How to Remove Urine

Urine stains are one of the most dreaded in the home. While the stain is often easy to remove, the odor may persist. Carpets, upholstery, and mattresses are often the location of human and animal urine stains. Animal urine is not harder to remove, but it has to be cleaned up completely so the pet will not be drawn by the odor to soil that area again. Using the proper tools and cleansers it is possible to remove both the stain and the odor of human and animal urine.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Rags
• White vinegar
• Oxygenated bleach
• Baking soda
• Water
• Vacuum

1. Blot the stain with dry paper towels to remove the moisture. Change the paper towels as they become damp. Avoid scrubbing the stain, as this will work it into the fibers of the material you are cleaning.

2. Soak a rag in white vinegar and gently rub the stain and the area surrounding it. Use another rag soaked in clean water to blot up the excess vinegar. Allow to air dry completely.

3. Mix 1 part oxygenated bleach with 1 part water. Rub this mixture into the stained area with a rag. It will disinfect and remove any lingering traces of the urine.

4. Apply a liberal coating of baking soda to the area when it is dry. Leave the baking soda on the area overnight and vacuum it up the next day to remove the last traces of odor.

Tips & Warnings

• The sooner you clean the stain the easier it will be to remove.

• Ammonia is a powerful odor and stain remover but may encourage cats to soil the area again. Wear gloves and work in a well ventilated area when cleaning stains.

Resources

• More tips for cleaning urine stains.