Tips To Help You Remove Unsightly Pet Stains From Your Hardwood Floors

13 January 2017
 Categories: , Articles


Your dog is a beloved member of the family and you couldn't imagine your home without it. Unfortunately, your furry family member continues to relieve itself on your beautiful hardwood floors. Even if you do your best to eliminate the urine, it can still leave behind an unsightly, and very noticeable, black stain. Don't allow your best friend's bladder control issues to ruin your hardwoods, and instead, here is a step-by-step guide to eliminating black urine stains from your floor:

A Word of Caution Before You Begin

Before you try any of the products listed below on your hardwoods, it is important to test them on an inconspicuous area. For example, pick up a piece of furniture and test underneath it or in the corner where no one can see it. This will help ensure that any products do not stain or damage the hardwoods.

If you notice that your hardwoods are stained or damaged by the products mentioned below, contact a professional to tackle this issue. A professional cleaning company will have the products and know-how to eliminate the urine stains without damaging your hardwood flooring.

Start with Cat Litter, Baking Soda, and Vinegar

If you notice a fresh urine stain, or catch your dog in the act, it is important to act quickly. Begin by soaking up as much of the urine as you can with a paper towel. Once you eliminate the puddle, sprinkle kitty litter or baking soda on the affected area. Both of these products will soak a lot of the lingering liquid before it has time to soak into the hardwoods.

After a few hours, scoop up the baking soda or kitty litter with a small shovel and toss it away. Next, begin working at the stain that was left behind. This technique will also work on older stains, as well.

Mix together baking soda and white vinegar until you create a paste. Cover the stained area with a thick coating of the paste and let it sit for several minutes. Finally, work the paste into the stain with an old toothbrush. Continue to gently work the paste into the stain until it is eliminated. Once the stain is gone, wipe away the paste with a damp towel.

Try Hydrogen Peroxide Next

If the baking soda and white vinegar mixture wasn't effective, move on to hydrogen peroxide, next. There are several different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, and chances are the one you will find at your pharmacy or grocery store is 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, which is the ideal concentration for this job.

Before handling hydrogen peroxide, open the windows and slip on a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles. Next, soak a cotton swab with the hydrogen peroxide and carefully work it into the stains. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it away. You may need to apply it several times before it is effective.

If you begin to notice the hydrogen peroxide is damaging or bleaching your hardwood flooring, stop using it immediately.

Should You Call a Professional?

If you've tried the baking soda and vinegar mixture and hydrogen peroxide and neither one was effective, it's time to call in a professional. Your hardwood flooring is very expensive and can easily be damaged, so don't try to take on removing this difficult stain yourself, and instead, contact a professional for assistance. Remember, it will much more expensive to replace your hardwood flooring, so don't take a chance with your investment.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly 37 percent of households in the United States own a dog. If you are amongst these proud dog owners, chances are you will deal with a lot of stains, especially urine stains. Luckily, with the right products and a little elbow grease, it's possible to eliminate urine stains from your beautiful hardwood floors. 

For more information, contact a company like Boss Systems Carpet Cleaning.


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