Cleaning Stains from a Mattress


When you or one of your family members is sick, there are times when – in the middle of the night – someone doesn’t or can’t make it to the bathroom.


I personally know how hard it is to have one of your children sick and to have them throw up all over the bed. You've got to put them in another room while you get to cleaning and hope it doesn't happen again.

Here's a little something I learned along the way. Keep a large pot next to the bed and hopefully it will get used.

Cleaning Vomit

This may not be one of the most pleasant of tasks but it does occasionally happen, especially around flu season. You can wear gloves if you want to keep your hands clean.

1. Remove the solids and flush down the toilet.
2. Take the sheets and mattress pad off and put them in the wash.
3. Using terry clothes or whatever you have handy soak up as much remaining liquid as you can. Don’t rub, but use some pressure.
4. Sprinkle hydrogen peroxide over the vomit stain but make sure not to over saturate the mattress.
5. Using clean towels soak up the hydrogen peroxide; press hard and remove as much liquid as you can.
6. If necessary, repeat the hydrogen peroxide and soak up again.
7. Sprinkle baking soda over the soiled area and lightly rub into the stain. Let sit overnight and vacuum the next day.

Removing Urine

These are pretty much the same steps as used above for cleaning vomit.

1. Remove the sheets and padding and set them aside or have someone put them in the washer.
2. Blot up as much of the liquid as you can with an absorbent towel. Use good pressure to get as much up as possible from as deep in the mattress as possible.
3. Using plain white vinegar, saturate the stained area but not overly so. If you do accidentally over saturate the area, don’t worry as vinegar is very acidic and mold will not grow if you don’t get the liquid completely out.
4. Blot up as much of the vinegar as possible.
5. Now cover the area with baking soda and let it sit overnight. The baking soda will help eliminate lingering odor and absorb any remaining moisture.
6. Vacuum the next day.

Vacuum the Mattress

After you have cleaned the mattress it may require vacuuming. Vacuum the top and bottom and each of the sides with the hard surface attachment.

Dryer Sheets

Keep your mattress fresh with a few dryer sheets. Place them on the mattress after you vacuum and before putting on clean sheets. You don’t have to wait for someone to get sick or have an accident, I do this weekly and love the fresh smell! Just make sure you choose a scent you or someone else can sleep with.

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