Whether you have a pet or a toddler, chances are that you are going to have a urine stain on your mattress.
DIY Solution to Remove Urine Stains
Getting those stains off (and particularly getting the smell out) can be difficult.
There is however, a really effective and really inexpensive method for removing urine from mattresses, clothing, carpet and just about anything else that you may need.
You will need to mix these ingredients together:
- 10 ounces of hydrogen peroxide
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda
- Just a drop or two of your favorite dish detergent
Note that if you mix them together in a spray bottle, the baking soda may foam so it is best to mix them and then pour into the spray bottle once the foam has receded.
Using the mixture is really easy. You just have to spray the area that needs to be treated and let it sit for about an hour or so.
You may want to ventilate the room or turn a fan on so that the smell doesn’t get to you. When you come back, your stains should be completely gone and the best part is that they will take the smell with them.
Incidentally, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent blood stain remover so if you have blood on your clothing, carpeting or other fabric, you can just dab a bit of peroxide on it and it should lift off easily.
This particular recipe is also great for getting the skunk smell out of your pets. If you have rambunctious dogs that like to chase skunks, you know what smell we’re talking about. Just give him a bath in the baking soda mixture and the smell will go away.
George
Removing urine stains and smell can be one heck of a chore. I know in my experience removing cat urine was a lot harder then human urine and the smells did not go completely away. I really enjoyed reading your post on home made recipes and I had actually written a blog post that I would like to share with you reader that do not have time to remove urine odors naturally as I feel there are a lot that might find some interest in this. I really hope that this will be ok with you if not please fell free to delete.
https://www.odorklenz.com/remove-urine-odors-mattress/
Mary Noonan
HI
I TRIED THIS RECIPE AND WE HAD A PERFECTLY GOOD SPRAY BOTTLE WHICH GOT CLOGGED UP. THE BAKING SODA WOULD NOT DISSOLVE WHICH IS THE REASON THE SPRAY BOTTLE CLOGGED.
I SUGGEST YOU USE VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA ON CARPETING.
I MUST MENTION THAT WE HAVE A PURE WOOL AREA RUG. IT HAS BEEN MY PAST EXPERIENCE THAT WOOL RUGS CLEAN UP BEAUTIFULLY!
Regards,
MARY
Kathleen
Hi Mary,
My spray bottle became clogged also. You can fix it by running the openning under very hot water for a few minutes and the spray some very hot water a few times.
This works but not in a spray bottle! I had two areas of puppy pee on my mattress and I have been very upset about it and have been sleeping in another bed.
This is what I did: I sprayed the peroxide directly on the stains, then mixed the baking soda and dish soap in a jar and shook very hard. I put the solution on a clean white rag and rubbed the stains (sprayed with peroxide) very hard. I set up a fan and in one hour I had a white, fresh smelling mattress again.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
Kathleen in California
Beth K
Did you spray the whole 10oz of peroxide?
Lynn Barber
Hi Mary. Question: I have black oriental rugs which have been doused with cat urine. Will the peroxide fade them? As expensive as they are, I am afraid to try without an opinion. Thank you. Lynn in FL labarb38@gmail.com
D. Walker
No it will not. You are using medical grade peroxide. 3%
Deanna
Yes there is a possibility of it lightening a black rug. That is something hydrogen peroxide does. We actually used it on my black lab when she was sprayed and her fur lightened to a reddish brown!
GENA
Can I ask how much vinegar to how much baking soda?
Ermin Sallmen
First: You must change the mixture of these three, It depends on the pee stain. Trial and error.
Second: I have learned that cat, dog, human and other animals' pee takes a little different mixture.
Third: Use a drop of essential oils to help the odor.
Four: Expect there to be some staining, unless you mix the ingredients well.
Five: Most spray bottles "WILL CLOG."
Six: Teflon in the garment, couch, pillow, etc. will make removing stain "MORE DIFFICULT."
Seven: Always remember, nothing is perfect, but this mixture has worked for me for SIXTY(60) YEARS.
Eight: Please be positive and thankful that someone "TRIED."
Nine: LIFE IS SHORT......Please be nice. We are all human and are trying to help one another.
Rhonda Ullrich
Amen!
I'm going to try this. I've bought several "store" cleaners with no luck. I don't want to have to replace our carpet so homemade cleaners here I come. I believe in homemade and old fashioned. Grandma knew best, just wish she was still here. I thank you for your post.
Kbw
My son had an accident on the very colorful rug in his bedroom. Will the peroxide in this solution discolor the rug? There isn't an inconspicuous spot to test first.
piper
Peroxide is a bleach.
Gem
Try testing on a small area. BTW peroxide if a chemical compound made of 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms
H2O2. Bleach as the one found in clorox is made our of Chlorine. The chemical formula for bleach is NaClO. That is sodium, chlorine and oxygen.
EMMA GRACE
I use peroxide on coloured clothes including my scrubs and have never lost colour. That doesn't, however, mean it won't happen. You're right to spot test first. The peroxide you buy at the grocer's or pharmacy is a low percentage which makes it not as effective at bleaching as the peroxide sold for hair.
Judy
im 72 and having problems. If this works, I will love you forever. Sure hope it works!!
Stacey
If I use this on Brown couch will it discolored the fabric. Please let me know because I can't take this smell. Thanks Stacey
lenae
If you are worried about it staining the fabric use white distilled vinegar instead of peroxide. I use it on my green microfiber couch all the time and it works wonders!
Regina
Depends on the fabric of the couch to clean microfiber couches you use peroxide and alcohol to clean it so it all depends
Candice
Not sure if I did something wrong, kind of hard to with 3 ingredients, however the baking soda did NOT dissolve in the peroxide even after shaking the bottle. I mixed it separately, then poured with a funnel into a spray bottle. It clogged the bottle. Found a larger one, and it seemed to work a little better, but still the baking soda did not completely dissolve. I sprayed some old spots my grandson had left and it lightened it a little but did not eliminate. Still smells unfortunately . Since the baking soda is not dissolving, I am basically just spraying Hydrogen Peroxide. Any tips ?
Lora
Wet the stain with vinegar. Put a thick layer of baking soda on it , then allow it to dry. It should wick the stain up into the baking soda. sweep up the dry discolored baking soda that you can and then finish with a quick vacuum.
matthew
This a dumb fucking solution. whoever is patting themselves on the back for this one needs a good hard slap in the face.
John
Really? Why be verbally abusive? What the pupose of the criticism? Feel better about yourself? If this so "dumb," why not just move on? Why? Why? Why?
judy
EXACTLY, some people have to put their 2cents worth in even if it's bad mouth language, don't they.......... my mom used to call that "potty mouth"..... She obviously did something wrong cause I have used this before and it works fine for me...............
Susan L Walkup
LOL I understand your frustration. Sometimes things and sometimes they don't. Especially with homemade solutions. Depends on how long that stain has been in there. I used almost a cup of baking soda and enough peroxide to wet the whole mess and let the bathrobe sit all night. Not hing had worked at all on the urine up to that point. I tries the Oxy - pre-stain plus the Osy Boost and zip after 6 washing. The Peroxide and the baking at least took the smell out, but I was able to put the item in the waster and remove the treatment products. At leas the small was gone.
Susan L Walkup
Sorry for the typos - I can barely see this little box.
Meme
How rude!!!
Kathleen Burbach
No it’s not. It works great for my pet stains. And my dog has NOT returned to that spot.
Take a it easy on your choice of words. Some people feel offended. Or are you mentally challenged and do not understand simple manners? Or maybe your a child?
I use offensive language myself. But never ever do I use in public because I care about people.
judy
did you stir it up.............. sounds like you didn't, you got to stir it to dissolve it up completely....
Joyce
Don't mean to be condescending but I used this and it worked beautifully, so I wonder if you might have possibly picked up baking powder or corn starch or something. I've made that kind of mistake before when stressed and rushing to get rid of a stain before it sets. It just sounds so strange and different from my experience. Thanks to the writer for the tip, you saved a mattress, a lot of money, and my mind!
Alice
This homemade urine stain remover works very well. Just bought a brand new Poang chair from Ikea and of course the first thing that the cat does is pee on it. I was SO upset because the cushions on those chairs are practically impossible to get back in.
I did this treatment once and it lightened the stain but did not remove it. Do not put items in the dryer unless you are 100% certain the stain is gone! I soaked it the next day with half vinegar and half water and then did the treatment again after that. It's finally gone and, though I've spent at least 4 hours getting the cushions back in, my chair is put back together. And kitty is in the dog house.
Laurie Ostrowski
Hi so I started using this for dog urine on my carpet. The sprayed bottle gets clog. Can I pour the mixture right on the pee stain
Thank you
Laurie
judy
never have a problem with my cat, but he's neutered. is yours, I have heard, it helps.............
Christopher M Thompson
Why is the kitty in the dog house? It wasn't the kitty's fault. As the pet parent, YOU are responsible for the kitty's behavior. Is kitty ill? Does she have a UTI? Do you interact with the kitty in an appropriate fashion? Do you exercise kitty and clean it's litter box at appropriate times? Did you bring another cat into the house? If so, does each kitty have it's own cat box and are they located in a secure and private place for kitty? Do you have kids? How do they treat the kitty? There are a thousand reasons why kitty would "mark" your furniture and 99.99% of those reasons are directly in response to it's environment... which is 100% the responsibility of the pet parent...you.
BTW, I am trying out this mixture tonight. I will comment later on how effective it is. Thank you.
Debra
Actually we have a female cat who is just a little bit of a "BI***". She just goes through phases of peeing anywhere but in her litter box. She gets hateful about certain things like if she doesn't get her little bit of milk by a certain time in the morning.
Phyllis Quast
There is one thing...I've used the solution for years. But I make only what I need for that one moment. It will not work if you let it sit. I also do not use it in a spray bottle. I pour tiny bits and saturate the area. The only time I've used a large amount, I made a bucket of the stuff. My cat got stuck in the bathroom by shutting the door for a weekend and peed EVERYWHERE on natural stone tile. I made a bucket at a time, and it took three times pouring it on the floor and swabbing it around and letting it dry.... but it is not no longer there!
JoAnn
My 16 yr old granddaughter just spent a week with me. She left 3 1/2 weeks ago. I was changing the bedding because another guest was coming, and to my horror, I could see where she had peed multiple times on my BRAND NEW MATTRESS!!! I had a thick padded mattress cover on it. If she had told me I would have done something immediately. I read this blog, and many others. The peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap was the one that came up most often. I had an unopened bottle of peroxide, but the use by date on the bottle was 2007. Yes, 2007. I fixed the mixture, it took 2 spray bottles full to treat the area. I kid you not, by the time I was finished spraying, the stain was gone. That was just unbelievable!!!!!
Debra
Your 16 yr old granddaughter should be able to get up at night and go to the bathroom to pee. Unless there's something medical problem like over-active bladder or something, I would certainly let her know that I was not happy about the mattress.
DIANNE
My husband tried steam cleaning with "distilled viniger, equal amount of water & some lavender oil" a recipe he got from Google! I came home 3 days later from out of town, not knowing he had done this and the smell was horrible when I walked in. Thought the dogs had pee'd and come to find out it was viniger!!!! We have white'ish Berber carpet in LR/DR....stains, well, still there! Is it because of the Berber? Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? The stains are because the dog is big, can't bathe him everyday!! Any suggestions would be graciously appreviated. Thanks in advance 😉
Mark
Using stream cleaner is a bad idea. It will cause the stain to set and reeks something fierce. We've used the vinegar and baking soda mixture but you can also try Biokleen Bac-Out. It's an enzymatic cleaner. Our dog peed in our room and it stunk. Put this stuff on spot and it doesn't stink anymore. You can buy it at most health food stores and online are Amazon.
Best of luck.
Deb
Look for solutions to remove oil and or grease. Stains are usually from the oils in the dogs coat.
Tatiana
It did help me to remove the urine stains and a smell. However, it was awful chemical odor. I've checked on internet regarding the Peroxide toxicity...OMG, the vapor of Peroxide is toxic when inhaled. I tried to dry the mattress with a hair dryer and opened all the windows for a night and a day after to ventilate the room. But, still the smell did not go away completely. I wonder if this method of cleaning the surface is safe at all.
Dan
You are probably fine the ppm would be very low
Jean Frame
There is no mention of clean up after you wait the hour. Should I assume you do nothing after it has set or do you blot it/clean it with a damp white cloth?
Kathleen
Dry with a fan and when the item you are cleaning is dry, the stain is gone.
Dog
Vanessa Beaty, How is it a good idea to bathe a dog w/ peroxide? Why don't you try pouring peroxide on your skin to test your "magic" solution out before you spew garbage disguised as advise like this ?
Myra belle
Well consider we clean our ears with peroxide and it can be used as a mouthwash. I don't know the research but on our ears and in mouths and with a skunk smell do you really have a laundry list of options?
M
is there an alternative? I'm babysitting and the little girl peed on a brown couch and I've mixed the soap and water but I can still smell the pee.. there isn't any baking soda, vinegar, or peroxide here at the house.
Marie C.
I did this and it worked!!! The spray bottle did get clogged. I suggest you swirl the liquid around while spraying.
Dawn
I used this on my Granddon's mattress and it worked beautifully!!! Absolutely no smell and I have strong sense of smell. It even removed a red juice stain from the mattress. I HIGHLY recommend this!!
GENA
hOW MUCH VINEGAR TO HOW MUCH BAKING SODA?