Cleaning mattress after sleepover?

Question

My son has a 10 year old friend who stayed over-night at our house Friday night. Yesterday, when we got up my son's bed had been made (by the friend), which surprised me, but I thought nothing of it. Last night when I put him in bed, I pulled back the sheets and there was this big wet stain with an ungodly awful smell to it...

My initial instinct would be to throw the mattress out, but the problem is that it's a very expensive mattress that I purchased within the last year, and I really don't have the funds on hand to replace it right now.

Is there anything I can do to save it?

Also, according to my son, this is an ongoing problem for his friend, and he usually wears pull-ups at night..I guess he forgot to do so when he stayed here.

Do you think I should say something to his parents about this? They certainly didn't bother to alert me to this problem, wouldn't it have been polite to have done so and saved me from a big wet stinky problem?

Answer 1

My money is that the friend was embarrassed about his problem and so didn't wear them, and his parents probably didn't want to embarrass him by saying anything. This is pretty much normal. Not especially courteous, but still normal.

Just bleach the effected area, buy one of those odor neutralizing sprays (if it's a particularly bad smell buy it from the pet store rather than the drugs store), and give the mattress a good airing.

Few families can afford to replace mattresses on a regular basis and bed wetting is quite common. Some children pee the same mattress over and over again for a couple of years without the smell being noticeable after cleaning.

Also, tread lightly with the parent. You don't want to be the ogre mom who picked on the bed wetter. In mom circles rumor can be vicious and you could be labeled for years as a bully if you go in heavy handed. People will forget that it was your mattress but remember that you got angry about bed wetting.

Answer 2

Funny you have asked this question before and got an answer to it. Here it is in case you forgot.

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Home > Pregnancy & Parenting > Grade-Schooler > Resolved Question  Jenn s Member since:

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Cleaning mattress after sleepover?

My son has an 11 year old friend who stayed over-night at our house Friday night. Yesterday, when we got up my son's bed had been made (by the friend), which surprised me, but I thought nothing of it. Last night when I put him in bed, I pulled back the sheets and there was this big wet stain with an ungodly awful smell to it...

My initial instinct would be to throw the mattress out, but the problem is that it's a very expensive mattress that I purchased within the last year, and I really don't have the funds on hand to replace it right now.

Is there anything I can do to save it?

Also, according to my son, this is an ongoing problem for his friend, and he usually wears pull-ups at night..I guess he forgot to do so when he stayed here.

Do you think I should say something to his parents about this? They certainly didn't bother to alert me to this problem, wouldn't it have been polite to have done so and saved me from a big wet stinky problem?

10 months ago

Answer 3

For sure you should talk to his parents, but be prepared that they will probably become very defensive, so choose your words right.

There are lots of different ways to get rid of the stain and smell.

Just google 'cleaning urine out of a mattress' and you'll find your answer.

Meanwhile, I wonder what's going on with a 10 year old who's still wetting the bed. Poor kid :(

Answer 4

Mattresses from the past 2-3 years really can't be flipped. They are designed with a top and bottom.

Somebody owes you for a new mattress. Let them keep the wet one. I wouldn't be shy about that.

Answer 5

Whenever the cat pees on our bed we simply disinfect the stain, flip the mattress and use it on that side. It works and you cant even smell anything! I think you should tell the childs parents to warn his friends parents about his problem so they can prepare. Good Luck!

Answer 6

you could try googling it im trying to remeber what my mom did.......grr sorry i cant

Answer 7

odd, I SWEAR I saw this exact question 3-6 months ago typed exactly the same. Look at old answers you got some good ones. Or are you the potty troll?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...