To remove old dog urine from hardwood, first, try an enzymatic cleaner or a paste of baking soda and water for odor; for tough stains, apply 3% hydrogen peroxide with a cloth, letting it sit before blotting. Always test cleaners in an inconspicuous spot first, and for deep or black stains, you might need a wood bleach or professional sanding and refinishing.
Known as natural disinfectant and deodorant, ordinary white vinegar you have in the kitchen is a great tool for removing these stains. Mix one cup of vinegar into a warm water-filled bucket and the add some drops of grapefruit oil to the solution to get rid of the odor.
Try an enzymatic carpet cleaner. You'll find spray bottles of it for sale in the cleaning aisle of the grocery store. They often have pictures of cats and dogs on the front, but they will work on any urine stains. If you don't see it at the grocery store, you can find it in most pet shops.
White vinegar works to neutralize the ammonia in urine, and it's also a deodorizer. The typical recommended mixture contains 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. You can use this mixture on many others surfaces throughout your home in addition to hardwood floors—even for messes your pet didn't make.
Hardwood Floors, Wood Furniture, and Other Wood Surfaces: Due to its acidic nature, vinegar can damage hardwood floor finishes, causing them to look dingy. Use either a cleaner specifically made for hardwood floors or a mix of soap and water.
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While Dawn dish soap is gentle and effective for many cleaning tasks, it's generally not recommended for hardwood floors. It can leave a residue and potentially dull the finish. Stick to cleaners specifically formulated for wood floors.
If you discover a fresh pet stain on a finished hardwood floor and you suspect it's been there for more than 4 hours, douse the spot with a mild acid like vinegar, which will at the very least neutralize any ammonia (which is an alkali) that may have formed and will arrest its corrosive ability.
Enzyme-based cleaners are powerful tools for deep cleaning and odor removal in bathrooms. These cleaners contain specific enzymes that break down the molecules found in urine, including proteins and uric acid, effectively eliminating the source of the odor rather than just covering it up.
“Enzymatic cleaners such as Rocco and Roxie or Angry Orange work well and are quicker and easier to use [than baking soda],” she says. Nature's Miracle Pet Stain and Odor Remover is also widely recommended by veterinary and cleaning professionals for tough pet messes.
Old or dried urine stains can be difficult to remove, often leaving carpet fibers permanently discolored or with an unpleasant lingering odor. The odor of old urine is due to the bacterial decomposition of the urea in the urine which continues as long as there is moisture.
I use Bright Eyes Tear Stain Wipes for my patients, and we have great success with that product.
Household remedies for urine scale
Nature's Miracle® Hard Floor Cleaner is a dual-action pet stain and odor remover. This bio-enzymatic formula works to destroy tough pet stains and odors on hard surfaces, providing a deep clean while protecting the natural floor finish.
Just plain hydrogen peroxide dumped on the stains covered with a towel that is also soaked in peroxide. Leave the towels to sit over night - mine sat about 18 hrs. For the really tough spots i used cream peroxide hair developer from Sallys beauty supply store, the 40 strength stuff.
That unpleasant stench lingers long after the liquid has been absorbed, and can last months unless treated properly. To effectively remove these offending odors, you'll want to make sure you're eliminating them, not just covering up the smell (as many products do).
Noble Ion® Incontinence Odor Eliminator – Noble Ion® Odor Experts. Removes urine odors in hospitals and nursing homes.
For a natural, effective cleaning solution, you'll need:
Make a solution of baking soda, peroxide and any dish detergent. The combination of the three is often powerful enough to drive away strong urine smells. The solutions is eight fluid ounces of peroxide, three tablespoons of baking soda, and a few drops of dish detergent.
By using vinegar to clean an area where your dog has peed, you not only remove the visible mess but also eliminate the underlying smell that attracts the dog back to the same spot. While generally safe and effective, vinegar might not deter all dogs due to varying scent sensitivities.
Mix a solution of baking soda, vinegar and water and spray or dab it on the area. Be careful, though — sometimes when a dog smells a strong scent like vinegar, he feels like he has to pee on it again to even things out. Use a room spray or other air fresheners to keep the spot from smelling like a pickle jar.
The G-Floor Pet Floor Protector is manufactured from specially formulated polyvinyl that protects your low pile carpet, hardwood, tile and other expensive floors from pet accidents, stains and scratches.
Ingredients to Avoid in Wood Floor Cleaners
Rinse if needed: Most of the time you don't need to rinse, but if your floors feel sticky, go over them with plain warm water. Air dry or towel dry: This helps prevent streaks and water spots, especially on shiny floors. You can even follow up with a dry mop head to help dry.
For an effective and gentle cleaner, mix one gallon of warm water with half a cup of white vinegar and a tablespoon of natural dish soap. The vinegar helps to break down dirt without damaging the wood, while the dish soap adds grease-fighting power. To enhance the scent, add 10 drops of lemon or lavender essential oil.