If there’s a universal truth about children, it’s that they are messy! They play in mud, they draw on your walls, they can’t eat spaghetti without getting it on every surface in the vicinity...but what about those messes that they have no control over? If they’re sick or potty training, sometimes the mess just happens to them, rather than them happening to the mess.
Well, parents, have no fear! We’ve got the tips for cleaning up those accidental messes: whether it’s a nighttime bathroom accident, a sudden nosebleed, or vomiting in bed, here’s how to make their mattress good as new!
Cleaning Urine from a Mattress
We know that when you’re awoken in the middle of the night by an accident in bed, the first thing on your mind is going back to sleep. . But the most important aspect of battling urine stains and smells is speed! You want to make sure to get in there and blot up the liquid as soon as possible to prevent it from soaking further into the layers of your mattress. Whether you have an innerspring, memory foam, or pillowtop – the first step is always, always to get that liquid out of there!
Cleaning Fresh Urine
We said it once and we’ll say it again, it’s important to get up as much liquid as you can off your mattress as quickly as possible. Once urine sets in the mattress, it becomes more difficult to get it out – and to get rid of the smell!
What You’ll Need:
Baking Soda
Clean Towels
Cold Water
Laundry Detergent
White Vinegar
Spray Bottle
Vacuum
Step 1: Remove the bedding and get the sheets into the washing machine as quickly as possible! Urine stains set very quickly, so you have to wash the affected bedding immediately. If the smell still lingers after washing, add 1 cup of white vinegar and rerun the wash.
Step 2: Blot (don’t scrub!) the area. Grab your clean towel and blot the soiled area to soak up as much liquid as possible.
Step 3: Spray your vinegar solution on the area. Mix a solution of two parts cold water, one part white vinegar, and a small amount of laundry detergent (Example mixture for standard size spray bottle: 2-3 tbsp of detergent, 1 cup white vinegar, 2 cups cold water).
Step 4: Let the solution-soaked mattress sit for a minimum of 15 minutes. After the allotted time, blot the area with a new clear cloth to soak up any excess liquid.
Step 5: Cover the area with baking soda and let it sit for 8-10 hours.
Step 6: Vacuum up the dry baking soda.
Step 7: Inspect the mattress! If you still notice a smell/stain, repeat steps 3-6 as necessary.
Cleaning Urine Stains
If sleep won the battle and you’re left trying to clean up old urine stains, the ingredients you’ll need are mostly the same as a fresh stain, but the steps are a little bit different. Namely that it takes quite a bit more time to get them out!
What You’ll Need:
White Vinegar
Laundry Detergent
Cold Water
Plastic Wrap
Towels
Step 1: Mix a solution of two parts cold water, one part white vinegar, and a small amount of laundry detergent (Example mixture for a standard size spray bottle: 2-3 tbsp of detergent, 1 cup white vinegar, 2 cups cold water). Apply enough on the stain to make sure the mattress is soaked to the depth of the original stain.
Step 2: Cover the area in plastic wrap. Do not blot, rub, or otherwise attempt to soak up the extra liquid! You want to cover it and let it sit for up to 24-48 hours. Covering the solution with wrap prevents it from evaporating and allows it to continue working on the stain.
Step 3: Remove the plastic wrap and allow the mattress to air dry.
Step 4: Repeat the process if the mattress is still stained. It’s normal for deep stains to require a few treatments before disappearing.
Step 5: Spot-clean the mattress with water. Check for any dried residue from the vinegar solution, spray with water, and blot with towels to dry.
Cleaning a Urine Smell
Sometimes, no matter how quickly you get to the urine on your mattress, you’re still left with a lingering smell. And there’s nothing less relaxing than laying down in bed and getting a whiff of urine as you try to sleep – or try to get your kids to sleep. However, don’t fret, you can still get those smells out after they’ve set!
What You’ll Need:
Baking Soda
Vacuum
Step 1: Sprinkle baking soda in a thin layer across the mattress. Try to focus more heavily on areas that are stained with urine.
Step 2: Let the baking soda sit! You want to give it at least 5-10 hours to work on the scent. We recommend doing this process overnight to make sure you give it enough time.
Step 3: Vacuum the baking soda off the mattress. If the smell still lingers, do it again!
Cleaning Vomit from a Mattress
It’s gross to say, but vomit comes in all shapes and sizes – however, lucky for parents, cleaning it up is the same no matter what! As with urine on your mattress, time is of the essence when it comes to vomit on your mattress (and your bedding!).
Cleaning Fresh Vomit
What You’ll Need:
Clean, Dry Rags
Absorbent Paper Towels
Bowl or Container
Hot Water
Laundry or Dish Soap
Rubbing Alcohol
Baking Soda
Step 1: Clean all vomit off the mattress as quickly as possible! The longer it sits, the harder it will be to get the smell and the stain out.
Step 2: Wash all bedding! Make sure you wash at a higher temperature to get rid of any smell and all stains/germs.
Step 3: Clean up any leftover vomit residue on the mattress. Using clean, dry paper towels, dab at the remaining liquid. Make sure you dab rather than scrub! Scrubbing leads to spreading around germs and leftover liquids, which can embed them into the fibers of the mattress, making them harder to get out.
Step 4: Spot-clean the mattress once you’ve gotten as much liquid up as you can. Fill a bowl with warm water and a small amount of your detergent. Soak a rag in the water, ring it out, and dab at the spots. Pat with another clean towel to soak up any water.
Step 5: Time to disinfect the mattress! Make a solution of half white vinegar and half water. Spray it on the affected spots. Let it dry completely, then repeat the process until the stain is gone.
Step 6: Use rubbing alcohol to make sure the last of those germs are gone! Pour some into a spray bottle and spray it on the stained areas. Let it dry completely.
Cleaning Vomit Smell
For this, all you’ll need is a household staple: baking soda! Baking soda is great at neutralizing odors and will absorb any leftover moisture from your cleaning. Sprinkle a generous amount on the spot where the vomit was and let it sit for at least a day to absorb the odors.
Now, unlike other cleanings, you can sleep on your mattress while baking soda works its magic! If you’re worried about the soda working its way through your sheets, feel free to add a towel over the baking soda before you make the bed.
The final step: Vacuum up the baking soda and change your sheets!
Cleaning Blood from a Mattress
Unfortunately for some kids, dry noses or severe allergies can lead to spontaneous midnight nosebleeds. Because blood is one of the harder stains to get out of your mattress once it sets in, try your best to get to it as soon as it happens!
Pro Tip: Always use cold water when working on blood stains! Hot water can cause the proteins in the blood to coagulate and become more deeply embedded in the fibers.
Cleaning Blood from a Mattress
Since blood is the toughest stain, the list of materials you need is also the longest! Don’t let that intimidate you – you can make your mattress look good as new in just a few steps!
What You’ll Need:
Small Bowl
Microfiber Cloth
Soft-Bristled Scrub Brush
Circulating Fan
Vacuum
Baking Soda
Hydrogen Peroxide
Oxygen Bleach
Enzyme-Based Stain Remover
Paper Towels
Step 1: Remove all the bedding. Immediately treat the stains on any linens and wash them in cold water with an enzyme-based, heavy-duty detergent (Arm & Hammer or All are great options).
Step 2: Blot any fresh stains. Use paper towels to blot as much moisture as possible.
Pro Tip: When blotting or applying your solutions, it’s important to work from the edge of the stain toward the center of the stain. If you work at it the opposite way, you run the risk of spreading the stain further.
Step 3: Start with cold water! Small, fresh blood stains can often be removed by blotting the area with a cloth dipped in cold water. If this works and there are no leftover traces of blood, allow the mattress to air dry for at least eight hours without any bedding.
Step 4: Mix a cleaning paste of ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Using your brush (or an old toothbrush!), apply the paste to the stain. The mixture will bubble as the hydrogen peroxide reacts with the blood. Let it work for at least 30 minutes or until the bubbling stops. Blot away the paste, using a clean area of the cloth as you go.
Step 5: Let the mattress air dry completely.
Step 6: If the stain still remains, try a laundry stain remover (Zout or OxiClean are excellent) to break apart the stain molecules. Place a small dab of the remover on a damp microfiber cloth. Work the product into the stain and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Then, blot away the stain remover with a clean microfiber cloth and cold water.
Step 7: Let the mattress air dry completely again.
Step 8: Treat the affected area with Oxygen Bleach. Create a paste with ½ cup dry oxygen bleach and ½ cup water in a small bowl. Use your brush and apply the paste to the stain. Allow the paste to work for at least 2 hours. Then dip a clean cloth in cold water to blot away the bleach.
Step 9: Let the mattress air dry for 8-10 hours before adding bedding or using the bed.
Is It Too Far Gone?
If their mattress is just too far gone, we have the solution for that too: get one from us! We’ve got a wide selection of sizes, materials, and more. We’d love to help you find the perfect mattresses for your family.