Why Does My Pillow Smell Like Pee (It’s Ammonia)

By / Tips & Bits

So you have a pillow that has a “funky urine” or “distinctively toilet” smell? The stink is so horrible, and it will not go away no matter how many times you change the pillow cover, no matter how many fresheners you throw on it.

The pee and “toilet smell” on pillows is commonly caused by a chemical called ammonia. While it is commonly found in sweat, it is usually not enough to cause very bad smells; If the smell is very pronounced, it may be an indication of a bad diet and/or certain health conditions.

That’s right, the urine smell may not be actual pee. But if it smells that bad, then there could be more underlying issues. Let us address this and walk through the possible ways to remove the stink – Read on!

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Causes The Smell Removing The Stink The End

 

WHAT CAUSES THE PEE SMELL

So what is causing the stinky pillow? Let us walk through a little bit of science in this section.

 

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE STINK

Ammonia (NH3) is a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. It has a strong odor that smells like urine or sweat. The human body makes ammonia when it breaks down protein into amino acids. The liver then converts ammonia into urea before it leaves the body through urine or sweat.

– Medical News Today

As in the above introduction, the common culprit is ammonia – Commonly found in sweat and waste. While it stinks by nature, the human body usually processes ammonia so that it comes out from behind… Not so much in the sweat. So if the sweat smells really bad, something is not quite right somewhere.

 

DIET & EATING HABITS

Ammonia is produced when protein is broken down into amino acids. So bodybuilders, yes looking at you “healthy guys” – Protein is great for building muscles, but a balanced diet is important too. The body also requires carbohydrates, sugar, fats, fiber, etc…

If your sweat smells like sh*t, you are over-exercising and there are not enough carbohydrates to burn. The body then turns to burn the overabundant supply of protein, which results in you-know-it, ammonia. For you “normal folks”, the same can happen if you love to eat too many protein-rich foods – Eggs, lean meats, fish, dairy products.

 

 

LIVER/KIDNEY DAMAGE

This is a little on the heavier side. But a healthy human body is capable of processing ammonia into urea, so that it comes out from the behind. If the liver or kidney is damaged, the body can no longer function properly. Urea gets into the bloodstream, and causes the “internal stink”.

 

STRESS

Yes, stress-induced sweat is different from the “normal sweat”, it is much “thicker and stinkier”. If you are stressed, it’s time to address the cause and get yourself to relax more.

 

ANIMALS ON THE BED

Well, as “Captain Obvious” as this may be, are you allowing pets on the bed? Or are there some “sneaky ones” around? In the animal kingdom, it is common for animals to mark their territory with their scent or pee. This behavior can be exhibited by pets, even those that are toilet trained.

 

 

HOW TO GET RID OF THE SMELL

Now that you know what is causing the smell, the effective way to remove the stink is to simply make some changes to the lifestyle. Don’t worry, here are just some home remedies that may help.

 

VINEGAR, BAKING SODA, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

To get rid of the urine smell, here are some common household chemicals that may help:

  • Vinegar – Although vinegar also smells funky, it can remove a wide array of odors. Just put some white vinegar into a spray bottle, and spray it on the pillow. Allow it to dry and repeat as required.
  • Baking Soda – A popular “alternative common household deodorizer”. Sprinkle some on the pillow, leave it overnight and vacuum it off.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide – A mild antiseptic commonly found in first aid kits. Mix a ratio of 70% water and 30% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Then you already know – Spray on the pillow and let it dry.

 

WASH YOUR PILLOW

Of course, it will be difficult to get rid of the smell entirely if the sweat has already penetrated deep into the pillow fillings. In this case, it is best to wash the entire pillow. But a quick reminder, not all pillows are washable.

So do a quick check with the care instructions before you throw the pillow into the washing machine. To further tackle the stinkest pillow on Earth, put the pillow under the sun to dry. Let nature do its magic.

 

 

BALANCED DIET

If you are spamming protein shakes and “a lot of protein foods” to build more muscles, it’s time to slow down and pursue a balanced diet instead. As you already know, that protein-heavy diet is not doing good things and is literally stinking things up.

 

DRINK MORE WATER

Drink more water.

– All Asian moms

Yes, listen to the ancient Asian mom wisdom. Drinking more water helps the body to “better process the funky stuff” and “flush them out”. This may not fully cure the underlying issue, but it should somewhat help to reduce the stink.

 

 

INTERNAL DEODORANT

Finally, applying some deodorant may help to reduce the smell as well. The internal deodorants, that is. Internal deodorants come in various different forms, the common ones being:

  • Chlorophyll Supplements
  • Activated Carbon Detox Capsules
  • Detox Teas
  • Home recipes such as cucumber mint.

Of course, a gentle reminder to consume these in moderate “as recommended” amounts.

 

CONSULT A DOCTOR

If none of the above works, then it’s best to not ignore the signs. Get a full health screening and seek professional medical help.

 

THE END

Thank you for reading, and we have come to the end of this short guide. I hope it has helped to answer your doubts. Good luck and have better nights of sleep!

 

LINKS & REFERENCES