by Quick answer: Blot up moisture, then saturate the spot with an enzyme cleaner and let it sit so it breaks down the odor compounds. Blot dry, cover with baking soda for several hours, vacuum it off, and air-dry the mattress completely.
By the MattressNut editorial team · Updated June 2026
How to Get Urine Smell Out of a Mattress — The Short Answer
Urine odor comes from organic compounds that ordinary soap doesn't neutralize, which is why an enzyme cleaner is the key tool — it digests the smell at the source. Baking soda then mops up any residual odor, and complete drying keeps it gone.
Step by Step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blot up as much liquid as possible with dry towels, pressing down to pull moisture from deeper in. For old stains, lightly dampen the area first. |
| 2 | Saturate the spot with an enzyme cleaner made for pet or urine odor, enough to reach as deep as the urine went. Let it sit the full time on the label. |
| 3 | Blot up the cleaner with dry towels, pressing firmly to lift moisture and the broken-down odor compounds. |
| 4 | Cover the area with baking soda, leave it several hours (or overnight), then vacuum it up. Air-dry the mattress fully before remaking the bed. |
What to Avoid
Don't reach for plain soap or vinegar alone for set-in odor — they mask rather than digest it, and the smell often returns. Avoid over-wetting, which spreads urine deeper and risks mold. And don't rush the drying; trapped moisture is what brings the smell back.
When It's Time to Replace the Mattress
Fresh accidents usually clean up well. But urine that soaked deep long ago can leave odor that no enzyme treatment fully lifts, and a mattress that still smells isn't restful. If it's set-in or the bed is already old and sagging, replacing it is the cleaner, healthier move.
See the Saatva Classic (free old-mattress removal)
The Bottom Line
An enzyme cleaner does the real work on urine smell, with baking soda as a finishing deodorizer and full drying to lock in the result. Treat the depth the urine reached, be patient with dry time, and you'll clear most odors short of a deeply set-in one.
Bottom line: Blot, saturate with enzyme cleaner, finish with baking soda, and dry fully.
Related: our full Saatva mattress review.