How to Remove Pet Stains from Hardwood Flooring [Easy To Follow!]
We’re pet owners ourselves, so if you’re experiencing pet stains on your floors, we understand your frustration!
Accidents happen to everyone’s pets, whether they are trained or not.
Even still, there are few things more annoying than that moment when you get a whiff of your own piss.
However, things grow worse.
Especially when you discover that your cherished pet has left a stain — on your cherished floor, no less — on your adored carpet.
However, there is still hope! Your arsenal of methods for cleaning pet stains on floors will be bolstered thanks to our tutorial on how to remove pet stains from carpets. You will, without a doubt, be more at ease in the future.
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Overview of the article:
Pet owners are well aware that they may, from time to time, be confronted with the question of how to remove pet stains.
Pets are considered members of the family, yet they, like children, can make a sloppy mess.
Accidents happen, whether you’re training a young puppy or caring for an aging dog or cat, and you may find yourself with a stinking pee stain on your lovely wood floor unexpectedly.
The presence of a strong odor and ugly black markings left by pet mess necessitates the immediate removal of the problem.
There are several approaches to taking on this cleaning work, but the most crucial is to clean as near to the time of the event as possible to avoid the mess from having more time to set.
Before beginning any treatment, blot out any excess urine that has accumulated on the surface of the skin.
Pets Are Responsible for Property Damage
It is possible that accidents will occur frequently when you have a young pet until you complete pet toilet training.
Pets who are older and suffer incontinence may have accidents from time to time.
Pets of any age, though, may have an accident or become ill and vomit on your hardwood floors from time to time.
Whether you’re dealing with excrement, urine, or vomit, you can usually prevent coloring the area by cleaning it up as soon as possible.
Pet messes can be deterred for a limited period of time by the finishes used on hardwood floors.
However, if you don’t clean up dog urine on hardwood floors immediately away, it can seep into the actual wood and cause damage.
The possibility exists that you will not notice the mess or that you will have carpet over hardwood and pee will soak through to the wood beneath.
Because urine is a liquid, it is usually the most damaging and stain-causing substance, although poop and vomit can also cause damage and stains.
The ammonia found in urine has the potential to be extremely toxic.
Depending on how much urine gets absorbed into the wood, it might generate black staining.
Along with the scent, the wood retains its shape.
If the stains are not too old and are not too deep, you may be able to get rid of them on your own.
On the other hand, sometimes pet mess requires sanding or even the replacement of the wood.
Using Natural Ingredients to Remove Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors
It is possible to purchase commercial pet stain removal remedies; however, using stuff you already have in your home may prove to be more effective.
When it comes to cleaning up a pee stain on a wood floor, white vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are all popular choices.
White vinegar is well-known for its disinfecting and deodorizing properties, which might be beneficial in dealing with pet stains.
Mix one cup of white vinegar with a bucket of warm water to create your own homemade hardwood floor cleaning solution for use on your floors.
Incorporating grapefruit oil into the mix can help to reduce the stink even further.
Using this solution, scrub away at the stains until they are gone.
Another approach is to form a paste by combining vinegar and baking soda in equal parts.
Allow the paste to dry on the stain for a few minutes before wiping it away. Baking soda can also be used to soak up any liquids that you employ to erase the stains from your clothes.
Hydrogen peroxide should be soaked into a cloth. Place the towel over the stain to protect it.
For best results, leave it on for at least eight hours or overnight to allow it to do its job on the stain completely and thoroughly.
The hydrogen peroxide aids in the removal of both the stain and the odor from the carpet.
It may be necessary to keep the hydrogen peroxide on for a longer period of time or to repeat the method in order to remove more of the stain.
Because it has the potential to discolor the area of the floor, plan on doing some sanding and refinishing work after using this procedure.
Products Made from Wood Bleach
Specifically intended to brighten wood, wood bleach is a specialized chemical with a long shelf life.
It is possible that wood bleach will be effective in eliminating a lighter pet stain.
It’s usually most successful if you sand the afflicted area first so that the bleach can truly permeate the wood and work its magic.
Never deviate from the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific wood bleach product you’ve chosen.
Work in a well-ventilated environment while wearing gloves to keep yourself and others from getting sick.
WHITENING WITH WHITE VINEGAR AND GRAPEFRUIT OIL
Ordinary white vinegar, which you probably already have in your kitchen and is well-known as a natural cleaner and deodorant, is an excellent tool for eradicating these stains.
One cup of vinegar should be added to a bucket filled with warm water, and then a few drops of grapefruit oil can be added to get rid of the unpleasant odor.
Scrub the floor with this non-toxic cleaning solution, paying particular attention to the most visible stains. As you scrape, you should notice that the odor and spots are diminishing.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE is a chemical compound that decomposes into water and oxygen
Depending on the severity of the stain, you may need to soak the spots in hydrogen peroxide for an extended period of time.
To begin, clean the spots with a peroxide-soaked cloth and set them aside to dry completely.
The stain should be covered with a paper towel or Soft Wipe that has been wet with peroxide if the stains and odor are not completely gone.
Leave each towel on each blemished region for a few hours, checking repeatedly every hour to see if the stain has begun to come out of the skin.
Once the stain has been removed, keep in mind that the color of your floor will most likely exhibit some degradation, necessitating the need for some refinishing afterward.
SODA FOR COOKING
In the process of figuring out how to remove pet stains, keep in mind that baking soda can be used to finish the vinegar or peroxide cleaning procedure by absorbing any remaining moisture or residue and deodorizing the area.
Baking soda should be applied in a thick layer over the affected area.
After about an hour, vacuum the carpet. If it’s still wet, continue the process until it’s dry.
CLEANER WITH ENZYMATIC ACTION
According to Animal Planet, enzyme-based cleaners are non-toxic and particularly good at removing urine stains and odors from carpets and upholstery.
Several enzyme cleaners are available that are designed specifically to combat pet scents.
Natural enzymes are used by these cleaners to neutralize and eliminate urine completely; however, you must follow the manufacturer’s directions and apply the cleaner directly to the region where the urine is soaking up.
It’s important to remember that, for more stubborn stains and odors, any of these procedures may need to be performed several times until the stain and odor are entirely gone.
The mess, on the other hand, poses no threat to the structural integrity of your home with a little elbow grease.
Understand, however, that the stain and cleaning process may have an adverse effect on the wood, necessitating a minor sanding or touch-up.
Cleaning and nourishing the wood on a regular basis with cleaning cloths and a brushless vacuum is also recommended.
Pets are required by nature on a daily basis, so taking the dogs out or changing the kitty litter on a regular basis might help reduce unneeded inside filth.
Always be on the lookout for pets who are having strange accidents and take them to the veterinarian, who may be able to provide you with extra ideas on how to keep the waste in the proper location.
What to Do If You Find Pet Stains
It can be disheartening to see pet stains on your floor.
Quick action, on the other hand, can lessen the damage.
The first step is to get rid of any extra fluid or substance.
Blot the area with a cloth or paper towel, beginning at the borders and working your way in. Starting near the core of the stain may cause it to spread, inflicting damage to a larger region.
After you’ve cleaned up most of the mess, it’s time to deal with the stain and any lingering stench.
Use one of the ways we have shown above; they are all-natural and safe to use in family settings.
Is Pet Urine Harmful to Hardwood Floors?
Hardwood floors are porous, and even if they are sealed, urine can cause harm.
If your pet left a stain where you didn’t detect it, the fluids could have soaked into the wood.
In many circumstances, the hardwood flooring may need to be sanded and refinished.
This will, however, only work if the stain is shallow. If the stain is too deep, you may have to replace the wood totally.
BONUS: How to Remove the Smell of Dog Urine From Hardwood Floors
There are numerous industrial cleaners on the market that claim to remove pet urine odors from the flooring.
When wondering how to remove dog urine odor from hardwood floors without using chemical-based cleaners, consider using pantry items to make an efficient natural solution.
Caution: Before using any cleaning or odor elimination solution on your hardwood flooring, test it in an inconspicuous area first (such as a corner or rug-covered area).
1 cup water, 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1/4 mild dish soap can be used to make a DIY odor removal solution.
Shake the solution ingredients vigorously in a clean spray container to combine. Allow the solution to remain for about 15 minutes after spraying it on the stain and lightly wiping it in with a clean cloth.
Allow drying completely after wiping away the solution with a moist cloth.
This solution can also be used to remove cat urine odors from carpets and furniture upholstery.
Before using on carpet or upholstery, test in an inconspicuous area.
Our Final Thoughts
Pets and hardwood flooring aren’t always a good combination.
Your hardwood can take a battering from dog claw scratches and pet stains.
The secret to removing stains and odors from hardwood floors is to act quickly to clean up poo, vomit, and urine stains.
However, there may be occasions when you need to do a bit more to remove dark patches or scents that have soaked into the wood.
Frequently Ask Questions
How do you get dog stains out of hardwood floors?
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) mixed with water is frequently the cheapest and most efficient treatment for cleansing animal urine.
Simply moisten a rag or soft absorbent material, such as felt, and apply it to the affected area.
Allow the rag to sit for a few hours to eliminate the urine stain and odor from the hardwood flooring completely.
How can you get rid of black pee stains on hardwood floors?
The first step is to combine white vinegar and water in a 1-1 ratio.
Rub the solution on the urine stain with a sponge.
Allow at least five minutes for the solution to sit before wiping it down with a clean, dry towel. If the odor remains, put baking soda on the damp floor.
How do you remove dog urine from hardwood floors?
Wipe the urine from the floor, spray hydrogen peroxide on the discolored spots, then cover them with a piece of cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide for 15-20 minutes to remove dog urine that has soaked into your hardwood floor.
To remove the stink and stains, clean the floor as usual.