Children are the source of happiness for their parents, and watching them grow up is a joy for most parents. However, kids can be a handful too. Bedwetting is a common occurrence for children who are still getting used to sleeping through the night, but nighttime accidents are nothing to worry about!
Nighttime accidents are part of growing up. It may be hindering when a child wets their bed, but it is important to know the proper cleaning method to remove pee from a child's mattress. You will need to tackle the problem head on to prevent mattress stains and lingering odors.
You'll need a couple of tools to clean a mattress, but when time is of the essence, you should be looking for a way to soak up the excess liquid. Have towels on hand if you know that your kids have the tendency to wet the bed, especially during their formative years.
What You’ll Need
- Baking Soda
- Enzymatic Cleaner or White Vinegar or Hydrogen Peroxide
- Clean Dry Towel
- Liquid Detergent
- Washing Machine
- Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner
How to Clean Pee from a Mattress
Step 1: Remove Mattress Sheets
Take a bucket with you to prevent the liquid from dripping onto the floor. Strip the sheets from your mattress, and place the covers in a bucket. Take the pillows, blankets, and anything else that was affected from the bed wetting. Add soapy water to the bucket as to not let the pee stain.
Step 2: Remove Excess Liquid
The first step is to soak up the excess liquid from the mattress. Use a dry towel to blot the excess urine from a mattress, and remove as much of the liquid as possible. Lighten the pee smell with some water, and keep blotting with towels. You may need to use more than one towel for this.
Step 3: Sprinkle Baking Soda on Mattress Pad
Sprinkle a generous amount of dry baking soda on the mattress where the stains are. Baking soda is a deodorizer that gets rid of smells, and can remove the odor from the mattress. Baking soda will also dry out the affected area. Let the baking soda sit for 20-30 minutes before moving onto the next step.
Step 4: Use an Enzymatic Cleaner to Clean Urine Stains
Clean up the baking soda using a vacuum cleaner. Use an enzyme cleaner to break down the stains, and remove any germs that are on the mattress. Place the cleaner only on the affected areas, and apply the cleaner until the mattress is wet to ensure that the cleaner gets deep into the pad.
If using white vinegar, vacuum up the old baking soda, and use a fresh new baking soda to create your own enzyme cleaner. Place vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle, and spray vinegar solution all over the affected area. Allow the area to soak in the solution, then blot clean with a towel.
Step 5: Wash the Mattress Cover
Next, wash the mattress cover and anything else that was affected. Rinse the items in soapy water, then place them in the laundry machine with a good amount of laundry detergent. Use a gentle cycle when cleaning pillows and blankets. Toss in your child's soiled pajamas as well.
Step 6: Spot Clean the Pee Stains
If the pee has stained the mattress already, then you can use peroxide to disinfect the mattress as well as clean it. Make a solution with baking soda, and apply it directly on the stained areas. Be careful when using this method on colored mattresses, as hydrogen peroxide tends to bleach fabrics.
Spot clean the urine stain by applying enzyme cleaner, and blotting the excess away with a towel. Use a soft brush to clean the surface of the mattress. For a deeper clean, you may need to have the mattress washed professionally. Stains can emit odors, and harbor bacteria that is off-putting to say the least!
How to Protect Your Mattress from Bedwetting
Waterproof Liner
You can purchase a waterproof mattress pad if your child tends to wet the bed frequently. A waterproof pad has a soft feel, but contains a waterproof liner that stops liquids from getting into the mattress. Even if your child has a nighttime accident, you can simply remove the waterproof liner, and wash it.
A waterproof liner also prevents liquid from spilling out, keeping the liquid trapped until it's time to wash the liner. Most liners can be washed in the laundry machine, but we recommend lightly washing the liner by hand first to get rid of the liquid before placing it in your washing machine.
Change Your Routine
Alternatively, opt to change up the routine of your child before they go to sleep. Have them take a bathroom break before they sleep, and avoid giving them large amounts of liquid prior to bedtime. Diuretics like chocolate drinks and sugary sodas should not be given to the child around nighttime, as these can cause bedwetting.
Eventually, your child should grow out of wetting the bed, and move on to making it through the night without having to take a bathroom break. While they learn this life skill, it is important to be prepared for future accidents as a parent.
