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Extreme pet odor usually goes away only when you find and clean the source. The related guide, What Can I Add to My Laundry to Get Rid of Dog Smell?, covers the fabric and cleanup variables behind the related pet or odor problem. Washing the room with scented spray may cover the smell for a short time, but it will not remove urine, vomit, wet fur, or other pet mess trapped in bedding, carpet, or a mattress.
Start by removing dirty bedding and checking the mattress, bed frame, floor, and nearby furniture. Clean each affected item with a method that is safe for its material. Some strong odors need more than one treatment.
Find Where the Pet Odor Is Coming From
Before cleaning the whole room, try to find the exact source.
Check these common spots:
- Sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillow covers
- Mattress seams and edges
- Mattress protectors and toppers
- Under the bed
- Carpet or rugs beside the bed
- Upholstered headboards
- Pet beds and blankets
- Laundry baskets
- Curtains near a pet sleeping area
- Baseboards and lower parts of walls
Use your nose to narrow down the area. The related guide, How Do I Remove Bad Odor from My Bed?, covers the fabric and cleanup variables behind the related pet or odor problem. Remove one item at a time and smell the room again. This can help you tell whether the odor is in the bedding, mattress, floor, or furniture.
Old urine stains may be hard to see. Look for yellow, brown, or stiff areas. Check both sides of blankets and mattress protectors.
Remove Dirty Bedding Right Away
Take all affected bedding off the bed. Do not place wet or smelly items on clean carpet, furniture, or other laundry.
Separate badly soiled bedding from regular clothes. If possible, keep it in a washable tub or plastic laundry basket until you can clean it.
Do not leave damp bedding in a closed bag for a long time. Trapped moisture can make the odor stronger.
Rinse Fresh Pet Mess With Cool Water
For fresh urine or other washable messes, rinse the affected area with cool water first. Cool water helps remove some of the waste before washing.
Avoid starting with hot water. Heat may make some stains and smells harder to remove from fabric.
Gently press out extra water. Compare the best odor eliminators for pet beds for products compatible with the affected material. Do not twist a large comforter or heavy blanket, since this can strain the fabric and filling.
Pretreat the Smelly Area
Check the care label before using any stain remover, enzyme cleaner, bleach, or soaking method.
A pet odor enzyme cleaner can help break down the material left by urine and other organic messes. Choose one that is listed as safe for the fabric you are cleaning. Follow the product directions for:
- How much to use
- How long to leave it on
- Whether the fabric should stay wet
- Whether rinsing is needed
- Which materials should not be treated
Test the cleaner on a hidden area first. Some cleaners may affect color or fabric texture.
Do not mix different cleaning products. In particular, never mix bleach with ammonia-based cleaners or other household cleaners.
Wash Bedding Carefully
Wash the bedding according to its care label. Use the warmest water temperature allowed by the manufacturer, but do not assume hot water is safe for every item.
Use a normal amount of laundry detergent. Adding far more detergent may leave residue trapped in the fabric. That residue can hold smells and make bedding feel stiff.
For heavy odors, you may need to:
- Rinse the item first.
- Pretreat the affected area.
- Wash it on the longest safe cycle.
- Smell it before placing it in the dryer.
- Repeat the treatment if the odor remains.
Do not dry bedding with high heat until the smell is gone. Dryer heat can make a remaining odor harder to remove.
Air-drying can make it easier to check whether the odor is still present.
Make Sure Large Bedding Can Move in the Washer
A comforter, thick blanket, or bulky pet bed needs room to move. The related guide, How to Get Pet Stains Out of a Comforter?, covers the fabric and cleanup variables behind the related pet or odor problem. If it is packed tightly into the washer, water and detergent may not reach every area.
A crowded washer can also leave soap and dirty water trapped in the filling.
Check your washer instructions and the bedding care label. A large item may need a larger-capacity machine. Do not force a bulky comforter into a small washer.
After washing, make sure thick bedding dries all the way through. Damp filling can develop a musty smell that may be mistaken for pet odor.
Clean a Mattress With Extreme Pet Odor
A mattress cannot be washed like sheets, so use as little liquid as possible.
For a fresh wet area
Blot the spot with clean towels. Press firmly to absorb moisture. Do not scrub, since scrubbing can spread the mess deeper into the mattress.
Continue using dry sections of the towel until little moisture comes up.
Treat the affected spot
Use a mattress-safe pet odor cleaner according to its label. Apply only as much as needed. Soaking the mattress can lead to slow drying and musty smells.
Allow the treatment to sit for the time listed on the product. Blot away extra moisture if directed.
Dry the mattress fully
Open windows when weather allows. Use fans to move air across the mattress. Stand the mattress on its side only if the manufacturer allows it and you can do so safely.
Do not remake the bed until the mattress is completely dry.
Remove odor from fabric by matching the treatment to sweat, urine, smoke, mildew, food, or dampness and checking the item's care instructions.
A deep odor may return after the surface dries. This can happen when the mess reached the inner foam or padding. Repeat treatment may help, but a mattress with widespread or repeated contamination may be difficult to restore.
Clean Mattress Protectors and Toppers Separately
A waterproof mattress protector may keep a mess from reaching the mattress, but the protector itself still needs careful cleaning.
Wash it according to the care label. High heat can damage some waterproof layers, so check the drying instructions.
Foam mattress toppers usually should not be placed in a washing machine unless the manufacturer says they can be washed. Spot-clean the affected area and dry it fully.
A topper that has absorbed a large amount of urine may continue to smell because liquid can move deep into the foam. Replacement may be more practical when the odor remains after safe cleaning and complete drying.
Clean the Floor and Bed Frame
Pet odor can stay in the room even after the bedding is clean.
Wipe washable bed frames, baseboards, and hard floors with a cleaner approved for the surface. Pay attention to joints, corners, and the area under the bed.
For carpet or rugs, blot fresh moisture first. Use a carpet-safe pet odor cleaner according to the label. Avoid flooding the carpet, since moisture can reach the pad underneath.
A rug with a washable care label may be easier to clean outside the bedroom. Large rugs may need professional cleaning if the odor has reached the backing.
Wash Pet Beds, Blankets, and Soft Toys
The bedroom may keep smelling if the pet’s own bedding is still dirty.
Wash removable pet bed covers, blankets, and washable toys. Check the care label before using heat.
For a pet bed with foam inside, clean the cover and inspect the insert. Foam can hold deep odor in the same way a mattress topper can.
Let every item dry completely before placing it back in the room.
Air Out the Room
Ventilation helps remove odor left in the air, but it works best after the source has been cleaned.
Open windows and doors when it is safe to do so. Run a fan toward an open window. Wash curtains if they have absorbed the smell and their care label allows washing.
Avoid relying only on strong fragrance sprays. They may mix with the pet odor instead of removing it.
What to Do When the Smell Comes Back
A returning smell usually means one of these problems remains:
- The source was missed.
- The mess reached deeper padding.
- Bedding was dried before the odor was removed.
- A mattress or topper is still damp.
- The washer was too full.
- The pet bed or carpet was not cleaned.
- The pet used the same area again.
Remove clean bedding and smell each layer separately. Check the mattress protector, topper, mattress, bed frame, and floor.
Warm and humid weather can make old odors more noticeable. This does not always mean there is a new accident.
When Bedding May Need to Be Replaced
Some items cannot be fully cleaned after repeated or widespread pet mess.
Replacement may be worth considering when:
- Foam remains strongly scented after treatment and full drying.
- A comforter filling stays clumped, damp, or smelly.
- A waterproof protector is cracked or peeling.
- The odor returns after several careful cleaning attempts.
- The item cannot be cleaned using its approved care method.
- Contamination covers a large part of the item.
Do not keep soaking an item that is not designed to get wet. Too much moisture can create a second odor problem.
How to Prevent Extreme Pet Odor on the Bed
A few simple steps can make future cleanup easier.
Use a washable mattress protector that fits the mattress depth. Pocket depth is the height that the fitted sides can hold. A protector that is too shallow may slip off the corners.
Add a washable throw or pet blanket over the area where your pet sleeps. It is easier to wash a small blanket than a full comforter.
Other helpful habits include:
- Washing pet bedding on a regular schedule
- Drying wet paws before pets enter the bedroom
- Brushing pets to remove loose fur and dirt
- Keeping spare sheets and protectors nearby
- Cleaning accidents as soon as possible
- Checking under the bed during regular cleaning
- Making sure bedding is fully dry before storage
If accidents keep happening, consider speaking with a veterinarian. Repeated accidents can have many causes, and cleaning alone may not stop them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Covering the smell with perfume
Room spray may hide the odor for a short time, but the smell will return if the source remains.
Using too much water on a mattress
Heavy soaking can push urine deeper into foam and make the mattress difficult to dry.
Drying the item before checking it
Always smell the item after washing and before machine drying. Treat it again if needed.
Mixing cleaning products
Mixing cleaners can create dangerous fumes or damage fabric. Use one product at a time and follow its label.
Overloading the washer
Bedding needs room to move so water can rinse away detergent and odor.
Putting slightly damp bedding back on the bed
Even a little trapped moisture can create a musty smell, especially inside thick comforters and toppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What removes strong pet odor from bedding?
Start with a cool-water rinse, then pretreat the affected area with a fabric-safe pet odor cleaner. Wash the item according to its care label and check the smell before drying. Severe odors may need more than one treatment.
Can I put pet-stained bedding straight into the washing machine?
You can, but rinsing and pretreating the affected area first often gives a better result. Large pieces of waste should be removed before washing. Keep badly soiled bedding separate from other laundry.
Why does my comforter still smell after washing?
The washer may have been too full, the filling may still be damp, or the odor may not have been fully treated before drying. Wash it again only if the care label allows it, and make sure it can move freely in the machine.
How do I remove pet odor from a mattress?
Blot fresh moisture, apply a mattress-safe pet odor cleaner as directed, and dry the mattress fully with good airflow. Avoid soaking it. Odor that reached deep foam may require repeated treatment.
Will baking soda remove extreme pet odor?
Baking soda may help with mild surface smells, but it may not remove deep urine or other organic material. A cleaner made for pet odors is often more useful for the source. Check that any treatment is safe for the item.
Can I use bleach on pet urine stains?
Use bleach only when the care label and bleach product say it is safe. Never mix bleach with ammonia-based cleaners or other cleaning products. Bleach can damage colors, fabric, waterproof coatings, and foam.
When should I replace a pet-soiled mattress topper?
Consider replacement when a foam topper has widespread contamination, cannot be washed safely, or still smells after careful treatment and complete drying. Check the manufacturer’s care instructions before making a final decision.
How can I keep my bed from smelling like my pet?
Use a washable pet blanket and mattress protector, wash pet bedding regularly, dry wet paws, and clean accidents right away. Make sure every washed item is fully dry before putting it back on the bed.
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