How to Clean the Smell of Urine From My Home

Pet urine on couches can cause homes to smell unpleasant.

Pet and human urine on fabrics, upholstery and carpet can cause homes to smell unpleasant. Urine odors persist until liquid and stains are completely removed from surfaces. The longer urine stains remain, the more difficult odors are to remove. Untreated pet urine stains and odors encourage animals to continue urinating in inappropriate areas. Promptly clean affected surfaces to improve a home's aroma and overall living environment.

Things You'll Need

• Non-dyed cotton cloth
• Enzyme laundry detergent
• Washing machine
• Chlorine or oxygen bleach
• Plastic bowl
• 1 tbsp. liquid dish soap
• 2 cups cool water
• Clean sponge
• Spray bottle
• Wet vacuum
• Enzyme odor neutralizer

Instructions

Fabrics and Washable Items

1. Dampen a non-dyed cotton cloth with warm water. Blot the fabric with the damp cloth to lift any remaining urine.

2. Apply enzyme laundry detergent directly to the area affected with urine. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the product's label. Keep the detergent on the fabric for the recommended amount of time.

3. Launder the fabric in a washing machine according to the directions on the garment's care tag. Add chlorine bleach to the wash if it's safe for the fabric. If the item is damaged by chlorine bleach, use oxygen bleach instead. Follow the manufacturer's directions.

4. Allow the fabric to air-dry. Repeat the process if any trace of urine odor remains.

Carpet and Upholstery

1. Fill a plastic bowl with 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap and 2 cups of cool water. Thoroughly mix the solution.

2. Dampen a clean sponge in the soapy solution. Blot the surface with the damp sponge until the liquid is absorbed.

3. Fill a spray bottle with cool water. Spray the carpet or upholstery with the cool water.

4. Extract the water and remaining urine with a wet vacuum. Operate the wet vacuum according to the manufacturer's directions.

5. Sprinkle an enzyme odor neutralizer over the carpet or upholstery. Use an odor neutralizer specifically for pet urine, if applicable. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the product's label.

6. Extract the odor neutralizer from the surface using the wet vacuum. Repeat the process if any trace of urine remains on the carpet or upholstery.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace urine-soaked carpet padding to completely eliminate urine odors.

• Test all products and solutions on an inconspicuous area of the surface to ensure no damage or discoloration occurs.

• Never use cleaning chemicals containing ammonia or vinegar on pet urine stains; these products encourage pets to continue urinating on the affected area.

• Never use steam cleaners; the urine odor will become permanently embedded in the surface.

References

• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Buster - Urine
• The Humane Society of the United States: Removing Pet Stains and Odors