6 Ways to Remove Dog Urine Odor From a Couch

Dogs have accidents, and removing the smell can be challenging when they happen on a couch. No one wants to hang out on a sofa that smells like dog pee. There are many ways to clean a couch that a dog has peed on, but before you get started, check the care tags on your cushions to ensure you avoid doing anything that could cause permanent damage to the material.

Remove the cushions from the couch, take off the covers if possible, and throw them in the washing machine if they are washable. If your cushions are washable, you can wash them in the bathtub with oxygen bleach.

Push the foam into the water until it is saturated and then drain the tub, refill it with water and soap, and rewash the cushion a second time. Fill the tub with clean water and push the cushion under the surface until it is fully rinsed. Squeeze out as much water as possible but ensure you do not change the cushion's shape. Wrap the cushion in towels to dry and keep replacing the towels with dry ones as needed. On sunny days, put the cushion outside to dry where the sun can also help eliminate any remaining odors.

Do a smell test to see if the odor remains. If it's gone, replace the cover and put the cushion back on the couch. If it's not, set the cover aside until you remove the odor from the foam.

If your couch cushions can't be removed and washed in the tub, you may want to use an upholstery cleaner. Small upholstery cleaners are perfect for targeting spots on sofas, carpets, and mattresses, so if your pet has had a lot of accidents in the house, this is an excellent investment.

White vinegar can neutralize the enzymes that make dog urine stink. Add 2/3 cup of vinegar to a 16-ounce spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Spray the solution on the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then blot the vinegar with a clean, dry towel.

Baking soda helps eliminate odors and absorb moisture, so it's a perfect follow-up treatment for a vinegar spray. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the area and then let it sit overnight before cleaning up the powder with a vacuum.

Pet urine stains are notoriously difficult to clean because they smell much stronger than human urine. To make matters worse, dogs are more likely to pee in an area if they smell even the slightest trace of urine. An enzyme-based cleaner with a repellent is an excellent way to eliminate the unpleasant odor while discouraging pets from having more accidents in the same spot.

If you can't get rid of the odor or if your couch is too delicate to be washed with water-based cleansers, you may need to hire a professional upholstery cleaner. These experts have the tools and know-how to get your sofa looking (and smelling) its best.