If you have pets, then more than likely you have or have had, pet stains. These stains can be hard to remove and the top complaint among pet owners? Urine smell. Ew! Urine can be removed, though many people are unfamiliar with the process. Enzyme cleaners, urine removers, and other stop-scent products fill shelves at grocery stores and pet stores. But, do they work?

In my experience, most urine smell removers do not work as well as plain white vinegar. Vinegar neutralizes the alkaline of the urine. If at all possible, blot up the urine as quickly as you can, then pour white vinegar over it, soaking thoroughly. If you are using this remedy on wood and the wood has old stains, you may need to try several times to get the urine smell out.

For wood floors: Blot with a towel, then rub with white vinegar for fresh stains. For older stains and a worked in ‘pee’ smell, soak a cloth in vinegar and place over the area to be cleaned. Leave it for 2 hours, then change. Allow to dry, check the area for any remaining scent. Repeat until the smell is gone.

For carpet: Soak the area with vinegar immediately. Urine may be absorbing into the carpet very quickly, so time is of the essence to avoid needing to repeat this step. Allow to absorb, then blot with an old towel. If any scent remains after the carpet is dry, cover thickly with baking soda and allow it to sit for as long as possible. If you have children, this should be performed at night, when they are sleeping to avoid them playing in the baking soda.

Concrete floors: Concrete floors can benefit from enzyme cleaners. It is porous and allows the enzymes to work deeply. The enzyme cleaners should sit on the cement/concrete area and kept wet overnight for the best results. This should not be attempted with wood due to warping, cracking, and possible splintering.

Clothing and other fabrics: Run the clothing through a cold water wash with a cup or even two of white vinegar. Do not dry! Perform another wash with your normal detergent, add a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Check for scent after each wash! If there is not a detectable urine smell, dry the clothing. Never dry clothing in the dryer that has remaining smells or stains, as the heat will cause the stains to set, sometimes permanently.

Upholstery: Use a spray bottle filled with pure vinegar, soak the area. Blot, repeat until smell is gone. In some cases, the fabric should not be soaked,. If your furniture is covered with fabric that should not be washed, try covering the area with a thick layer of baking soda and proceeding as you would if it were carpet.


Items to have:

Vinegar
Baking Soda
Old towels
Enzyme solution

Steps:
Soak
Blot
Check for scent
Repeat if needed.