No matter how well-trained your dog is or how strictly you adhere to your potty-break plan, accidents sometimes occur and you will need carpet cleaning and furniture cleaning services. Whether on the carpet, hardwood floor, or anywhere else, immediate action is the best method to ensure that dog urine does not leave a lasting impact (and smell). Even if you stumble across a dried pee puddle or stain, there are things you may do to eradicate the odor. Some stains may even be difficult to locate. That’s when a pee stain detector can help you figure out which areas require cleaning.
New Urine Stains on Carpet or Fabric
Your dog just peed on the carpet. What now? Fortunately, you probably have the necessary cleaning supplies on hand. Place a thick layer of paper towels over the damp spot and, if feasible, under it. Cover it with a thick layer of newspaper. You can stand on the paper for a few minutes to assist it absorb the urine faster, or simply leave the paper until most of the urine has been absorbed. Then, remove all of the paper and rinse the area with lukewarm water. Using towels or a wet vac, blot up all of the water. Fair warning: the soggy towels will undoubtedly stink, which is a good thing because it means you’re drawing out as much of the pee and its stench as possible.
After you’ve wiped up the most of the liquid, the following step is to remove the stink. And the best weapon for this is a regular home item: baking soda. Spread baking soda thinly and evenly on the damp place, being careful not to overdo it; 1/4 cup or less is usually sufficient for most stains. Allow the baking soda to rest overnight, then thoroughly vacuum. You may need to vacuum the area multiple times until it feels clean to the touch.
Another method incorporates yet another common home item, vinegar. Combine one cup of distilled white vinegar, one cup of water, and two tablespoons of baking soda in a clean spray bottle. Shake it up to combine the contents, then spray on the stain. Allow for a few minutes before blotting with towels until clean.
Dried Dog Urine on Fabric and Carpets
What if you didn’t discover an accident location till it had dried out? Or have you recently moved into a new home and discovered that the living room carpet smells like dog urine? While it is more difficult to eliminate the smell from dried stains, there are some viable solutions to try.
Begin by carefully washing the affected area with simple water. Saturate and vacuum the area using a wet-dry vacuum cleaner until it is clean. Do not use a steam cleaner because the heat will permanently establish the odor and stain. If you don’t have a wet-dry vacuum, try repeatedly wetting and wiping the place with warm water and clean cloths.
If this does not remove the scent, use an enzymatic cleanser. These bio-based cleansers act on a molecular level to break down and eliminate odors and stains. Make sure to use an enzyme-based cleaning designed specifically for pet stains.
New Urine Stains on Hardwood
Your dog just piddled on your hardwood floor. Don’t sit there wringing your hands; you need to move quickly. Place a big wad of paper towels or dish cloths over the puddle. You can accelerate absorption by standing on the towels for a few minutes. Continue soaking up the pee with fresh towels until a towel comes out dry.
Hardwood Odor Removal
Because urine can penetrate the wood, it is difficult to remove odors from hardwood floors. However, you have a few options. The first is similar to what you’d use on carpet. Make a one-to-one solution of white vinegar and water. Rub the solution into the stain with a sponge. Allow it to sit for 5–10 minutes before wiping it down with a clean, dry towel. Some experts recommend a more diluted composition of 1/2 cup vinegar to one gallon of warm water. If you’re concerned about the impacts of vinegar on your floors, use this more diluted version. In any case, test the solution on a tiny, inconspicuous piece of the floor first.
If the odor persists, sprinkle baking soda on the damp floor and leave it for several hours or overnight. Then, using your vacuum cleaner’s gentle brush attachment, suction it up. Finally, apply an enzyme-based stain remover that is appropriate for hardwood floors. First, test it in a tiny area, and then follow the guidelines on the product’s container. When the urine and its stink have been fully eliminated, clean the floor with whatever you normally use on it.
Whatever your dog has piddled on, your best plan of action is to respond quickly. The sooner you get to it, the more probable it is that you will be able to eradicate all traces of urine odor. Aside from having your home to smell fresh and clean, you don’t want any residual signs of his accident for your dog to detect, as he may decide this is his new favorite area to pee.
