Removing urine from a mattress: how to really get rid of stains and odour

An accident in bed happens in no time. Whether it's a child who's potty training, a pet having an accident or incontinence: urine on a mattress is a nuisance. Your first reaction might be panic, because you can't put a mattress in the washing machine. Still, a wet spot doesn't mean the end of your mattress.

Want to know how to get urine out of a mattress without leaving yellow rings or a lingering ammonia smell? In this article we explain why water alone doesn't work and give you a step-by-step plan for both fresh and dried-in stains.

Why urine is so stubborn

Urine consists of water, urea, urochrome (which gives it its yellow colour) and uric acid. That last one in particular is the problem. When urine dries, the uric acid crystallises. These crystals don't dissolve in water and attach themselves to the fibres.

That's why the urine smell in a mattress sometimes seems to have disappeared, but suddenly comes back on warm or humid days. Moisture reactivates the leftover crystals. To get the mattress truly clean, you have to break down and remove these crystals.

First aid for fresh pee on a mattress

Is the mattress still wet? Speed is your best friend. The deeper the urine soaks into the foam, the harder it is to remove.

Step 1: absorb

Grab kitchen paper or old towels straight away. Press firmly on the wet spot to soak up as much moisture as possible. Don't rub, because that spreads the urine over a larger area.

Step 2: dilute and neutralise

Make a mixture of water and cleaning vinegar (1:1 ratio). Vinegar neutralises the ammonia in the urine. Dab this onto the stain. Note: don't soak the mattress, because moisture in the core can lead to mould.

Step 3: baking soda for the smell

Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the damp spot. Baking soda absorbs the remaining moisture and draws nasty odours out of the fabric. Let it dry until it forms a hard crust (this often takes a few hours) and then vacuum it up.

Removing old or dried-in urine stains

Only discovered the pee stain on the mattress later? Then the urine salts have already dried in. A simple soapy solution won't be enough anymore.

Soak: Lightly moisten the stain with a plant sprayer (water and a drop of washing-up liquid) to loosen the crystals.
Enzymes: Use a cleaner with enzymes (such as Biotex Green or a special urine remover). Enzymes 'eat' the bacteria and proteins that cause the smell.
Follow-up: Dab with clean water and dry the mattress thoroughly.

The machine method: hygienic and effective

Scrubbing by hand has one big drawback: you often push part of the urine deeper into the mattress. For cleaning urine out of a mattress, a machine that can extract is the most hygienic option.

Option 1: The spot cleaner (extraction)

A spray-extraction device, such as the Achaté Spot Cleaner, is the best choice for urine.

It sprays water and cleaning agent deep into the fibres.
It powerfully sucks the dirty water back up straight away. This way you actually get the urine out of the mattress instead of masking it. This prevents yellow rings and odour problems in the long run.

Option 2: The steam cleaner (disinfection)

Many people want to clean urine from their mattress with steam. This is very effective for killing bacteria, but there's a warning: heat can 'fix' (set) the proteins in urine, so the stain stays put. That's why you should only use a powerful device like the Achaté Steam Cleaner PRO after you've removed most of the stain. The dry, hot steam of the PRO version (Product of the Year 2025) penetrates deep to kill leftover bacteria and dust mites, giving you a 100% hygienic sleeping surface.

Cleaning urine from a mattress topper

Do you have a mattress topper? Then you're in luck. Cleaning urine from a topper is often easier because the cover (ticking) can usually be unzipped.

Unzip the cover and wash it according to the care instructions (often 40 or 60 degrees).
Has the urine also soaked into the foam of the topper? Then treat it with the vinegar or enzyme method described above.
Put the core of the topper (without the cover) outside to air and dry. UV light also helps kill odours and bacteria.