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How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of Mattress

How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of Mattress

According to numerous studies, living with a cat is therapeutic, it can lower the risk of heart disease, and it may even help you sleep better. As much as cats can be good for our heart and soul, these adorable meme muses are famous for causing trouble, like scratching the life out of your furniture, turning your toilet paper into an abstract art piece, or urinating outside the litter box - like on your mattress, for instance. When this happens, you must act quickly, because otherwise, fully getting rid of the smell will become near impossible, or let’s say as difficult as training your cat to walk past a glass of water without knocking it over.

Here’s a simple guide on how to get cat pee smell out of a mattress in a few simple steps. 

Part 1: Clean the Cat Urine From the Mattress 

If you’ve caught your cat off guard while peeing on your brand new mattress, you can act quickly to get rid of the unpleasant smell of urine. However, you might want to skip this section and read the next one if the pet urine has already dried. 

Remove the Bedding

You should remove the bedding as quickly as possible the moment you detect cat urine odor coming from your mattress. Depending on whether or not your bedding is machine washable, your next step should be to either put them in a washing machine or find a place to soak them with a gentle, liquid laundry detergent.

To remove urine stains from other bedding like pillows, you can read about spot cleaning in our guide on how to wash memory foam pillows. 

Soak the Area

The next step is to blot up as much of the urine as possible using soft, dry towels. Make sure not to scrub the affected area in order to prevent the stain from penetrating deeper. 

Use Vinegar

Vinegar is known to have the ability to neutralize odors, but people also use it as a cleaning agent. This means that if your discovery is untimely and the stain is already dry, you should sprinkle a water-and-vinegar mixture on the stain. Just put together two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar with one cup of dishwashing detergent and two cups of water. Slowly pour the mixture on the affected area and wait several minutes to soak before you blot the excess liquid with paper towels. 

Sprinkle a Layer of Baking Soda 

Baking soda does miracles when it comes to absorbing moisture, so sprinkle it over the stain and let it stay for several hours. Once the baking soda absorbs the moisture, vacuum it from your mattress.

Let the Mattress Air Dry

Let the mattress sundry where there is fresh air, and you’ve got yourself the fastest smell-removal method. In case you can’t take your mattress outdoors, try drying it with a fan.

Part 2: Steps for Removing Cat Urine Odors From Mattress

If you quickly skimmed through the first part, you probably noticed the urine stain long after the cat peed on your mattress. We know that the unfortunately familiar funky smell is bothering you, so let’s see how to remove it.

Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda Will Do the Trick

Removing stains and odors is one of the main functions of hydrogen peroxide, and when mixed with baking soda, this cleaning solution can do wonders for those annoying lingering odors. Spray a mixture of 8 oz of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and 4 oz laundry detergent on the pee-stained area.

Once it dries off, sprinkle the affected area with dry baking soda to extract the moisture and let it stay for several hours before vacuuming. 

Drying Process

Allow your mattress to fully dry for two to three days. 

The best way to do so is by taking it out in the sun to air dry. If the weather conditions don’t allow this, you can dry it with a fan.

An Easier Cleaning Method

Mix some laundry detergent with a solution made of one cup of vinegar solution and two cups of cool water. This time around, spray the solution gently and lay a large plastic sheet on your mattress to stop it from evaporating into the air. After 24 hours or so, take the plastic sheet from your mattress and let it dry on its own.

In case there is still a stain on your mattress, you’ll still need to sprinkle some baking soda and let it work its magic.

Prevent Future Accidents

If your cat urinates outside the litter box once, there’s a good chance it will happen again unless you understand the underlying reason of why this happened in the first place. Whether it’s stomach pain, some uncommon urinary tract disease, or something else, your cat might be trying to tell you something through this seemingly spiteful act. This is why taking your domestic feline to the vet is a crucial step towards getting rid of those unpleasant odors coming from your furniture - but even more importantly, ensuring the health and wellbeing of your furry friend. You can also try utilising different scents to deter cats from peeing on specific objects that you cherish. 

Final Takeaway

mattress pee stain

Removing cat urine smell is an easy process that requires a few household cleaning products and a bit of your time.

However, prevention is always better than dealing with the consequences, so make sure your cat is taken proper care of. In case inappropriate urination happens regularly, you should contact a vet to check for urinary tract infections or other health problems. 

Sources

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