How to Remove Pet Odors From Wood Floors

Wood is very absorbent.

Unfortunately, wood absorbs everything including pet odors, and removing pet odors from hardwood can be a tedious process. If your pet urinates, the best case scenario would be to get to the puddle as soon as possible, blot with vinegar then spray the area with a bacteria/enzyme spray. This way the urine will not penetrate too deep. If your problem is that the hardwood floor is already penetrated with pet odors there is an inexpensive way to try to get these odors out without the need of paying a professional.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge mop
• Bucket
• 1/2 gallon water
• 1/2 gallon bleach
• Disinfectant air freshener

Instructions

1. Pour the water and the bleach in the bucket. Dip the sponge mop in the liquid.

2. Mop a small area that isn't visible to make sure the bleach will not discolor the hardwood floor. If the floor is not discolored, continue to mop the entire floor with the bleach water mix.

3. Let the floor air dry for two hours. Repeat.

4. Let the floor dry. Spray air freshener in the area with the odor.

5. Repeat the process every three days for a few days until the odor is completely gone. If necessary treat hardwood floor with wood finish product.

Tips & Warnings

• If bleach does not do the trick, wet the affected area and then sprinkle baking soda on the wet surface. Let the surface air dry and then vacuum the baking soda.

• Using bleach on your hardwood floors may cause the wood to discolor. Test a small area before fully mopping the hardwood with bleach.

References

• Biocide Systems: How to Remove Pet Odors