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How to Clean Pet Pee Out of Wood Floors

We adore our furry friends but it’s the worst when they pee indoors, and we have to try and get that awful, lingering smell out of the house. When pets pee on our wooden floors, it can be even worse. Wood absorbs liquid, and that pungent smell can get trapped in wooden flooring and linger for weeks if not cleaned up properly.

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How to Clean Pet Pee Out of Wood Floors

In this blog, we will give you tips on how to deep clean wooden floors if they’ve been urinated on by your favourite furry companion.

How Does Pet Urine Affect Wood Floors?

Wood is a porous material, whether sealed or unsealed and so when a pet urinates on the wooden floors, the liquid can seep into the wood and get trapped in the subfloor underneath the floorboard. This can lead to the subfloor rotting and damaging the entire floor structure completely as well as leaving black marks and stains. Apart from the damage, the odour left when the urine is left on the floor can be an extremely pungent smell.

Steps to Cleaning Pet Pee on Wood Floors

If you follow these two steps on how to clean wooden floor tiles or wooden floors, you’ll eliminate the possibility of damage and odour.

#1 - Soak Up the Urine on Your Floor

If possible, soak up the pee on your floor as soon as it happens. This is obviously only possible if you’ve seen it happen. If you can smell something, but haven’t seen it happen, do your best to find the site of the urine as quickly as possible. You can use an old bath towel to soak up as much urine as possible, lay it down and stand on the towel for added pressure. Leave it there to soak up the urine for a few minutes before removing and washing it.

#2 - Eliminate the Urine Stain and Odour

Once you’ve soaked up as much of the liquid as possible, it’s time to clean the stain properly and eliminate the odour. For a natural wooden floor cleaning spray, create a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, and spray it on the affected area. Rub it gently with a soft microfibre cloth and rinse well afterwards.

Alternatively, use Handy Andy Cream Cleaner as a great multipurpose cleaner that is perfect for getting rid of stains on wood flooring. With Handy Andy, there is no residue left behind so there is no need to rinse your flooring afterwards, saving you time. If you use Handy Andy, you’ll know how to get wooden floors clean and shiny every single time!

If you’re still struggling with the smell of pet pee after you’ve cleaned your flooring, why not try these great tips for deodorising your wooden floors:

  • Create a DIY spray with your favourite essential oils and water and spray it onto your floors.

  • Shake a little baking soda over the affected area to soak up any odours that might still occur. Leave the baking soda overnight and wipe it up with a damp, clean cloth in the morning.

Tips For Pets That Pee Inside

If you’re struggling with a pet that constantly pees inside, there are a few tips to try and prevent them from peeing on your favourite rug or expensive wood flooring.

Use a pee mat. You’ll be able to find these at your local vet or pet store and they seem to work like a charm. You can place the mat or mats in several spots in your home and train your dog to pee only on these mats. They can be thrown away (if paper) or washed and reused (if rubber).

There are certain essential oils that dogs and cats generally don’t like. Mix several drops of these oils with water and put them into a spray bottle. Spray in the areas where they commonly pee to try and deter them from urinating there again. Try these essential oils for best results: citrus, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and mint.

Apart from pet pee, is pet fur around the home annoying you too? Learn how to get rid of irritating pet fur in our blog Getting Rid of Pet Dander: Everything You Need To Know.

For more homecare tips and tricks, visit Cleanipedia today.

FAQs

What kills pet urine smell on wood floors?

Read our blog for ideas on neutralising pet pee smells from using essential oils to baking soda.

Does dog pee soak into wood floor?

If it is not cleaned up and it is left, it will seep into wooden floors and can create a nasty, smelly problem.

What neutralizes dog urine on wood?

If you’re struggling with the smell even after you’ve cleaned, read our blog for tips on how to create natural sprays to neutralize the smell.

How do you fix dog pee-damaged wood floors?

You can clean wooden floors if they have been urinated on by pets, if you catch it in enough time. If they are damaged beyond repair, you may need to consider reflooring that area.

How do you treat wood for urine?

Read our blog for the two easy steps to cleaning up urine from wooden flooring.

Originally published