Dog Urine Stain Removal: Hardwood Floors

Getting the smell of dog urine out of hardwood floors can be challenging, especially if you aren’t home to clean the mess immediately and it soaks in. As the dog urine breaks down and crystallizes, the urine odor permeates the porous surface of the floor boards. Dried uric acid crystals stain the wood, turning it black in cases of repeat pet urine soiling due to the acidic urine burning tannins in the wood. Regular hardwood floor cleaners may remove the stain, but they will rarely eliminate the dog urine smell. Make sure you treat the area to remove the stain and the urine smell before sanding or refinishing your hardwood floors; the heat of sanding will bake urine crystals into the wood, making odor removal nearly impossible.

Before you start cleaning, it’s a good idea to test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous location before applying it to the urine stains to make sure the cleaning solutions do not bleach or stain your hardwood floors.

Store-Bought Pet Urine Odor and Stain Remover

1. Purchase a urine-removing cleaner containing bio-enzymes to eliminate urine odors. Make sure the cleaner you purchase is safe for use on hardwood floors.
2. Use a hand-held black light to locate all pet urine stains, which will glow green. Mark the stained areas by outlining them with chalk.
3. Follow the directions on the label of the cleaner to remove the stains. Saturate the urine stains with cleaner.
4. Use a plastic sheet to cover the stained areas for half an hour. This will keep the cleaner from evaporating and allow the cleaner to break down the urine crystals.
5. Wipe the stained areas with paper towels.
6. Repeat steps three through five until the stains are lighter and the urine odor is eliminated.
7. Moist mop the previously stained areas. Allow the floor boards to dry thoroughly.

Homemade Pet Urine Odor and Stain Remover

1. Use a hand-held black light to locate all urine stains, which will glow green. Mark the stained areas by outlining them with chalk.
2. Use paper towels to blot up as much of the dog urine as possible.
3. Mix together three parts water and one part vinegar. Apply mixture to urine stains.
4. Use paper towels to blot the stained area, soaking up as much liquid as possible.
5. Allow the stained area to dry. Sprinkle baking soda over the stained area.
6. Mix 3/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide (3%) with one teaspoon dish detergent. Drizzle the mixture over the baking soda.
7. Work the baking soda into the wood using your fingers or an old brush. Allow to dry.
8. Vacuum the dried baking soda mixture.
9. Evaluate the area for odor. Repeat steps three through eight as necessary.