How to Remove Black Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors
It is normal to see urine stains on the floor. Often, urine comes from pets, and it can cause stains and foul odor on hardwood floors. Hence, most people wonder how they can prevent these urine stains or get rid of them when they occur.
Aside from the stains, urine brings a terrible smell on wood floors. This odor is offensive and often turns the whole house into a stench. Therefore, in this article, we shall look at how to remove black urine stains from hardwood floors.
All at a Glance
Cleaning Hardwood Floors
The first step you need to take as a homeowner is cleaning the hardwood floors. It will help if you start by wiping the puddle or the wet spot. It would be best to use an absorbent cloth to remove the wetness from the wooden floor.
Then, soak up the moisture by applying sufficient pressure, and if you feel it is essential, utilize plenty of clothes to suck the liquid from the floor. You can use a cleaner made of chemicals to remove stains effectively and eliminate foul odor from the hardwood floor.
Select the best chemical that suits the type of floor you have and the harshness of the damage. You can speak to a professional if you are not sure of the chemical cleaner to use for your floor. Some chemicals stop animals from peeing on the same spot.
A typical example of chemical clear to get rid of urine stains is Hydrogen peroxide. When 3% of hydrogen peroxide is mixed with water, it produces an effective chemical cleaner that effectively removes animals’ urine stains and odor from hardwood floors.
All you have to do is to allow the rag to sit for some hours so it can thoroughly get rid of the urine stain from the floor. Afterward, wipe off the solution for the spot with a clean cloth and allow the spot to dry.
How to Remove Black Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors with Baking Soda
Another great solution to get rid of urine stains and odor from hardwood floors is baking soda. This simple household ingredient can absorb liquid from any surface with ease. You can include it in pet litters to dry out urine from pets.
Immediately the stain and odor are eliminated, scrape away the baking soda using a fine grade steel wool over the floor. Ensure you carry out this process gently. Finally, it would help if you kept the area completely dry.
It would help if you used a stronger mixture of hydrogen peroxide and a suit of dish soap with a sprinkle of baking soda. And wipe off the urine and dry it using a soft rag.
Other ways to remove urine stains and odor from hardwood floors
White vinegar is an excellent option for removing stains and foul smells inflicted by the urine of animals. Vinegar is a chemical known for its ability to neutralize ammonia from animal urine. It is a natural chemical and won’t bring any harm to the environment. Also, you can sand the floor and apply touch-up hardwood floor stain using a paintbrush. This step can repair minor damage inflicted by the urine.
If you think it is necessary, talk to a professional who understands sandpaper to explain how to prevent more significant damage. Further, you can use a layer of coat sealer to curtail more damage. You can find them in any department store or hardwood stores. Some pet shops sell odor remover compounds that can get rid of bacteria from urine.
When cleaning up the urine stain, ensure you get rid of all of them. This suggestion is that the odor of the urine can bring your pet back to the same spot. Using ordinary water and soap to scrub the floor, you can conveniently clean up urine away from the floor.
Prevent the Hardwood Floor Stains – Train Your Pet to Stay in a Litter Box
The most effective way to prevent pets from peeing inside the house is to train them to utilize a litter box. It is an excellent way to stop cats and dogs from causing stains to the hardwood. Although it takes some time to teach pets to use litter boxes indoors, you can do it. The rewards you will get from training pets to use the litter box can be unique. Hence, it would help if you made an effort to teach them effectively.
Ensure that rags are nearby until the pets learn to use the litter box constantly. It would be best to clean their urine as fast as possible so all traces of the odor are removed.
Ensure your pet is fed and given enough water at consistent periods throughout the day. It would be best to take them to the litter box and assist them in entering it. If you have puppies, expect to take them to the litter box after five to thirty minutes from the time they ate or drank.
On the other hand, adult dogs often show signs such as whining or walking towards the door. Ensure you make an effort to praise pets when they successfully use the litter boxes. If you see the pet doing its business somewhere else, scold her gently and take her to the litter box.
Continue to praise your pet when they use the litter box as you slowly decrease their treats. A perfect litter box for your pet consists of a large plastic tub. You can find plenty of models in the market consisting of several features such as modesty-serving covers and layer boxes with grass on top, which enables waste to collect in the lower part of the pan.
Dog litters are identical to those used by cats, and you can many of them in the market. From paper pellets consisting of activated charcoal, which controls odor, to simple litters made of clay.
The litter box should be large enough to contain your pet and allow them to move with comfort. The sides of the box need to be low to allow let’s climb easily. Also, it needs to be high enough for male dogs to pee in it.
The litter box needs to be kept where you and your pet can see it. It would be best for pets to have complete access to their boxes while you should check them for regular cleaning. If you have two pets and they are different animals, it would be best to have separate litter boxes for each one because animals enjoy having their territory.
How to Remove Smell of Dog Urine from Your Floor
Although we have spoken about pets and how their urine can stain the floor of your home as well as bring foul odor to your home, we shall discuss dogs in detail. We chose dogs because they are the most popular choice for pet animals around the world. Therefore, learning how to deal with their urine stains is necessary.
Irrespective of how well trained your dog is and how diligent you watch their potty-break schedule, pee sometimes happens. It can be on the floor, carpet, or other places in the house. Quick action is necessary to prevent a lasting impression and odor on the affected area.
If you didn’t notice the urine on time and it dries, there are still things you can do to get rid of the smell dried stains leave behind. We shall look at how to remove urine stains from various floor types.
How to remove stains from carpet and fabrics
If you notice a dog pee on the carpet, you should take the following steps. First, place a layer of paper towels over the wet spot. You can place the same layer of paper under it as well. Then, cover it with a thick layer of newspaper.
You can apply more pressure on the paper by standing on it for few minutes to boost urine absorption faster. Ensure you leave the paper until it has absorbed most of the urine. Afterward, rinse the affected space with cool water.
Blot out all the water; you may use a towel or a wet vacuum cleaner. Immediately you have removed a large portion of the liquid, and the next step is to eliminate the odor. To accomplish this task, use baking soda.
Commence the process by spreading baking soda sparingly and evenly across the damp area. Watch yourself, so you don’t overdo it. Use a quarter-full cup or less for the stain. Allow the soda to stay overnight, then vacuum it thoroughly.
To ensure the place is thoroughly cleaned, ensure you vacuum it severely until the area feels clean when you touch it.
Dog Urine Stains on Hardwood Floors
When your dog takes a puddle on your hardwood floor, don’t stand there wringing your hands. It would help if you acted fast. Ensure you place thick was of dish towels on the puddle. Please continue to use the fresh towel to soak up the urine till it comes up dry.
It is difficult to get rid of odors from hardwood floors since urine can saturate the wood. The first step to take is to mix white vinegar and water in a ratio of 1-1. Utilizing a sponge, rub the solution on the urine stain.
Allow the solution to sit for at least five minutes, then wipe it with a clean, dry towel. If the odor persists, sprinkle baking soda on the floor when it is still damp. Allow the baking soda to sit for at least six hours. Afterward, vacuum it up with a soft brush attached to the vacuum cleaner.
Conclusion – How to Remove Black Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors
Urine stains are not easy to remove from a hardwood floor. Also, the odor it leaves behind is twice as hard to get rid of from your floor. Irrespective of how well you train your pets, chances are they will piss on your floor.
However, you don’t have to worry about these stains and odor because they are simple steps you can take to get rid of these stains and the odor that comes with them. We shall discuss steps that will help you accomplish this task with ease.
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