One of the perks of having a pet is to deal with the mess they create by sleeping with you on your air mattresses (note the sarcasm) but for the sake of love, you need to clean it one way or another. Right?
Not only that, a lot of people pee on their mattresses when they are heavily drunk or passed out but you don’t need to worry now as cleaning it is not a difficult thing to do.
Whether your air mattress is dirty with pee or dirt stains, you can clean in easy steps which we are going to discuss below in detail.
So, let’s get started.
How to get pee stains out of an air Mattress?
In order to remove the human urine stains, there are six easy steps which you need to follow for effective results. Let’s get straight into it.
Materials Required
- Baking soda.
- Towels (neat and cleaned ones).
- Vinegar (white one).
- Water.
- Any detergent.
- Sprayer (or any spray bottle).
- Vacuum Cleaner.
Also, if you are looking for a Heavy Duty air Mattress, you can check our detailed guide and reviews on these mattress.
STEP 1: Remove the Mattress/bedding
The first and utmost step to follow when you come to know about the pee stain on your air mattress is to remove the mattress immediately and wash it; do it manually only with a brush and a cup of water, slightly wet it.
After one wash, if you still find any remains of stain then wash it again. Wash the sheets and cover as well if they have stains as well.
STEP 2: Blot the affected area
Now that you have washed the whole mattress or affected area thoroughly, take the clean towel and blot the area.
Don’t press it and scrub it (be cautious about it). Bloating of the area with the towel will help to absorb the water in the mattress.
While scrubbing it will move the water further down in the mattress.
Try to absorb the water as much as you can with dry towels.
STEP 3: Apply the cleaning mixture
After that, apply the cleaning mixture in the area and in order to make the solution, here is an easy method;
- Take cold water in two parts in a sprayer bottle and add one part white vinegar and one small spoon of any detergent, mix the ingredients well before applying it.
Now, spray this solution evenly on the surface and don’t worry about the mattress soaking it up.
STEP 4: Let the solution soak
Now the next thing you need to do is sit down for at least 10 minutes to let the solution soak in the mattress for deep cleansing.
After that, grab a cleaned towel again and soak the excess liquid on it.
STEP 5: Sprinkle Baking soda
The next step is to sprinkle baking soda on the surface, baking soda has the ability to soak a liquid pretty efficiently and expels the smell as well.
After sprinkling it, let it set for 8-10 hours.
PRO TIP: Don’t let anyone enter the room while you have spread the baking soda, especially your pet and children.
STEP 6: Vacuum clean it
The last step is to vacuum clean your air mattress. By using a vacuum cleaner, you would be drying out the baking soda and always make sure that the baking soda is fully dried.
Otherwise you might affect the working of your vacuum cleaner.
However, if the baking soda is not properly dried even after waiting for 8 to 10 hours (might be due to excessive water), then opt for a wet dryer to dry the damp powder.
Now, inspect your air mattress thoroughly and deeply, if any stain is still present, then repeat the process from step 3. Otherwise, you are good to go.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: It is best to clean the urine stain as soon as possible but if you are going to treat a dried stain, then it would be best to wash it deeply and frequently. Make sure the mattress is wet to remove a dried stain.
After cleaning, if you want to make your mattress more comfortable, you can follow this guide to making an air mattress comfortable.
How to Clean Dog/Cat Pee out of an Air Mattress?
Pet urines are concentrated and smellier as compared to human urine because pet urine consists of various chemicals carbohydrates, amino acids and ammonia. Whereas, human urine is 98% water.
However, in order to remove the dog/cat pee you need to follow these instructions. They are similar to previous ones but some steps are included.
Also, sometimes having pets on air mattress can also lead punctures besides pee and other stuff, so if you ever find a puncture then make sure to also patch the air mattress by following this guide.
So, let’s have a look at the steps for cleaning..!
Requirements
- Baking soda.
- White vinegar.
- Cold water.
- Enzyme cleaner.
STEP 1: Apply Baking soda
As we have stated before, the pet pee is concentrated and smelly, if the amount of pee is less like a cat pee then you can wash it with water first.
And if it’s a dog pee which will be more, so without beating around the bush, just apply the baking soda directly on the stain and let it stay for at least 15 minutes. It will absorb all the moisture and will turn into a dark color.
It will draw out and absorb the maximum moisture.
STEP 2: Vacuum clean it and repeat the process
Now after the baking soda is fully dried and has absorbed all the moisture, vacuum clean it thoroughly until there are no specs of baking soda in it. Now again add the baking soda on it and repeat the process.
Vacuum it until the color of baking soda remains white.
STEP 3: Clean it
Now after vacuum cleaning, clean the mattress as we have mentioned above just the way you would clean it for human urine and make sure to remove and clean the stain properly.
Similarly, if the stain is not cleaned properly after one wash, then make sure to wash it again until there is no stain left.
STEP 4: Apply enzyme cleaners
Even after following the above steps to remove pet pee stains, you still find the mattress a bit smelly (which you might find if your pet messed your mattress up) then you need cleaners which come with biological catalysts.
These enzymes help to break the stubborn and persistent compounds and make it easier for the enzyme catalysts to remove the stains and smell as well.
However, make sure to choose an enzyme cleaner which is specifically made for pet stains. This will help you to remove the stain more efficiently and faster.
PRO TIP: Avoid using cleaners which contains chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, bleaches as these are considerable only on soft mattresses but not on air mattresses.
How to get rid of Pee smell?
Well, the best and safest method to remove the smell of a pee is to apply baking soda. Baking soda has a basic pH and is capable of removing/eliminating the smell once and for all rather than masking it.
For the best results, wait for 10 hours after applying the baking soda on the stain and then remove it with a vacuum (the process is mentioned in detail above).
It would be best to use baking soda rather than opting for chemical cleaners.
Related: Best Mattress topper for Heavy person.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding cleaning an air mattress.
Can you wash an air mattress?
Well, not in a washing machine. You can only wash it with a soft brush, a cup of water and vacuum.
Don’t try to put it in the washing machine as there will be high chances of wear and tear issues.
How to remove mildew from an air mattress?
In order to remove mildew (a specific type of mold) or any other fungus from your air mattress, follow these steps;
- Take a cloth and dip it in a solution of alcohol and warm water.
- Now scrub it slightly on the mold area.
- Now rinse that area with cold water by using a clean towel.
- Use any disinfectant spray to remove any lingering odor.
- Let the mattress dry fully before using it.
How to make your air mattress free from mold growth?
Just make sure that your air mattress is always dry and cleaned, if it gets damped or wet make sure to vacuum it.
Is it safe to use bleach on an air mattress?
NO! Avoid using bleach on the air mattresses as the fiber of the mattress will get damaged quickly and will affect the shelf life as well.
However, if you want to remove a stubborn mold stain, you can use it (bleach plus warm water) for only once in three months.
Will my cat poop on my air mattress?
Cats usually don’t poop on mattresses as they are trained.
However, if they do that, make sure to clean your mattresses really well as the pets love to return to their marked territory.
So, make sure you leave no specs of stain or smell.
How to Clean an Air Mattress; Wrapping Up
Knowing how to clean an air mattress effectively not only helps you to have peaceful, odor-free sleep but also increases the life span of it. And, we hope through this guide, now you will be able to clean your air mattresses easily.
Whether your air mattress is dirty because you haven’t cleaned it for months or it is stained with your pet pee, make sure to wash it properly before applying the cleansing solution and baking soda after it.
Still, if you want to ask some queries, feel free to ask.
