How to Fix Pet Stains on Hardwood Floors

Pet accidents on hardwood floors can leave stains if left unattended.

Pet accidents are bound to happen, sooner or later, when you have dogs or cats. Regardless of your pet's age or health condition, the occasional accident can happen on your hardwood floor. Because of its porous nature, hardwood floors absorb stains quickly. Cleaning up a pet stain quickly and thoroughly is the best approach to removing pet stains from hardwood floors. But, with a little extra effort, even older stains can be removed.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Trash bag
• Bowl
• White vinegar
• Old towels
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Plastic wrap
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Vacuum
• Wood finish
• Paint brush

Instructions

1. Remove as much of the urine or feces as possible from the hardwood floors with paper towels, switching to clean paper towels when necessary. Discard the soiled paper towels in a trash bag.

2. Combine equal parts water and white vinegar in a bowl. Dip an old towel in the solution and use it to wipe up any remaining urine or feces from the floor.

3. Soak an old towel with hydrogen peroxide. Place the wet towel on any remaining pet stain that has been absorbed into the wood of the hardwood floor. Put plastic wrap over the towel and leave the stain remover in place overnight.

4. 

   Sandpaper's abrasiveness buffs stains out of the wood.

   Remove the towel and plastic wrap from the floor and wipe the floor with diluted vinegar. Dry the floor with a clean towel. Rub out any remaining stain or discoloration from the pet accident by sanding the hardwood floor with 100-grit sandpaper.

5. 

   Always brush with the grain of the wood for a natural-looking finish.

   Vacuum up the dust from sanding the hardwood floor. Touch up the floor with a wood finish, using a paint brush. Find a matching wood finish by comparing samples from the hardware store to your existing finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Always sand with the grain of the wood so you don't scratch the surface.

• Thorough cleaning is important following a pet accident so bacteria doesn't remain in the wood, causing odors.

References

• The Humane Society: Removing Pet Stains and Odors
• Old House Web: Best Solutions for Removing Old Pet Urine Stains From Hardwood Floors