EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO SAVE YOUR PRECIOUS HARDWOOD FLOOR FROM DOG URINE.
Most of our houses have hardwood floors. Besides being aesthetically pleasing it is the base of construction for most houses since it is both, a permanent flooring, which can go on for years as well as temporary flooring to make future renovations easier.
As for the pet owners, namely dog owners are faced with difficulties when their dog urinates on their hardwood flooring. To begin with it, might seem like a small trivial matter and owners usually just wipe it off and assume that fixes the issue. Those who have had dog urine for a long time on their hardwood floor can notice the detrimental effect dog urine has, as it eats away at the flooring. With proper care and quick actions this can all be avoided.
This is all you will need to know about dog urine soaking into hardwood floors and how to tackle the situation.
Dog Urine Effect on Hardwood Floors
Before continuing with all this, it is important to know what dog urine actually is so that you can know exactly what it is doing to your hardwood floors.
Dog urine is comprised of uric acid which is known to break through the protective layer of hardwood floors, exposing it to further damage. The ammonia in the urine further damages the wood inside causing microbes and bacteria to spread throughout the unprotected wood.
From the start of the exposure of the urine to the hardwood floor to it being perforated, there will be a bad lingering stench of urine which will only get worse with time. No amount of deodorizer can completely remove the smell since it has reached the depths of the wood. Over the course of time, the damage spreads deep into the surface of the wood and causes swelling which spreads to the other panels. The chaotic effect of dog urine can cause thousands of dollars in repair if left untreated. Swift and proper action is required in order to completely eliminate this threat.
What To Do When Your Dog Urinates On Your Hardwood Floors
When you notice your beloved pet has urinated on your hardwood floor, it is necessary to take action immediately. Do not panic, since the methods mentioned here will greatly help you to completely eliminate the threat of further damage. Stay calm and make sure to read on the steps.
Two scenarios are listed below on dog urine removal. The first scenario tells you how to deals with old dried-up urine on hardwood floors and the second scenario deal with recent dog urine on your hardwood floor which is still wet. Read on further before continuing to tackle the situation.
Old Dried Up Urine on Hardwood Floors
The next methods will help you clean up old dog urine that has been dried up and left forgotten. Follow the steps carefully since your floor might even need a new protective coating after cleaning out the affected areas.
Distilled Vinegar + Dishwasher + Baking soda Solution
The use of vinegar, baking soda and dishwashing liquid has been proved to be a strong cleaning agent, especially for those old dried up patches of dog urine which might be eating away at your hardwood floor. Follow the steps carefully and you will see the best desired results.
To start things off, you should get yourself a bowl and get ready to make a mixture. Mix one halves of water and white vinegar together in the bowl. Next add a teaspoon of baking soda and stir to properly mix the baking soda. Add a tablespoon of liquid dish-washing liquid, mix well and complete the mixture.
The next step will require some tedious work since it is dried dog urine. Pour some of the mixture over the affected area and use a cotton ball to dab and rub the area making sure to gently clean out the top layer. The mixture might seep in through the damaged sections of the wood but this would be fine as it will clean out the wood from within. Leave the area as it is for a good amount of time and let it do its magic.
This mixture will remove stench and stain while neutralizing the uric acid that soaked into the wood. After an hour, use a microfiber mop to clean out the area of the mixture. You will notice the area is cleaner than it was before. Repeat the process to get the best results.
Recent Dog Urine On Hardwood Floor
In the case your pet has just urinated on the hardwood floor, do not panic and read the steps carefully to ensure proper cleaning. The sooner you act, the more effectively you can clean out the urine.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has been a staple in DIY cleaning because of its reliability in neutralizing harmful chemicals in anything which is affected by any harmful pollutants. When it comes to cleaning dog urine, it can prove to he especially helpful especially in the occurrence of recent dog urination. It may be used to clean your hardwood floors with utmost efficiency. When you notice your dog has urinated on your hardwood floor, so not panic.
The first step is to use paper towel to soak in as much of the urine as you can. Once it is dried enough you will proceed to sprinkle baking soda over the affected area.
Next, cover the area with a cloth or a mat and leave overnight. This is a rather lengthy process since thorough cleaning is required. The baking soda will neutralize the dog urine and prevent further damage while also removing the stench and staining. Once it is left over night, take off the covering and vacuum off the residual baking soda.
You may need to repeat the process a few times to completely reverse the damage and in time your floor will be restored to its prime.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Cleaning anything at home can be made easy with the use of hydrogen peroxide. It not only helps remove stains but also clears out any intrusive pollutants. In the case of dog urine on hardwood floors, it can prove to be a valuable cleaning agent. The process of cleaning floors with hydrogen peroxide is a rather lengthy procedure and it requires your patience and we assure you that it will pay off.
Start by cleaning off excess urine and moisture using a paper towel. Use several paper towels in succession to dry it out completely. After drying it out, Lay some paper towels over the affected area and pour hydrogen peroxide on the paper towel covering the affected area. Let the paper towel soak completely and leave it overnight until it is dried. Lift up the paper towel and you will notice a slight improvement.
Repeat the process of leaving the affected area covered on paper towel soaked with hydrogen peroxide for up to a week to completely reverse the damage.
Hair Developer Solution
Hair Developer solution is basically a bleaching agent for hair to turn dark hair blond. This is especially useful for oak floors which suffer horrible staining after dog urination. The trick is to use it carefully and thoroughly and you may be able to restore your floor back to how it was.
Once the excess urine is cleaned, use a sander to gently remove the affected top film of the hardwood. After a little bit of sanding, apply hair developer and leave it covered. Check the area in intervals of 10 minutes so as to not overdo in stain removing. The hair developer will also neutralize the harmful effect of dog urine and remove stench. After about 20 minutes wash away the covering and scrub with a brush of necessary.
The results will please you and if it doesn’t then it might need some repetitions.
Professional Solution For Dog Urine
Nature’s Miracle Stain Remover
Nature’s Miracle Hardwood Floor cleaner is a well known solution for any sort of cleaning of hardwood floors and it proves to be very useful when it comes to dog urine since it is especially designed to restore hardwood floors to their prime. The solution will break down old dried up uric acid and prevent further damaging. Just spray nature’s miracle on the affected area and wipe it off after a time using a microfiber mop and you will notice the difference.
How To Use
Stink Free Stain Remover
Stink Free stain remover is another readily available product on the market which can prove to be useful in the case of dog urine. It is designed to clean anything and everything which is related to biological contamination. Stink-free also offers a UV light which is used to detect the areas where there might be dog urine that you may not normally see. Once you find the affected area just spray Stink Free and let it sit for a while. You may clean it off with a microfiber mop once it has dried and see the results as it thoroughly cleans out all contamination.
How To Use
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Bona Hardwood floor cleaner is one of those very reliable products available online which will take total care of your hardwood floors and it proves useful against dog urine contamination. This product is readily available on Amazon along with a specially designed microfiber mop to help clean out the floor after using Bona Floor Cleaner. This combo is on our recommended list of professional solutions.
Tips and Tricks
- In case of dog urination, clean out the urine as soon as possible
- After cleaning urine off the floor make sure to deodorize the area so dogs don’t urinate again.
- If unsure of what to do, it is best to seek help from professionals.
- Know the type of wood your flooring is made out of and what sort of coating it has before proceeding.
Conclusion
Dog urination on hardwood floors is a dangerous accident that can cause serious damage if left unattended. Immediate action is best to keep your hardwood floors safe. The aforementioned methods can greatly help to clean out the hardwood floors but it requires some amount of effort. Professional and industrial methods can help clean out the contamination’s faster and with more accuracy. Dog urination on hardwood floors shouldn’t be a problem if you know what to do once you’ve read all the methods.
