How to Clean Dog Urine From Memory Foam in 7 Steps (With Pictures)
In this article
View 4 More +Isn’t it impressive how our ever-so-sweet pups seem to make messes in the absolutely worst spots? If your bed or couch has become the victim of a classic pup "oops," you might be wondering just how in the world you're going to get it clean. Fortunately, if your mattress is memory foam, there is a solution for the issue.
We put together this super-easy, step-by-step guide for removing urine from your mattress, using just a few ingredients and a bit of your time.
Supplies Needed
| Spray Bottle | To mix and spray ingredients |
| Enzyme Cleaner | To eliminate uric acid and ammonia in urine |
| Laundry Detergent | To break down odors |
| Paper Towels | To soak up wetness |
| Baking Soda | To eliminate odor |
Our Favorite Cleaner
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite all-purpose cleaner for pet messes. It permanently lifts the very worst stains and odors, making clean-up and accident prevention a breeze. Hepper offers a 100% guarantee, which is a great bonus! Learn more about it here.
Comparison Table (block #757821)
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!
What Is Memory Foam?
Memory foam is a polyurethane material that is designed to contour the body, providing optimal firmness and softness where it counts.1 It's a popular choice in mattresses because of its support capabilities—people swear by its joint and pressure point relief. It has wonderful impact absorption, so any movements are muffled so as 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 your current mattress, providing an added layer of comfort. Manufacturers also make memory foam pillows for neck comfort. You have already been introduced to the fantastic sleep you can expect on a memory foam mattress or pillow.
Memory foam has equal comfort for pups and humans alike, so it’s a good material for dog beds too. But if your pup had an accident, getting your (or their) comfort zone clean is super important, so let’s get cracking.
Cleaning Difficulty
When done properly, memory foam is relatively cleanable.2 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 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 can rapidly develop mildew and mold. So, there can be a lot happening under the surface. This cleaning method involves a tiny amount of liquid but a lot of blotting, so get your scrap towels ready to transfer the liquid.
How to Clean Dog Urine From Memory Foam
Before we start, we have to clarify that memory foam should never hold moisture for long—preferably not at all. But when it comes to urine, you need to put all your power into removing it 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 extra cleaning power in the laundry. So, make sure to add a dash of baking soda to your wash, and start with the bedding. You’ll need the mattress fully exposed.
Once you remove the bedding, you will have direct access to the mattress. Act fast!
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 major damage.
3. Spray your enzyme cleaner mixture lightly.
Since memory foam is so sensitive to moisture, you should be light when spraying the enzyme cleaner. Gently scrub the surface with a spare cloth or towel. You can blot out extra moisture if there's too much. You should never saturate the memory foam.
4. Let the enzyme cleaner dry.
Before moving any further, you should let the enzyme cleaner dry 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.
If you require a second treatment, allow your memory foam to dry completely before applying a second treatment.
5. Add baking soda.
Baking soda is an excellent agent to whiten surfaces and eliminate odors. Luckily, it's also a powder that soaks up liquid. So when you sprinkle baking soda on the surface of your memory foam mattress, it will neutralize odors and reduce any yellowing.
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 the desired results, you could be done—and no worse for the wear!
Effectiveness of This Method
It is hard to say how it will work with this method once the urine has had a chance to set, but choosing the right enzyme cleaner will increase your success rate. 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:
If accidents are frequent and you're unsure what's causing them or how to prevent them, consulting your vet could help!
Final Thoughts
Since this process is so time-sensitive, we hope that you can 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 hope that we have helped you sort things out and that your or your pet's memory foam can stay in pristine condition for years to come.
You Might Also Be Interested In: Vet-Approved Homemade Remedies for Dog Stains & Odors for Pee, Poo & Puke
Featured Image Credit: luigicora, Pixabay
Expert dog care, straight to your inbox
News, insights, expert advice, and everything dog.
No spam — unsubscribe anytime.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
How useful was this post?
Click a star to rate. You can leave written feedback afterwards. (We read all feedback.)
Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature in need. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are dogs and cats.
