How to Remove Dog Urine and Blackened Stains From Wood Floors

Restore the beauty of your hardwood floors by removing stains.

Removing dog urine and blackened stains from wood floors takes a bit of concentration and patience. Before attempting to remove urine or stains from floors in your home, it is important to determine what type of floors you have. Knowing whether you have a wax or surface finished floor will determine the best method of removing the stain. If the stain has penetrated the floor finish and has seeped into the wood, you have a wax floor. If the stain has penetrated the wood finish only, you have a surface sealed floor.

Things You'll Need

• Light grit sandpaper
• Mineral spirits
• #000 steel wool
• Wood stain
• Floor wax
• Bleach or vinegar
• Water
• Urethane floor cleaner
• Scrub pad

Instructions

Wax Finish Floors

1. Lightly sand the affected area of the wood floor to remove the top layer of wax.

2. Apply mineral spirits or wood cleaner to a piece of #000 steel wool and rub the solution into the dark stain until it is clean.

3. Allow the wood to dry thoroughly.

4. If a blackened stain is still present, apply either household bleach or vinegar to the stain and allow it to sit for an hour. Rinse the area with clean water, wipe dry, and sand lightly. The floor can then be stained, waxed, and buffed.

Surface Sealed Floors

1. Clean the dog urine or blackened stains with a cleanser made specifically for urethane finished floors. These specialized cleaners can be purchased at hardware stores and in the cleaning aisle of some grocery stores.

2. Scrub the area well to remove the stain.

3. If necessary, use a scrub pad approved for use on urethane floors to work the cleaner into the stain. Continue to scrub the stain until it has been completely removed.

References

• National Wood Flooring Association: Renewal and Repairs