How do I purify a najis mattress?
Remove any solid or liquid, pour clean water over the stained area, and blot it out with towels until the colour and smell are gone (or as gone as you can get them). You don't need to wash the whole mattress. If you can't clean it right away, you can still sleep on it, and you can pray on it with a clean sheet in between.
Step by step
- Remove what you can. Lift off anything solid and soak up liquid (urine, vomit, blood) with paper towels. Press, don't rub, so it doesn't spread.
- Pour water. Pour a cup or two of clean water over the spot, enough to cover it.
- Blot it out. Press hard with dry towels to pull the water back out. Repeat pouring and blotting two or three times.
- Check. Once the colour, smell and texture of the impurity are gone, the spot is pure. A faint stain that won't come out is excused.
- Dry it. Let it air-dry, use a fan, or sprinkle baking soda and vacuum later. Normal cleaning sprays are fine.
Why pouring water is enough
When a Bedouin urinated in the Prophet's ﷺ mosque, the Prophet ﷺ told the Companions not to stop him and then had a bucket of water poured over the spot (Sahih al-Bukhari 220). Scholars took from this that large items you can't lift or wring out, like floors, carpets and mattresses, become pure by pouring water over them. The Hanafi school adds that the water should be pulled out each time, by blotting or pressing, which the steps above already do.
The method is the same as for a carpet. See How do I clean a najis carpet?
Can I sleep on it before it's cleaned?
Yes. Sleeping on a najis mattress isn't a sin. A dry impurity doesn't pass to you or your sheets. If the spot is damp and your clothes become wet from it, rinse that part of your clothing before you pray. Most families simply put a waterproof protector on and wash it like normal laundry. See Does a washing machine purify najis clothes?
Praying on the bed
If you pray on your bed (for example, when ill), the place where you stand and prostrate should be pure. A clean, thick sheet or prayer mat on top of a najis spot is enough according to most scholars, as long as the impurity doesn't soak through. See Can I pray on my bed or couch?
- Only the stained area needs cleaning, not the whole mattress.
- Pour water and blot until colour and smell are gone.
- A stubborn faint stain is excused.
- A clean sheet between you and a dry najis spot is enough for sleeping and, for most scholars, for praying.
People also ask
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Most scholars say vaginal discharge breaks wudu, with a minority view. Is it impure, and what if it's constant? One wudu per prayer time.
Read the full answer →When does tayammum become invalid?
Tayammum becomes invalid when anything breaks wudu, when you find usable water, or when your excuse ends. Most schools renew it for each prayer.
Read the full answer →Does using a tampon break my fast?
Many scholars say a tampon does not break your fast, while many Shafi'is say it does. Period vs spotting, pads, and safe tampon use in Ramadan.
Read the full answer →What if toilet water splashes on me?
A splash of clean toilet water is pure and doesn't matter. If it had urine in it, rinse the spot before prayer. When unsure, treat it as clean.
Read the full answer →Does looking at haram things break wudu?
No, looking at haram things doesn't break wudu, but it is still a sin. Lower your gaze, repent, and a fresh wudu helps wash minor sins away.
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