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Many dog owners will let their dogs sleep on their beds, in fact, almost half1 of dogs get access to their pet parent’s beds at night. However, there are times when accidents happen, and dogs may end up peeing on the mattress. If this happens to you, there’s no need to panic because there are ways to clean up the accident and get rid of the dog urine odor.
Our step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of successfully removing both wet and dry urine stains from your mattress.
How To Remove Dog Pee Smell From Your Mattress (4 Easy Steps)
The easiest way to remove the dog pee smell from a mattress is to clean it up immediately after the accident occurs.
1. Move your dog to a safe location.
Calmly remove your dog from the bedroom with the mattress. Never punish your dog because it’ll only confuse them and reinforce negative behaviors.
Place your dog in a safe location while you clean. Some cleaning materials can be harmful for your dog to ingest, so you don’t want your dog in the same room as you.
2. Remove and wash your bedding.
Place your bedding in a washing machine and wash it with cold water. You can pour a cup of distilled white vinegar with the bedding to help remove any odors. If the urine stain is particularly pronounced, you can spray it with an enzymatic stain remover before starting the wash cycle.
An enzymatic stain remover breaks down proteins in stains to help clear them up more effectively.
Whatever you do, make sure to never use bleach in any part of the cleaning process. Bleach smells like the ammonia found in dog urine and can end up encouraging your dog to pee on the mattress or bed sheets again.
3. Blot the urine stain on your mattress.
Use towels or absorbent rags to blot the urine from the mattress. Don’t rub the stain because this will only cause the urine to seep deeper into the mattress. Keep blotting until your towel no longer absorbs any moisture.
4. Choose a cleaning agent.
There are several ways to remove the dog pee stain and smell from the mattress. It’s often best to know more than one way to clean up dog urine because you might have to use multiple methods several times to successfully clear up the mess.
The Top Cleaning Agents that Remove Dog Urine Stains & Smells
Enzymatic Cleaners
Using an enzymatic cleaner is probably the easiest way to remove the pee smell. This type of cleaner contains a formula that specifically addresses odor and stains, so you’ll have the best luck with removing odors.
Most enzymatic cleaners require you to spray an amount on the stain and let it sit for several minutes before wiping it off. Make sure to follow the spray’s instructions for the best results.
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Vinegar and Baking Soda
The combination of vinegar and baking soda is a powerful homemade solution that many dog owners use to remove urine smells and stains. Here are the materials that you need:
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 2 cups of cold water
- 2 tbsp laundry detergent
- Spray bottle
- Box of baking soda
In a bowl or cup with a wide mouth, mix the white vinegar, cold water, and laundry detergent. Stir until the laundry detergent dissolves and then pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Spray the solution generously on and around the urine stain. The solution should soak through the stain to help break it up. Let the solution sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, blot the area until it’s just damp.
Coat the damp area with a layer of baking soda and let it sit for at least 8 hours. The baking soda will work to remove any lingering odor.
After 8 hours have passed, scoop up the baking soda. You can also use a handheld vacuum cleaner to pick up any remaining powder.
Check the area for any smell of dog pee. If you can still smell it, repeat the vinegar solution and baking soda process again.
Lemon Juice Mixture
Lemons contain natural cleaning properties, and the scent also helps to remove odors.
- ½ cup of lemon juice
- 2 cups of hot water
- ⅛ cup of baking soda
- Spray bottle
Mix the lemon juice, water, and baking soda in a bowl and stir until the baking soda dissolves completely. Then, pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle.
Spray liberal amounts of the lemon juice mixture directly onto the stained area. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Then, blot the mixture. Check for any lingering smells. If you can still smell the urine odor, reapply the lemon juice mixture and repeat the process.
Wrapping Up
It’s very possible to remove dog pee smells from a mattress, but it can be a time-consuming process. It’s helpful to know how to remove these odors, but the best way to prevent your mattress and other pieces of furniture from smelling like urine is to learn how to stop the behavior from repeating.
You can work with a dog trainer or behaviorist to find the root cause of your dog’s urinating habits and learn to train your dog to pee at a more appropriate location. In the meantime, make sure to use a mattress cover and furniture protectors so that you can avoid spending hours cleaning up after your dog.
Featured Image Credit: beton studio, Shutterstock
