Stain file № 4219 · Body · Home textiles
How to get drool out of a mattress
Spray an enzyme cleaner; blot with soapy foam; oxygen bleach dab. Never chlorine bleach or the dryer. A tough one on a mattress: expect more than one round.
- Editorial difficulty
- Tough
- Estimated hands-on
- 14 min
- It sets
- over weeks
- Kit
- 4 items + 2 tools
01 The short answer
To get drool out of a mattress, work in this order: (1) spray an enzyme cleaner; (2) blot with soapy foam; (3) oxygen bleach dab. Test enzyme cleaner and oxygen bleach on a hidden spot first. Follow the mattress manufacturer drying instructions.
This has a higher editorial difficulty rating. Consider professional cleaning rather than stronger or repeated home treatments.
02 Never do this
- Chlorine bleach. Do not assume chlorine bleach is suitable for this stain or material. Follow the care label and product restrictions; it can remove dyes and damage fibres.
- The dryer before it is gone. Dryer heat locks in whatever is left. Air-dry and check first.
- Rubbing or scrubbing. It untwists the pile and spreads the stain sideways; press and lift instead.
03 Before you start
- Use white cloths or paper towels only: coloured ones can transfer their own dye into a mattress.
- Test every permitted product on a hidden spot and allow it to dry before checking for colour or texture changes.
- Pretest every permitted treatment on an inconspicuous area, including trims, and let it dry. Stop for colour transfer, lightening, rings, stiffness or distortion. A successful spot test does not guarantee the whole item is safe.
- The listed products are not permission to combine treatments. Use each only if the exact item and product labels permit it, including any change of product. Rinsing or blotting does not establish compatibility; ask the manufacturers or a professional if unsure.
04 The method
Spray an enzyme cleaner
Use only an enzyme cleaner labelled for this exact material and contamination. Follow its application amount, contact time and rinsing instructions. Do not soak padding, foam, wood or electrical seat components; seek professional help for deep contamination.
Why it works: The enzymes break the drool residue into pieces small enough to blot away, without heat.
2 min hands-on
Blot with soapy foam
Mix ¼ teaspoon of clear dish soap in 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water, whisk it until foamy, and dab the foam onto the stain with a white cloth. Blot, repeat until no more transfers, then blot with a cloth dampened in plain water to rinse.
Why it works: Using the foam rather than the water keeps the mattress from getting soaked; the soap still lifts the oil.
6 min hands-on
Oxygen bleach dab
Only if both the item and product labels permit oxygen bleach: use the stated amount, water temperature and contact time for that exact product. Dissolve powder as directed, pretest colours, rinse thoroughly, and never add other cleaners or store the solution sealed. Stop if appearance changes.
Why it works: Oxygen bleach breaks down the pigment that soap leaves behind, without the damage chlorine would do.
4 min hands-on
Dry it completely
Follow the mattress manufacturer drying instructions. Surface dryness does not prove that foam is dry; do not cover or use a damp mattress. Persistent moisture or contamination needs professional advice.
Why it works: Damp inside a mattress grows mildew.
2 min hands-on
Test first: enzyme cleaner and oxygen bleach on a mattress. Use the least liquid that works: moisture that reaches the foam takes days to dry and can grow mildew.
05 Dried, set, or back again?
- Soften it first: lay a white cloth dampened with the cleaning solution on the stain for 10 minutes before you start blotting.
- Old oil has partly oxidised and gone sticky; apply the degreasing step two or three times, and give powder an overnight stay where it is used.
- An old stain in carpet or upholstery may have reached the backing or padding. If it keeps coming back as it dries, a professional hot-water extraction is the next step.
If a shadow reappears as the mattress dries, liquid has wicked up from the padding or backing. Blot again with plain water, then press dry under a weighted towel so the moisture moves into the towel instead of back to the surface.
06 What drool is made of
- Oil and fat
- Protein
- Dye
The oily part of drool will not dissolve in water at all. It needs a surfactant such as dish soap, or a solvent, to break it up, and a dry powder can draw fresh oil out before you start.
Drool can include protein. Heat can make protein-containing stains harder to remove. On washable materials, cool water is a common first step. A protein-digesting detergent is an option only when its label permits the actual fabric; use a suitable delicate-fabric detergent on wool or silk.
Drool carries dye that soaks into fibres rather than sitting on them. Depending on the dye, alcohol dissolves it, oxygen bleach breaks it down, or sunlight fades it, and speed matters more than strength.
- Saliva contains amylase and proteins; together with sweat, skin oil and hair products, it oxidises to the yellow patch on pillows over weeks.
- Silk pillowcases show drool rings easily: water alone leaves a tide line on silk.
07 The material: mattress
Use as little liquid as possible on a mattress: blot and dab rather than pour, because whatever soaks in cannot be rinsed out properly.
No rubbing at all; every step is a press-and-lift.
No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
Water stays at or below 30 °C (86 °F) the whole way through.
- A mattress cannot be rinsed, so every product you put on it stays; that is why the methods use sprays and blotting, not pouring.
- A surface powder is not a substitute for drying contaminated padding or foam. Use manufacturer-approved care; deep moisture or persistent odour needs professional assessment.
The mattress file rates every common cleaner for it.
08 Next time
Use pillow protectors under pillowcases and wash pillowcases weekly; silk pillowcases show drool rings more than cotton.
09 Questions
Can I use hot water on drool on a mattress?
Keep it cool: mattress itself does not tolerate water above about 30 °C (86 °F), whatever the stain.
Does vinegar help with drool on a mattress?
It is not needed for drool. Vinegar is a mild acid that helps with tannin and mineral residue; drool responds better to enzyme cleaner and dish soap.
Can I use bleach on drool?
Not chlorine bleach. Do not assume chlorine bleach is suitable for this stain or material. Follow the care label and product restrictions; it can remove dyes and damage fibres.
Will drool come out of a mattress completely?
This has a higher editorial difficulty rating. Consider professional cleaning rather than stronger or repeated home treatments.
When should I call a professional?
Large urine soaks in memory foam and anything under warranty (stains can void it).
What if it has already dried?
Soften it first: lay a white cloth dampened with the cleaning solution on the stain for 10 minutes before you start blotting. Old oil has partly oxidised and gone sticky; apply the degreasing step two or three times, and give powder an overnight stay where it is used.