just tricky business to deal with.

This is where knowing how to pee on memory foam mattresses will come in handy.

Regardless of the origins, just accept that accidents are part of the territory when living with young children and pets.

About the memory foam mattress

Before jumping to eliminate urine in a memory foammattress, let's first understand what this material is and its qualities.

Memory foam has become one of the staple materials in American homes and around the world.

It consists primarily of polyurethane foam, which is infused with chemicals to improve density and viscosity.

In viscoelastic terms, viscosity is a characteristic that makes a material resistant to changing shape under pressure.

Memory foam works by containing the pressure applied against it while gently reshaping itself.

Before becoming a popular mattress material for the general public, memory foam was a common accessory in sports helmets.

It helps to provide users with relaxation and support for their head, which is conducive to different types of strenuous activities.

Hospital beds are also a typical application for memory foam, as it helps to reduce problems such as bedsores and gangrene in bedridden patients.

Advantages of viscoelastic mattress

Listed below are some notable reasons why many choose a memory foam mattress over other variants.

• Durability

When it comes to the lifespan of mattresses, memory foam is among the most durable on the market.

Well maintained premium memory foam mattresses can last for decades.

In comparison, spring mattresses are typically fully functional for about five to six years.

Memory foam mattresses can last up to three times longer than that.

One of the reasons for their longevity is that they don't have springs that eventually wear out.

• comfort and support

Due to their ability to fill spaces throughout the body, memory foam mattresses offer comfort and support, no matter your sleeping position.

Provides waist support for side sleepers, reducing pressure on shoulders and hips.

For those who sleep on their stomach, it preserves the natural curve of the spine and avoids pressure on the back.

To provide optimal spinal alignment and personalized support, memory foam molds to the shape of your body.

As a result, you'll feel like you've been custom-made due to the personalized comfort it offers.

• Resistant to motion transfer

If your partner wakes you up frequently, tossing and turning constantly in your sleep, opt for aviscoelastic mattress is ideal.

The material absorbs pressure and movement, effectively minimizing discomfort for you or your partner.

• Hypoallergenic

Polyurethane foam has a coarse fiber structure that is resistant to typical allergens such as mold, pet dander and dust mites.

Therefore, memory foam mattresses help to reduce allergy flare-ups or other allergy-related symptoms.

As you can imagine, allergy symptoms like a runny nose can make it difficult for people to sleep.

A memory foam mattress may be your only option if you have trouble sleeping at night due to your allergies.

What happens if you don't remove the urine from the memory foam?

Maintaining your memory foam mattress can be a tedious task. However, there are issues you will encounter if you choose not to.

These are the potential problems you could have due to constant exposure to urine.

mold growth

Continuous incidents of bedwetting often result in a wet memory foam mattress.

If you don't clean and dry your bedding properly, mold will start to build up, even though memory foam has high resilience.

Inhaling or coming into contact with mold spores can trigger allergic reactions.

For people sensitive to mold, this can include everything from sneezing and sore eyes to a rash and runny nose.

In severe cases, shortness of breath may also occur.

Mold-sensitive asthmatics may experience asthmatic episodes if they inhale or come into contact with mold spores.

Even for people who are not allergic to mold, constant exposure can cause irritation in different parts of the body.

Once a mold infestation is evident on your memory foam mattress, immediate replacement is the recommended course of action.

bed bug infestation

Urine contains histamine, a chemical produced by white blood cells to defend the body against a potential allergen.

According toinvestigation, bed bugs are attracted to histamine, which is also a substance they themselves produce.

In case you didn't know, some bed bugs can grow into a total infestation of 13,000 or more in six months.

While bed bugs are not necessarily disease carriers, they can still cause problems.

Its presence can cause itchiness, loss of sleep or an allergic reaction.

In certain situations, persistent itching can cause aggressive scratching that can lead to a skin infection.

Bad smell

Urine is known to have a pungent odor and can remain on your memory foam mattress if you don't clean it.

The odor is caused by the amount and concentration of waste produced by the kidneys.

Urine with a high concentration of waste products and little water can smell strongly of ammonia.

Unfortunately, breathing problems and allergies can be the result if you regularly inhale ammonia.

Arguably, odor removal is the most challenging part of cleaning your mattress, especially when odor is widespread.

How to remove pee from memory foam mattresses?

Now that you know your memory foam mattress is a great sleep aid, no more motivation is needed to clean and maintain it regularly.

Let's list the steps you need to take to remove urine from your memory foam mattress.

Step 1 – Remove the bedding

First, remove the bedding and put it in the washing machine as soon as possible.

You will need to do this as soon as you notice urine to avoid staining.

Step 2: Prepare the Supplies

After removing your memory foam mattress, gather the items below to get started:

• dry towels or tissue paper
• white vinegar
• spray bottle
• Bicarbonate
• liquid detergent
• Vacuum Cleaner
• enzymatic cleaner (optional)
• air freshener spray (optional)

Step 3 – Dry the affected areas

Dry the mattress with a towel or tissue and let it soak up as much of the urine as possible.

Avoid rubbing as the stain will get worse.

Once the towel or handkerchief doesn't absorb anything, it's time to spread white vinegar on the surface of the affected areas.

Use as much vinegar as you like.

Then let the vinegar sit for a few minutes, then use clean, dry towels to blot the vinegar.

This is where you should take your time and be as thorough as possible.

Step 4: Apply the solution

Grab the spray bottle and start creating a homemade urine remover.

Prepare about a cup of hydrogen peroxide, three teaspoons of baking soda, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.

Put them all in the spray bottle and shake it gently.

Avoid aggressively shaking the bottle; shaking it should solve the problem.

Then spray the solution on the affected areas and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes to absorb the urine.

After that, use a clean towel or tissue to blot up the solution.

It may take repeated application and drying a few times to effectively remove the urine stain and odor from the memory foam mattress.

An enzymatic cleaner may be needed if the urine has an extremely pungent odor or is from a pet.

This cleaner breaks down uric acid crystals in the urine, which neutralizes lingering odors.

Step 5 – Sprinkle in the Baking Soda

Eliminate residual odor and dampness by spraying affected areas with a liberal amount of baking soda.

It would be best if you leave it on the surface for a few hours to remove any lingering odors.

Step 6 – Use the Vacuum

Get your vacuum with an upholstery attachment to clean up the baking soda you applied to the mattress.

When the memory foam mattress is completely free of residual dust, the process is complete.

a quick reminder

While your mattress may look dry on the outside after you clean it, it might still be damp on the inside.

It is better to dry too much than to leave it damp and let it dry naturally.

After all, moisture can lead to unwanted growth that can shorten the life of your memory foam mattress.

final thoughts

Given the benefits of knowing how to pee from memory foammattresses, it is essential to make sure you do it correctly.

Still, the “better safe than sorry” cliché also applies here.

A mattress protector can save you the hassle of tedious cleaning while extending the life of your memory foam mattress.

Choosing a high quality waterproof bed protector will help protect your memory foam mattress from a number of impediments, including urine.