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One of the most common behavioral disorders encountered in canine companions is indoor toileting. For owners, it can cause a huge amount of stress. It is unpleasant to think of our home being soiled with smelly urine, particularly when it is the family beds that are being contaminated.
Without prompt intervention, stains quickly dry in and the odor can be hard to eliminate. When our own home starts to smell or look unpleasant, this can have serious implications on our mental health and wellbeing. As a vet, I’ve found that it can even lead to a strained relationship between owner and pet.
This guide covers all of the basics when it comes to dealing with this wide-spread issue. We talk you through a tried and tested cleaning protocol, using pet-safe cleaners like Potty Buddy™ Pet Stain & Odor Remover Spray. Not only do we discuss step-by-step cleaning and odor removal, we also cover how you can protect your mattress from getting urinated on.
So, you’ve found a fresh pee stain on your mattress? After taking a few deep breaths to calm yourself (!) it is time to get down and dirty, and clean that stain. The sooner this is done, the more effective it is.
Step 1: Remove all of the bedding and wash immediately. Use a setting on the washing machine that is 60 degrees or over, to fully eliminate the ammonia smell. While it can be tempting to leave the bed clothes in a heap in the laundry basket, this can make the urine more difficult to clean off. Get that laundry washed!
Step 2: Blot the pee (don’t rub). Use an absorbent paper towel to blot as much of the urine off as you can. When it is a fresh accident, you’ll usually be able to blot off lots of it in this manner. Do not rub it in, as this can lead to more urine soaking into the mattress.
Step 3: Apply a vinegar and water solution from a spray bottle. The vinegar helps to neutralise the smell. Just a slight mist is all we want, we do not want to saturate the mattress. Alternatively, use Potty Buddy™ Pet Stain & Odor Remover Spray to remove the stain and associated odor.
Step 4: Let it sit to break down urine crystals. This part of the process is important- you do not want to rush things, as it takes time for the chemical process to occur.
Step 5: Sprinkle baking soda generously. Although it may sound like we’re giving you the recipe to bake a cake, bear with us here! Baking soda works beautifully to absorb the remaining moisture and to neutralise the odor. Ideally, it is left on for a good eight hours.
Step 6: After the baking soda has been sat on the stained area for as long as possible (up to eight hours is ideal) it can then be vacuumed up. At this point, a good sniff should confirm no urine smell remains. If you feel there is still an odor, the process can be repeated.
Sometimes, we only realise there is urine on the bed when it has dried in. This isn’t ideal, as it is more likely to leave a stain that is harder to eliminate. Still, there is plenty that can be done to get that mattress looking as good as new.
Do be aware that there may be a slight yellow stain, even after thorough cleaning. This is not always possible to remove, especially if there was a lot of urine, it was really concentrated, and it had been sitting on the mattress for some time.
Step 1: Spray thoroughly with the Potty Buddy™ Stain and Odor Remover (probiotic-based formula). The probiotics will get to work, breaking down the chemical components and neutralising that musty odor.
Step 2: Allow to air dry fully. Increase ventilation in the bedroom as much as you can. This can mean opening doors and windows, and perhaps using fans too. Fresh air is nature’s cleaner!
Step 3: Repeat if needed. It would not be uncommon to have to repeat this process one or even two times. Some stains are very deep or dark, so may require more persistence and product to eliminate.
Optional: If there is a really dark or stubborn stain, you may consider the extra step of using a 3% Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste (mix 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of baking soda), to try to get the mattress back to a white color - assuming this is the color you started out with. This bleach solution helps to tackle really deep stains and can be left on for several hours before vacuuming it up.
Caution: Do not use hydrogen peroxide at the same time as other cleaning solutions, especially vinegar, as this may release toxic fumes. Always test hydrogen peroxide on a small inconspicuous area of your mattress first to make sure discoloration doesn’t occur.
For many of us, it is the smell that causes the most heartache. Walking into our bedroom, we want to be met with the scent of freshly-cleaned linen- or perhaps a nice, vanilla scented candle- definitely not the stench of Rex’s wee.
A faint ammonia smell may linger for some time after a dog urinates on the bed, but there are things you can do to shift that smell sooner, and have your room smelling lovely again.
As the urine dries and the watery liquid part evaporates into the air, the uric acid crystals remain on the mattress. These crystals stubbornly sit on the fabric. When there is more moisture in the air or a pet or person sweats nearby, the moisture can ‘re-activate’ the crystals, and the pungent smell is released once again.
In many ways, a mattress is the ideal ‘sponge’ for these crystals, as it is porous and there are deep crevices that the crystals can penetrate. It is a really tricky thing to clean properly.
To clean a mattress from dog pee, you have to eliminate all of these crystals ASAP. Thankfully, a proper probiotic or enzyme cleaner spray tackles the job well, as it permeates the pores and crevices of the soiled mattress and breaks down those hard-to-reach spots in between the fibers.
There are a few methods that you can try, and many of us will implement a couple of methods one after the other, when there is a particular stubborn stain. Rather than replacements, each method is complementary to the other.
Method 1: Baking soda overnight. We discussed the use of baking soda above, and leaving it sitting for a good eight hours goes a long way towards dealing with the foul smell. Be liberal in your sprinkling, and then hoover it all up in the morning. It is a weakly alkaline compound that can help neutralise the odor of the urine, and it ‘pulls’ the moisture from the mattress, drying out the excess liquid.
Method 2: Vinegar rinse. Vinegar is a common ingredient that every chef has in their store cupboard, but its uses spill over into much more than just culinary duty. The acetic acid breaks down salt and residues left on the mattress, and the ammonia is neutralised, removing that harsh ‘pee’ smell. Use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Spray generously on, and leave it to settle in for 10 minutes or so. Blot it dry and blow dry the area.
* Be aware that both a baking soda rub and a vinegar rinse help remove odor but donothing to combat those pesky uric acid crystals.
Method 3 (Best): An enzyme-based or probiotic-based cleaner like Potty Buddy’s can be used. Unlike methods 1 and 2, using these types of cleaners targets the issue of the uric acid crystals. These sprays are much more effective than DIY methods, and should be used in addition to them. The spray breaks down the organic molecules- destroying them at a molecular level, so they’re gone forever. As the molecules are gone, they are not going to reactivate when a wet dog or sweaty human lies down on them.
The spray works best to clean dog urine out of a mattress if it is sprayed until saturated, so the solution can reach deep down into the fibres. Let it sit for hours to do its job, and ensure the room is well ventilated, to help the drying process.
Many people will spray fabric air fresheners on the mattress, which can seem like a good idea initially. Instantly, there is a more pleasant smell and the urine is masked. However, as soon as the scent wears off, that urine smell is there in the background, as it never left in the first place. A fragrance temporarily masks the stench, while an enzymatic or probiotic sprays eliminate it forever from your home.
Dog urine should be sterile. However, sometimes there can be bacteria in it. It is also possible for bacteria to contaminate the mattress, particularly if your dog has defecated on it, or has been on it with very dirty fur.
We want to sanitize a soiled or stained mattress, to remove any bacteria and ensure it is safe and hygienic for you and your family to sleep on.
Steam cleaning can be an excellent method here, with the high temperatures killing off the pathogens.
Now that we’ve got the cleaning basics covered, let’s shift the focus to prevention and protection.
If you know your dog is likely to pee on the mattress, try to do what you can to avoid this. This can mean blocking off bedrooms and making beds inaccessible. You can also use waterproof mattress protectors like Potty Buddy’s Leak-Proof Pads.
Encourage your dog to toilet outside, where they are supposed to. This can mean:
Going back to basics with potty training. Lots of opportunities to pee outdoors, and praise and a tasty treat when they do it.
Never tell your dog off for peeing inside, as this can make them anxious, and can actually worsen the issue
See a vet if the issue persists, as it could be indicative of a medical issue such as bladder stones, canine dementia, or a urinary infection.
And, of course, keep your Potty Buddy Cleaning Spray handy for immediate clean-ups. The longer the ammonia smell is present, the harder it is to eliminate, and the more likely your dog is to soil in the same spot again.
How long does dog urine take to dry?
Depending on the amount passed and the humidity of the room, usually just a few hours.
Can I clean dog pee without vinegar?
Yes, vinegar is not necessary if you are using an enzymatic spray. However, it is a cheap and easy way to help neutralise the smell.
How do I get rid of urine smell permanently?
Use an enzymatic cleaner that breaks down the uric acid particles.
Is dog pee harmful to sleep on?
Yes- the ammonia fumes can be irritant to the respiratory tract, and some urine can contain bacteria.
A pee accident does not have to mean the end of your mattress! If you act quickly and use the right products, your mattress can go on to fight another day. Use an effective product like Potty Buddy™ Pet Stain & Odor Remover Spray to tackle both stains and smells.
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