A mattress is the most important asset in your bedroom – we spend many hours searching for the best. While most parents see the use of diapers as some kind of liberation, the kids may have a few `accidents’ at night before they adjust their biological clock. This is not something you should be prepared for. So, what’s the danger of urine in mattress?
Whether the urine is from a child or pet, the results can be very damaging. If the mattress is not cleaned immediately, the situation could get worse. Read on and learn more!
Dangers of Urine In a Mattress
1. Attracts bed bugs
Urine attracts bed bugs which can be a troubling issue. From a scientific standpoint, these blood-sucking parasites are attracted to heat, human hormones, and carbon dioxide. Secondly, bedbugs are attracted by the histamine excreted in the urine. The warmth that humans give off at night after urinating is enough to recognize that as a host.
And because bedbugs can easily detect the carbon dioxide that we breathe out, they can easily find where we sleep – we give the scent all the time. Once the bed bugs get unto the mattress, it can be almost impossible to get rid of them. Sometimes, the infestation can be too much and the only way to combat the situation is to buy a new one.
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2. Makes the mattress prone to allergies
When urine settles in the mattress, dust mites can get attracted inside. The dust particles already present can make germs breed to the surface resulting in serious health issues for the entire family.
Because dust mites prefer beddings to live in, allergy sufferers could have dust mite allergy. Dust mites like a warmer environment, especially the bedroom. Those that are nearly microscopic will live on your box spring or pillow.
Some of the symptoms that your pillow could have dust mites include the feeling of being unable to breathe, wheezing, chest tightness, redness, eye-itching, and sneezing. You should always vacuum the mattress every time you dry it to keep the bedroom free from allergens.
3. Can lead to mold buildup
If your kids wet the bed and you don’t dry it, it can trigger mold buildup – you know how harmful this can be to your health. Ask any health expert and they will tell you that the mycotoxins produced by mold can lead to allergies and auto-immune conditions.
Generally, the symptoms will vary depending on the level of exposure. And the worst part is that they can enter the body through the skin, lungs, or digestive tract. Some mold varieties can cause long-term lung conditions and respiratory problems.
Unfortunately, most people don’t realize the hidden danger of mold. To ensure there’s no mold after your child urinates on a mattress, you can take a few measures. A simple way to tackle the solution is to rub alcohol. You should dip a rug into the solution and rub on the problem area in a circular motion. Then, spray the mattress with a disinfectant and air dry it.
Another way of keeping mold at bay is by using hydrogen peroxide. The only challenge with this method is that it takes longer and may not be recommended on all types of mattresses. Any cleaning detergent that has 5%-bleach should kill the mold. Since there’s no universal remedy to remove the stains, you may want to contact the manufacturer when dealing with stains.
Fabrics like bamboo, polyester, silk, and wool may require special care. If you have stubborn mold stains, you should work with a professional to ensure it’s thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
4. The mattress produces odor
When pets or children urinate on a mattress, it emits a strong pungent smell. While nighttime accidents can happen anytime, the mattress can get soaked with pee if it’s an all-too-common occurrence.
Urine is not only unpleasant but it can also be a health concern. And because it contains bacteria, it can create an environment for fungus to grow. As the bacteria eat urine residue, it releases ammonia smell that gets trapped in the mattress. Ammonia from old urine can irritate the lungs or may even trigger respiratory problems. Dozens of studies also suggest that ammonia can trigger asthma and respiratory allergies like COPD.
So, how do you get urine out of your mattress? You can use simple household cleaners like hydrogen peroxide or baking soda. Another good product to drive away the strong smell is vinegar. It works well even on the toughest stains and is very effective at breaking the odor-causing molecules. Avoid using commercial ingredients as most of them are carcinogenic.
When there’s odor on a mattress, it can interfere with your goodnight’s sleep. And to a larger extent, it can cause itching and give rise to certain issues. If your kids or pets have a history of incontinence, a breathable protector can be a good addition to your bed.
5. Can affect the warranty of the mattress
In most cases, the warranty of a mattress can be affected by urine traces. A warranty covers sagging and certain defects – structural problems. If a kid or a pet urinates on a mattress and you don’t clean it, the warranty could be void. Of course, urine stains don’t cause sagging but can make foam mattresses deteriorate faster.
On the other hand, most manufacturers consider stained mattress a health hazard or unsanitary. No company would like to take back such a mattress. Think about it – if your child urinates every night for the period covered by the warranty, it could wear the foam.
During the warranty period, you should protect the mattress with a sheet to ensure the urine doesn’t penetrate into the foams. It’s better to take precautions now rather than be sorry later.
06.Wrapping it up
Children can urinate on the bed as they learn how to control the bladder. There’s also a possibility that adults may wet the bed if they have trouble getting up. And much to your dismay, the pets may leave a mark on the bed. No matter what wets your bed, there’s some danger of urine in mattress.
It’s understandable that you should worry about the situation because urine can leave a funky smell or cause discoloration on the mattress. So, every time there’s a stain on the mattress, you should get rid of it immediately. Of course, it’s never too late to protect your mattress – by all means, use a protector.