I work for a volunteer organization that delivers donated furniture to families in need. Normally we don’t accept used mattresses for hygiene reasons. But I was contacted by a family who wants to know how to get rid of bed stain smells. They were given a “new” bed that was only used for a short time but has an unpleasant odor and some spots. Would you please help me give them good advice?
Mary Castro, Garden City
Let’s see if these tips on getting rid of bed stain smells can help that family. The first thing you can tell them to try is Borax. It’s usually available in the laundry detergent aisle of a supermarket.
If you want to know more about removing urine spots, pet stains, and more from carpet, beds, and flooring, here are two helpful articles on the topic of stain cleaning:
https://www.tipsbulletin.com/get-rid-urine-smell-stains-mattress-carpet/
and
https://www.tipsbulletin.com/homemade-upholstery-cleaner/
Borax works well on older stains because it removes spots as well as odor. Dampen the stained area with a clean cloth and water. Then rub the Borax into the fabric and let it air dry.
While Borax is an excellent solution for urine and pet stains, to remove blood stains from a mattress, you may need to take advantage of the power of hydrogen peroxide. Add peroxide to a spray bottle and thoroughly dampen the blood stain. Dab at the stain, whether fresh or dried, and reapply the peroxide until all of the blood disappears.
Letting it sit in the sun improves the chance of removing the spot on the first try and is a natural DIY fabric freshener. Use a vacuum to remove the excess powder once the mattress is completely dry. This remedy also works well as a carpet cleaner for pet stains.
Besides Borax, vinegar is also very good at cleaning up urine spots and smells from humans or as a DIY pet stain remover. Once you’ve sprayed the stained area with vinegar, let it dry in direct sunlight for best results.
Finally, enzyme cleaner is very good at cleaning up pet stains and odors. This product breaks down pet urine so that the strong ammonia smell dissipates. It needs to work for several minutes on the spot before you wipe it up and let it dry.
If you have a memory foam mattress or need to clean a memory foam mattress topper, be sure that you don’t soak the stains. Excess water and stain removal products can seep deeply into the topper or mattress and develop mold and mildew, which are even more of a problem than urine. Spritz your cleaner lightly on the stain and quickly pat as dry as you can to prevent this from happening.
Wishing you all the best.
Joan
