How to Get the Wet Spot Out of a Mattress (And Stop It Happening Again)

It soaked through the towel. Then the sheet. Then the mattress protector you forgot you never actually bought. Now there's a damp patch on the mattress and one of you is sleeping on the far edge of the bed.

Been there. Most of our customers have too, and that's the whole reason we make what we make.

Here's exactly how to get the wet spot out of a mattress tonight, how to stop the smell from setting in, and how to make sure you never have to do this again.

First: do these three things right now

1. Strip the bed. Sheets and anything else that got hit go straight into the wash on cold. Hot water can set protein-based stains instead of lifting them.
2. Blot, don't rub. Press a dry towel firmly into the spot and keep switching to a dry section. Rubbing pushes liquid deeper into the foam.
3. Get air moving. Point a fan at the mattress or crack a window. Speed matters, because the longer it stays damp, the more likely you get a lingering smell.

How to clean the wet spot out of a mattress, step by step

You can't throw a mattress in the washer, so this is a surface-cleaning job. Go light on liquid the whole way through.

1. Mix a gentle cleaner. A few drops of mild dish soap in a cup of cold water works for most spots. For anything that smells, an enzyme cleaner (the kind sold for pet accidents) is the better pick. Enzymes break down the organic stuff that causes odor instead of just covering it.
2. Dampen a cloth, not the mattress. Wring the cloth out well. You want it damp, never dripping.
3. Dab the spot from the outside in. Working inward keeps the stain from spreading into a bigger ring.
4. "Rinse" with a clean damp cloth to lift out any soap.
5. Blot dry again with a fresh towel. Press hard.
6. Cover it with baking soda. A generous layer, edge to edge. It pulls out leftover moisture and absorbs odor. Leave it for several hours, or overnight if you can sleep elsewhere.
7. Vacuum it up with an upholstery attachment.

A few don'ts:

• Don't soak it. Memory foam and pillow tops hold water for days.
• Don't use hot water or a steam cleaner on the stain. Heat can set it.
• Don't jump to bleach. If you want to try hydrogen peroxide on an old yellow stain, spot test a hidden corner first, because it can lighten fabric.
• Don't put sheets back on until the mattress is completely dry. Trapped moisture is where the musty smell comes from.

What if the wet spot already dried and left a stain?

Old stains take patience, not force. Repeat the enzyme-cleaner steps above, let the cleaner sit on the spot for the time the label recommends, then blot and dry. It may take two or three rounds. If the stain is faint and doesn't smell, it's cosmetic. A mattress protector or cover will hide it, and the steps below will make sure it doesn't get company.

Why towels never actually fix this

Here's the uncomfortable truth: towels are absorbent, not waterproof. They hold some liquid, then they pass the rest straight down. Stacking more just delays it.

One customer said they used to pile towels five inches high and still woke up in a wet spot. Another said it better than we could:

"My girlfriend and I used all sorts of towels and things and they never worked. But this did." (Charly T.)

Mattress protectors help with the mattress, but your sheets still get soaked, which means stripping the bed every time. And the crinkly plastic ones are about as romantic as a hospital bed.

The fix: stop it before it reaches the sheets

The answer is a layer that sits on top of the bed and actually stops liquid. That's what a waterproof intimacy blanket is for. (Here's the full explanation if you're new to the idea.)

The Accent is the one we make, so we're biased. Here's what's in it:

• A CenterSeal™ TPU liner sewn inside, holding up to 2 liters before anything gets through
• Flannel on one side, sherpa on the other, so it feels like a real blanket, not a tarp
• Zero crinkle
• Machine washable on cold, so you wash a blanket instead of stripping the whole bed
• Five sizes, from a 40" x 28" Small up to an 85" x 85" XXL that covers a king edge to edge

And when you're done, you ball it up and go to sleep. As one reviewer put it: "No more sleeping on a wet spot anymore!!" (Michelle N.)

It ships from Ohio, it's free over $50, and it comes with a 60-day guarantee.

See sizes and colors →

Planning a night in anyway? The After Dark Set pairs the blanket with Coconut After Dark massage oil.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get a wet spot out of a mattress?

Blot as much liquid as you can with a dry towel, then dab the spot with a cloth dampened with mild dish soap and cold water, or an enzyme cleaner for odors. Blot it dry, cover it with baking soda for several hours, then vacuum. Keep the mattress well ventilated until it's completely dry before you put the sheets back on.

How long does it take a wet mattress to dry?

A small surface spot can dry in a few hours with a fan running. A spot that soaked deep into foam can take a day or more. Don't put sheets back on until it's fully dry all the way through, or you risk a musty smell.

Why does my mattress smell after it got wet?

Organic residue plus trapped moisture is what causes the smell. An enzyme cleaner breaks down the residue, and baking soda plus airflow handles the moisture. Covering the smell with fabric spray won't fix it.

Do towels protect a mattress during sex?

Not reliably. Towels absorb some liquid, but they aren't waterproof, so anything they can't hold passes through to the sheets and mattress. A waterproof blanket with a sewn-in liner stops liquid on top instead of letting it through.

What's the best way to protect a mattress from the wet spot?

Put a waterproof barrier on top of the sheets, not just under them. A waterproof intimacy blanket keeps both your sheets and mattress dry, and you wash one blanket instead of stripping the whole bed. Size it to cover the middle of your bed at minimum.

What to do now

Clean tonight's spot with the steps above. Then fix the actual problem. Measure your bed, pick a blanket that covers the middle of it, and leave it folded at the foot of the bed for next time.

Never clean a mattress again →

Want the full breakdown first? Read our honest review of the best waterproof blanket for sex.