How to Get Urine Smell Out of Blanket When Washing Doesn't Work

Updated on September 12, 2011
M.F. asks from Youngstown, OH
24 answers

My son is a frequent bedwetter and there is absolutly no trigger that we can think of. He wet the bed the other night and I washed his blanket. I put it in the dryer and the dryer was making a funny noise(my husbands work clothes are full of rock) so I thought maybe there were some in the dryer but when I pulled the blanket out it still smelled like pee. I use All with oxy cleaner in it. The detergent has a smell also.(if that matters) I washed it in hot water. I have an HE front loader that is only a couple months old and always cleans well but this time it didn't. I put the correct amout of detergent in. What can I do? I am going to rewash it today. HELP I don't want our stuff smelling like pee!

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

I use baking soda and rewash a few times if needed. Also, Goodnights have saved me a lot of laundry.

3 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

The two things that work with me (one or the other) is Melaleuca's Fresh Scent laundry detergent or baking soda. I used to have that problem too.

1 mom found this helpful

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

baking soda and vinegar...

if that doesn't help - use borax....

3 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Definitely try the vinegar, but I would also hang it out in the sunshine and fresh air.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.F.

answers from Madison on

Vinegar works great! Add a cup to your load along with your regular detergent.

1 mom found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I am going to second the vinegar, but add baking soda as well.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

M.,
Try soaking it with some Baking Soda before you rewash !

C. S.

1 mom found this helpful
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A..

answers from Kansas City on

Soak it in vinegar water for an hour or so.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

My cats pee on towels left on the ground. I use Nature's Miracle in the washing machine and it works very well.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.

answers from Cleveland on

I add hydrogen peroxide to my detergent cup. about 1/2 cup seems to get most smells out.

1 mom found this helpful

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Okay, I don't have human urine issues - but pet urine issues - which smell much worse then boy pee. LOL I

use bleach - just a little with a hot water wash, a little extra detergent, and some Purex Crystals. Sometimes I need to wash twice to get the smell out - but it does work.

Good Luck
God Bless

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Provo on

There isn't enough water. If you are able to add more water by putting it through the detergent spout thing, do that. If not put a drenching wet towel in there. I love HE washers, but sometime you can't go efficient.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

You could try a product for pets that removes smells, or you could soak it in a bath tub with Oxyclean, rinse it and THEN put it through the washer/dryer.

1 mom found this helpful

D.P.

answers from Detroit on

Soak the the blanket with warm water and vinegar.

Hope I am not stepping on your toes but how old is your son? If he wets the bed with shorter periods than 3 mos between episodes you made need to let your pediatrician know. Some kids (mostly boys) sleep so soundly that they are unable to wake up with their urge to pee. He may need DDAVP.

1 mom found this helpful

M.R.

answers from Columbus on

i would definitely recommend tide.
about 6-7 months ago i posted that i had recieved some clothes thru freecycle. after washing these clothes they smelled horrendous!!! seriously like something dead. i had tried everything. vinegar. baking soda. oxyclean. and ran completely out of my regular laundry soap.
1 of the ladies on here suggested tide, and i must say it did WONDERS!!!
success after the first cycle.
i had been a lil worried, because these were very nice clothes, and i really didnt want to throw them away.
so yeah. try washing them with some tide.

1 mom found this helpful

R.A.

answers from Providence on

I would bleach my son's sheets/blanket , or use a detergent with bleach for colors. I would buy the regular oxy clean and put that on the blanket first before putting it in the wash. Also, do you have a septic tank? It might be possible that it is backed up. Trying to think of anything. You could always have someone come and check on the washer / dryer if all else fails.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Mr Clean makes an all purpose cleaner with Fre-Breeze in it. I had a cat with cancer who left me 'presents', she got a new area rug and my new slip covers. I put the slip covers in the washer with this Mr Clean and it helped a lot to take the smell out. Also rinse with vinegar added to the water.
** about the bed wetting**
My daughter was a bed wetter, she now 24. When she was about 4 I saw a program with a ped allergist and she said that bed wetting can be caused by a food allergy. And that parents need to be their own detectives. She said first of all take all artificial colors and flavors out of their diet for a month and see waht happens. If that doesn't work then try dairy and gluten. I hope this helps.
Make sure you have a plastic sheild on the mattress or a water proof mattress pad.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.J.

answers from Saginaw on

vinegar. Also takes puke smell out of carpet...if you ever run across that issue :)

1 mom found this helpful
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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

I agree with the post that mentions your washer not having enough water. I cloth diaper my son, and it took us awhile to figure out why our clothes always smell clean and the diapers didn't. Adding a couple of towels tricks the washer and adds more water and if you have the option do an extra rinse cycle.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.E.

answers from Birmingham on

This absolutely works for me (I take care of my elderly Mother). Buy Borax & Arm & Hammer Super WAshing Soda -NOT their detergent or baking soda--make sure it says SODIUM CARBONATE, and Fels-Naptha soap. Grate 1/6 of the Fels-Naptha and dissolve in 3qts boiling water. Slowly add 1/3C Borax THEN 1/3 Washing Soda (don't mix ahead of time). Mix well then leave 24hrs. It will gel. Mix well and put in old detergent container. When ready to wash, put 1C vinegar in washing machine followed by the clothes. In the detergent dispenser fill the detergent side to the fill line and put vinegar to the fill line in the softener side. (I have a HE front load and it works great). Start the longest/hottest wash you can for your clothes, let it wash a bit, then pause the cycle for at least an hour or longer, then complete the cycle. If you want to use fabric softener do so in the dryer! I've never had ANYTHING come close to this method in getting rid of urine/feces in bedding or bed pads! Let me know if you try it and how it works!

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A.C.

answers from Columbus on

I would suggest soaking it overnight in baking soda (1 cup, in hot water in the wash). Let that sit over night. Then, run it through the rest of the cycle in the morning. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. Do an exta rinse cycle with no soap or fabric softener. Then hang it out to dry in the sun.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

My son was a bed wetter because he was such a heavy sleeper. I had the same problem and even bought this stuff that was supposed to eliminate that odor. Waste of money. I use good ol white vinegar. I still use it for the kids clothes and towels and blankets. And $1.50 for a gallon is a pretty good price. I add about 1/2 cup to 1 full cup depending on what it is at the beginning of the wash cycle.

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R.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

Have you tried having your son wear pull ups to bed?

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

If the blanket is going to be thrown out due to the smell then take time to rewash it with some bleach, not much, in the wash cycle. I use bleach in my blacks sometimes if the sour in the washer and I can't get the smell out with even vinegar. Bleach should take care of the problem no matter what.

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