How do you get pee out of a comforter?

What causes pee stains on a comforter?

Pee stains on a comforter can happen for a few different reasons:

• Pet accidents – If you have a young puppy or an elderly dog, they may occasionally lose control and pee on your bed or comforter.
• Children bedwetting – Young kids who are potty training may accidentally wet the bed at night, staining your comforter with pee.
• Incontinence issues – For adults with incontinence problems or illnesses, accidental leaks can lead to pee stains on bedding.
• Drunk accidents – After drinking too much alcohol, people may urinate on themselves in bed, leaving pee stains on the comforter.

The common factor is that urine is released onto the comforter when a person or animal cannot or does not make it to the toilet. The pee then soaks into the comforter fibers and leaves a stubborn stain.

How to remove fresh pee stains from a comforter

When pee stains on a comforter are fresh, you have the best chance of getting rid of the stain and odor completely. Here are tips for removing fresh pee stains:

• Blot up excess urine – Use a thick stack of paper towels or clean rags to gently blot and absorb as much excess pee as possible. You want to lift it from the fabric instead of pushing it further in.
• Rinse with cold water – Run the spot under cold water in the sink or bathtub to help dilute the urine and rinse it out of the comforter. Keep blotting with paper towels as you rinse.
• Apply vinegar – Spray or sprinkle white vinegar directly onto the stain and let it soak in for a few minutes. The vinegar will help neutralize and remove the urine odor.
• Use enzyme cleaner – Enzyme cleaners work by breaking down the compounds in urine that cause stains and smells. Let the enzyme cleaner soak in for 30 minutes before rinsing.
• Wash on a cold cycle – After pre-treating, wash the comforter in your washing machine using cold water and an enzyme-based detergent.
• Air dry the comforter – Tumble dryers can actually set the stain and odor if the pee is not fully removed. Air dry outside or on a drying rack instead.

If the stain remains after washing, you can re-treat and wash again until it is fully removed.

Removing old/set-in pee stains from a comforter

For dried, set-in pee stains on a comforter, a bit more effort will be required:

• Create a vinegar solution – Mix equal parts white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Spray it directly on the stain until saturated.
• Use an enzymatic cleaner – Look for an enzyme cleaner specifically formulated for urine and let it soak in for at least 30 minutes.
• Try an oxidizing agent – Mix an oxidizing agent like hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, or mild bleach into the vinegar solution and apply to the stain.
• Scrub with a brush – Use a soft bristle upholstery brush or toothbrush to gently scrub the solution into the comforter fibers.
• Rinse thoroughly – Rinse the solution out until the water runs clear. You may need to rinse for several minutes.
• Wash and air dry – Wash on a cold cycle with an enzyme cleaner. Make sure no stain remains before drying.

For severe set-in stains, you may need to repeat this process 2-3 times to fully lift the pee stain from the comforter.

How to get dog pee smell out of a comforter

Even once the visible stain is gone, you will also want to make sure any lingering urine odors are eliminated from your comforter. Here are some tips for removing the pee smell:

• Steam clean – Use a handheld steam cleaner to penetrate deep into the comforter fibers and get rid of odors.
• Oxygen-based cleaners – Look for cleaning products that use oxygen to break down odor molecules, like OxiClean.
• Vinegar soak – Fill your bathtub with hot water and 1-2 cups of vinegar, then soak the comforter for up to an hour.
• Baking soda scrub – Make a paste of baking soda and water, then use a stiff brush to scrub it over the stain area.
• Borax soak – Add 1/2 cup of borax to a basin of hot water and soak the comforter to kill odors.
• Air out in sunlight – Hang the comforter outside in direct sunlight. The UV rays in sunlight naturally kill bacteria and odors.

It may take multiple cleanings or combining these methods to fully get the urine smell out of a comforter after an accident. Be patient and persistent!

Tips to prevent future pee stains on your comforter

To avoid having to scrub out pee stains in the future, here are some helpful tips:

• Use a mattress pad – Adding a waterproof mattress pad can protect your mattress and comforter from accidents.
• Choose darker comforters – Stains will be less visible on navy, chocolate, black or other dark-colored comforters.
• Wash regularly – Clean your comforter at least every 2-3 months to prevent odors and stains from building up.
• Clean up accidents quickly – Don’t let a pee stain set in. Treat it right away for the best results.
• Retrain pets – If you have a pet marking its territory, work with an expert to correct this behavior.
• See your doctor – For recurring bedwetting or incontinence, see your physician to address underlying causes.

Taking quick action when an accident happens and routinely washing and caring for your comforter can help minimize stains. But pee stains do happen! Now you know how to remove them effectively when they do.

Home remedies for pee stains vs commercial cleaners

When trying to remove dried urine stains and odors from a comforter, you have two main options – using common household ingredients or commercial cleaners specifically formulated for pee stains. Here’s how the two options compare:

Home Remedies

• Inexpensive and readily available
• Require more physical effort (scrubbing, soaking, etc)
• Can take more time and repeat applications
• May need to combine several ingredients
• Some can have strong odors

Examples of homemade cleaners for pee stains:

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Borax
• Lemon juice

Commercial Cleaners

• Specialized at targeting stubborn organic stains
• Break down urine compounds efficiently
• Contain enzymes to destroy odors
• Require less physical labor
• More convenient to use
• Can be more expensive

Examples of commercial pee stain removers:

• Angry Orange Pet Stain Remover
• Bissell Pet Stain & Odor Remover
• Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator
• Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Eliminator

Home remedies can be tried first for light stains. But for set-in pet urine stains or mattress odors, a commercial cleaner designed specifically to break down urine may be a worthwhile investment.

How to clean a memory foam mattress topper after a pee accident

Memory foam mattress toppers provide extra comfort but can absorb liquid and odors easily if you have an accident. Here’s how to clean urine from a memory foam topper:

1. Blot up excess urine immediately using towels.
2. Apply an enzyme cleaner made for urine stains. Let it soak in for at least 20 minutes.
3. Use baking soda and vinegar to neutralize odors. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain, then spray lightly with vinegar.
4. Scrub gently with a soft brush or sponge if the stain persists.
5. Allow the memory foam to air dry completely before putting sheets back on.
6. Repeat process if any staining or odor remains.
7. Consider using a waterproof mattress protector to shield memory foam in the future.

Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach that could damage memory foam. The key is using an enzymatic cleaner to break down the urine compounds, allowing odors to be fully removed during drying.

Can you put a comforter in the washing machine?

Many comforters can safely be washed in a household washing machine, but there are a few factors to consider:

• Read the tag – Check the care label on your comforter for any special washing instructions or if machine washing is allowed.
• Size – Make sure the comforter will fit comfortably in your washing machine drum without bunching up.
• Weight – Heavier or oversized comforters may be too heavy for home washing machines.
• Fill material – Down or feather-filled comforters may require professional dry cleaning.
• Delicate fabrics – Silk, satin or delicate comforters may not withstand machine washing.

When machine washing at home is possible:

• Use a gentle cycle with cold water.
• Use a mild detergent without bleach or fabric softener.
• Add a couple tennis balls to help fluff up the comforter.
• Dry thoroughly on low heat.

Check with manufacturer instructions first, but most basic comforters made of cotton, polyester, fleece or other durable fabrics can handle a gentle cycle in a home washing machine just fine.

Can you put a down comforter in the washing machine?

For down comforters, taking extra care is required when machine washing:

– Check that the comforter is machine washable – many are “dry clean only.”

– Use a large capacity washing machine if possible.

– Wash 2 comforters at once to balance the load.

– Use the gentle cycle with cold water only.

– Use a mild detergent without bleach.

– Add a couple of tennis balls to the drum.

– Rinse the comforter twice.

– Tumble dry on low heat with tennis balls.

– Fluff the down comforter in the dryer after drying.

The keys are using a gentle enough cycle to clean without damaging the down and fully drying the comforter to re-fluff the down filling. With proper care, most down comforters can safely be refreshed in the washing machine.

How to wash a comforter – step-by-step guide

Here is a step-by-step guide to effectively washing your comforter at home:

1. Check the care label – Make sure machine washing is allowed for your specific comforter.
2. Shake it out – Shake the comforter outside to remove dust and loose debris. This can cut down on particles floating around your washing machine.
3. Pretreat any stains – Use a stain remover or dab stains with diluted detergent to pretreat.
4. Load into machine – Load the comforter into the washing machine, making sure it has room to move around.
5. Use cold water – Set your washing machine to use cold water, which is gentler on fabrics.
6. Select delicate cycle – Choose the most delicate, gentle cycle on your washing machine.
7. Add mild detergent – Use a hypoallergenic or gentle detergent without dyes, fragrances or brighteners.
8. Let it rinse – Make sure the comforter gets a full second rinse to remove all detergent.
9. Dry thoroughly – Move to the dryer immediately and dry completely at a low temperature.
10. Fluff it up – Shake out and fluff the comforter after drying to restore loft and fullness.

By following these simple steps, you can keep your comforter fresh, clean and free of dirt, allergens and odors between uses.

How often should you wash a comforter?

In general, you should aim to wash your comforter every 2-3 months. However, how often you need to wash depends on these factors:

• Use – Wash more often if it’s your main comforter used nightly.
• Sleeping conditions – Wash more frequently if you sweat a lot at night or have pets sleeping in your bed.
• Allergies – Wash at least monthly if you have dust mite or other allergy issues.
• Visible soil – Wash as soon as you notice stains, smells or visible dirt.
• Fabric – More delicate fabrics may not tolerate frequent washing.
• Season – Wash more often in warmer months when you sweat more at night.

A good habit is to wash your comforter each change of season – in spring and fall. But assess it regularly and wash whenever it starts to look or smell dirty. A clean comforter will help create a fresh, allergen-free sleep environment.

Drying a comforter without a dryer

If you don’t have access to a dryer, you can still easily dry a comforter at home. Here are some methods:

• Hang outside – Hang the comforter over a clothesline or on an outdoor drying rack in direct sunlight.
• Indoor rack – Use a large drying rack indoors, rotating the comforter so all sides dry.
• Lay flat – Lay the comforter flat on towels or a clean surface, flipping it periodically.
• Tumble dry – Tumble dry on air fluff or no heat setting to gently dry the comforter.
• Space heater – Position a space heater 6-8 feet away to circulate warm air and dry the comforter.
• Fan assist – Place a fan in front of the comforter to speed drying as it hangs or lays flat.

The key is making sure the comforter dries completely – any remaining moisture can lead to mildew. In warm, low humidity conditions, a comforter can fully air dry in just a few hours.

Conclusion

Urine stains and odors on comforters can happen, but thankfully there are many effective ways to remove pee from comforters completely. The key is taking quick action as soon as possible using homemade cleaners, commercial enzyme-based stain removers, proper machine washing techniques, and thorough drying. With a bit of targeted effort, you can salvage a pee-stained comforter and restore it back to a fresh, clean condition. Consistent laundering and added protectors can also help minimize the damage from future accidents.