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How to Clean Dog Urine From Memory Foam in 7 Steps (with Pictures)

Written by: Ashley Bates

Last Updated on April 9, 2024 by Dogster Team

Memory mattress without cover

How to Clean Dog Urine From Memory Foam in 7 Steps (with Pictures)

Isn’t it impressive how our ever-so-sweet pooches seem to make messes in the absolutely worst spots? If your bed or couch has become the victim to a classic pup “oops”, you might wonder just how in the world you’re going to get it clean. But luckily, if your mattress is memory foam, there is a way to remove the issue.

We have put together a step-by-step super easy method to remove urine from your mattress, including just a few ingredients and a bit of your time.

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Supplies Needed

Spray Bottle To mix and spray ingredients
White Vinegar To eliminate uric acid and ammonia in urine
Laundry Detergent Break down odors
Paper Towels To soak up wetness
Baking Soda Eliminates odor

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What Is Memory Foam?

Queen-sized bed with memory foam mattress
Image Credit: luigicora, Pixabay

Memory foam is a polyurethane material that comfortably molds to the body. It is designed to contour the body, providing optimal firmness and softness where it counts. It’s a popular choice in mattresses because of its support capabilities.

People swear by their joint and pressure point relief.

It has wonderful impact absorption, so any movements are muffled not to disturb a sleeping partner. Many memory foam mattresses also have excellent temperature control, and they are hypoallergenic.

You can buy a complete memory foam mattress that supports your body’s movements and curves. Or you can buy a topper that fits over the top of your mattress, providing an added layer of comfort. They also make memory foam pillows for neck comfort.

Memory foam has equal comfort for pups and humans alike, so it’s a very good material for dog beds, too. You have already been introduced to the fantastic sleep you can expect on a memory foam mattress or pillow.

So, if your pup had an accident, getting your comfort zone clean is super important, so let’s get cracking.

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Cleaning Difficulty

Person cleaning mattress
Image By: Olga Aniven, Shutterstock

When done properly, memory foam is relatively cleanable. However, even the highest quality memory foam can break down if an improper chemical compound is used or it stays wet.

Memory foam can easily degrade with wetness, so it’s very important to use as little liquid as possible and make sure it dries quickly and thoroughly.

Soaking up the urine is the most crucial step since moisture can damage the material.

Memory foam is highly absorbent, able to soak up a massive amount of liquid in just a short time. So, time is of the essence when it comes to eradicating the urine.

If memory foam stays wet, it very rapidly develops mildew and mold. So, there can be a lot happening under the surface.

Our cleaning method involves a tiny amount of liquid, but a lot of blotting, so get your scrap towels ready to transfer the liquid.

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How to Clean the Memory Foam

Before we start, we have to clarify that memory foam should never hold moisture for very long—preferably not at all. But when it comes to urine, you need to put all your power into removing the urine from the bed. Here’s how.

1. Take all bedding off the bed.

You need to start on your blankets right away. They will need some extra cleaning power, too, in the laundry. So, make sure to add a dash of baking soda to your wash and start the bedding. You’ll need the mattress fully exposed.

Once you remove the bedding, you will have direct access to the mattress. Act fast.

person covering mattress with protector
Image By: nito, Shutterstock

2. Soak up as much wetness as possible.

Memory foam is thick and slow to rise. You need to make sure to apply firm pressure to the urine-soaked area to draw the moisture out. Blot the area until you’ve gotten the bulk of the urine out. If you still see urine soaking into your towel when you press down, you know it isn’t time to stop.

This part can be time-consuming, but trust us—it’s crucial to remove as much of that as humanly possible. Any moisture is bad, but urine can do some major damage.


3. Spray your vinegar mixture lightly.

You should have one equal part white vinegar to water ratio in your spray bottle. Because memory foam is so sensitive to moisture, you should spray the white vinegar mixture very lightly onto the surface. Gently scrub the surface with a spare cloth or towel.

Allow a short time in between before adding more. You should never saturate the memory foam.

Apple Cider Vinegar as cat repellant
Image Credit: ThamKC, Shutterstock

4. Let the vinegar dry.

Before moving any further, you should let the vinegar dry completely. You can use a hairdryer on a cool setting or a fan to speed things up. The less time any moisture is on the fabric, the better.


5. Add baking soda.

Baking soda is an excellent agent to whiten surfaces and eliminate odors. Luckily baking soda is a powder that soaks up liquid also. So when you sprinkle the baking soda on the surface out of your memory foam mattress, the baking soda will neutralize odors and reduce any yellowing.

a bowl of baking soda
Image Credit: NatureFriend, Pixabay

6. Vacuum the area.

Rather than wetting the surface again, you simply wait until everything is completely dry and use a handheld vacuum or an attachment to sweep up the baking soda.

Vacuuming is a terrific method for regular cleaning, too. You can keep your mattress all nice and tidy by giving it a sweep down every so often. It’s a great alternative to washing when it comes to debris.


7. Check it out.

Once all the vigorous vacuuming is done, take a peek to make sure that everything is dry, clean, and odor-free. If the process achieved desired results, you could be done—no worse for the wear.

Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Image By: Thorsten Rust, Shutterstock

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Effectiveness of This Method

two cute dogs sleeping on the bed
Image By: Pexels, Pixabay

It is hard to say how it will work with this method once the urine has had a chance to set. Once you realize an accident happened, start working immediately to remove that moisture—as that’s the most difficult part.

Many factors can change the success of this method, including:
  • How long the spot has been there
  • How much urine has been absorbed into the mattress
  • How much urine output there was
  • The size of the bed or pillow

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Final Thoughts

Because this process is so time-sensitive, we hope you could get on the ball right away to remove excess moisture, odors, and stains from the memory foam. The effectiveness depends on a few factors like the amount of urine, the size of the memory foam product, and how old the urine spot is.

So, if there was a mishap, we surely hope we helped you sort things out. Hopefully, your or your pet’s memory foam can stay in pristine condition for years to come.


Featured Image Credit: luigicora, Pixabay

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