How to Get Dog Pee (And The Smell) Out of Your Mattress

We all love our pets. So much so, we’ll often bring them into bed to snuggle with us at night. However, even the best and well-trained canine companions can have an accident. When disaster strikes, here’s how to get the smell of dog urine out of your mattress.

How to Treat an Accident When it Happens on Your Bed

We will spare you most of the dirty details that come with your pet peeing on your mattress; however, there is one important component of your dog doing their business on your bed to understand—what’s in their pee that causes the stain and odor.

Your pup’s urine contains elements such as creatinine, urea, uric acid, hormones, enzymes, potassium, ammonia, and many others that combined cause a nasty odor. And if you don’t treat the stained area correctly (aka get it all out), any sort of moisture will cause these compounds to continue breaking down. In other words, your mattress will continue to smell like dog pee. (Not to mention, dogs mark their territory and you absolutely don’t want them coming back.)

Products and Methods Don’t Get Rid of Dog Pee Smell

Before you try taking care of the dog urine smell yourself, it’s important to understand what not to do or you might make the situation at hand worse.

You probably have a “multi-purpose” detergent on hand. But according to Harriet Jones, a London deep-cleaning professional, the issue with using this sort of product to remove the smell is that it’s not designed to eliminate such odors. Although this type of cleaning agent has antibacterial properties, it still won’t break down the chemical compounds that cause the smell in the first place.

The same rule applies for most DIY, homemade solutions that use baking soda, dish soap, bleach, or vinegar. All of the listed agents won’t do a very good job of removing the odor because they don’t contain any biological catalysts, such as enzymes, which break down organic substances and bacteria fast.

Don’t get us wrong, these remedies will still have some effect, but it will last only a couple of days before the odor resurfaces again.

To sum up, ordinary cleaning products and DIY methods can solve part of the problem, but it won’t be lasting for getting rid of the foul odor.

How Clean Dog Pee From Your Mattress

If you want to get rid of dog urine smell for good, your best bet will be to invest in an enzyme cleaner. Enzymes are protein molecules in the cells of living organisms, which act as a catalyst of different biochemical processes inside a cell by accelerating chemical reactions.

Translation: when you use enzyme-based products against dog pee smell, the solution will breakdown the potent chemicals, such as uric acid crystals, into two separate elements – carbon dioxide and ammonia. These components on their own will evaporate into the air. However, enzymes need time to break down these uric acid salts; therefore, it’s best to treat the stain and let the mattress air-dry.

It’s important to note, not all enzyme-based cleaning solutions are created equal. Like with everything, good quality products will work better than their cheaper versions. If you decide to save a bit of cash and buy a budget-friendlier option, you’ll need to re-apply it from time to time in order to keep the smell from resurfacing.

How to Use an Enzyme Cleaner Correctly

• If your dog has had the accident recently, and the stain is still wet, blot it with a paper towel. Remove as much of the liquid as possible before you proceed.
• Apply the cleaning product directly to the affected area and let it sit for five to six minutes. Remember to read the label for any specific instructions beforehand. It’s also recommended to open a window while the enzymes do their magic.
• After five minutes, get a clean piece of cloth or paper towel and absorb the excess product.
• Top the treated area with a bit of baking soda. Make sure the whole spot is completely covered. Let the soda sit for 18-20 hours.
• When the recommended time has passed, vacuum the soda and air out your mattress.

Additional Tips to Keep in Mind

• Invest in a high-quality product. You’ll achieve a better result and save money in the long run.
• Repeat the enzyme cleaning process a few times for best results.
• Work fast. Fresh stains are a lot easier to remove than old ones.
• Encase your mattress in a waterproof mattress protector to prevent future accidents.
• Get a bed for your dog.
• Consider a high-end vacuum cleaner that will help you tackle bacteria and other dust mites efficiently.

To ensure you are getting your best sleep each night, it’s important to maintain your sleep health by keeping your sleep space clean.