How to Remove Pet Odor from Hardwood Floors- A Step-by-Step Guide
Do you have a pet in the house? Well, if you do, you must love it dearly, just like a baby, feeding it, bathing it, and taking it to the toilet for training. But no matter how well these are trained or how well-groomed you keep them; pet odor can be one problem that you might have to deal with.
Although the pets have a smell of their own, it can be removed by regular grooming. However, what even after toilet training your pets, they end up creating a mess on the floor? The lingering urine smell can be hard to get rid of.
Thus, how to remove urine odor from wood floors? If your pet has done something messy, here are some tips to help you deal with it!
Although, hardwood floors are easy to clean, what can make you go crazy is the odor left behind by the pet. Remember, how last night your dog peed on the floor and you were left standing there in disbelief?
Even after cleaning the mess if you have been experiencing a bad odor in the house, it means you need to roll up your sleeves and get to cleaning it right away. How to get the urine smell out of hardwood floors?
Here is how you can do it:
1. Use White Vinegar
We have repeated this a million times that when you are looking for ways of how to get old dog urine smell out of hardwood floors or it is fresh, nothing can beat the wonders done by white vinegar.
But how do you use it? Just add some white vinegar in water, mix well and clean the area with this all-natural cleaner. That is correct! Because hardwood floors are delicate and you would not want to damage them with harsh cleaners, then there is no way better than using white vinegar for deodorizing.
The ingredient is found in every home and hence, makes a great cleaner not only to get rid of the germs but also germs.
2. Baking Soda Works Equally Well
What to do if you do not have white vinegar? You can use baking soda too! Yes, another ingredient is present in every household and super easy to use. Just sprinkle a good amount of baking soda on the hardwood floor, leave it for a few minutes and then vacuum to clean.
If you do not have a vacuum, use a damp cloth to clean the area and you should be good. Like white vinegar, baking soda is also a natural deodorizer and hence, will help you get rid of the pet urine smell no matter how old it is.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is easily available in supermarkets and hence, fully safe to use on hardwood floors. So how to get the urine smell out of hardwood floors using hydrogen peroxide?
Pour it directly on the stain, and blot the area with a cloth that is also dipped in hydrogen peroxide. Cover the cloth with some plastic, place some weight on top of it and leave it for at least 8 hours.
When the time is up, clean the place with a damp cloth and pat it dry. The best part of using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning is that it is safe to be used on hardwood and will not only remove the odor but also the stain.
Clean the Mess Quickly
Since we have already shared ways of how to get pee smell out of wood, you still need to understand that it will not go away in one wash especially if it is an old urine stain and odor.
So, basically when you see your pet making a mess, quickly jump into action. Use paper towels to remove the excess stain and for the rest, use a good cleaner that is hardwood friendly. The important thing is to clean the mess as quickly as possible because the quicker you do it, the easier it will be to get rid of the odor.
Moreover, when you have pets in the house, make sure you keep them well groomed and clean the floors regularly. If the need is, use air fresheners in the house and open the windows for ventilation. This way, you will be letting the fresh air in and the bad air out, freshening up your house and getting rid of any odor.
Also, it is important to toilet train your pets so accidents like these rarely happen. The quicker you are to train them, the less mess you will have to clean up and the fresher the air inside the house will be. Remember, pets are animals who will do what you will teach them and so, make sure you teach them to use the bathroom.
Call a Professional When Needed
Sometimes when the pet mess goes unnoticed or you are too busy to clean it, the odor can become stronger. Hence, it becomes nearly impossible for you to cater to it on your own. Thus, what can you do when you fail to remove the pet odor? How to get the smell out of hardwood floors when you have tried all remedies but to no avail?
Well, you can always hire professional cleaners for it! Professional cleaners are equipped with tools and products that help them get rid of pet smell in no time. Moreover, they will also get rid of the urine stain no matter how old and stubborn it is.
These professionals are an expert in their work and hence, when you find no way out and breathing in the smelly room becomes difficult, just book your slot with them. They will come all prepared for cleaning your hardwood floor and remove any pet odor that remains. Yes, they do charge for their service but is always worth it!
Train Your Dogs to Avoid Accidents
Is there any way you can avoid these accidents from happening? Yes, train your pets. Whether a dog or a cat, it is important to toilet train them so they do not make a mess all around the house.
Moreover, if you do see them doing something that they should not, always jump into action immediately. As soon as the pet urinates on the hardwood floor and you see them, grab a handful of paper towels and clean it right away before it leaves a stain.
And in case there is a stain, clean it with a good cleaner that is safe for the hardwood. This is necessary before the urine stain dries up and hence, the smell lingers around the house. Removing pet odor can be difficult especially if it becomes old. Hence, make sure you are quick to clean it.
Also, you can always rely on professional cleaners in such a situation. These people are always prepared for the worst and will take no time to clean the mess. They use products that are safe for hardwood floors and hence, will help get rid of the odor.
Relax and Enjoy!
Remember, you cannot use just any other cleaner on the hardwood floor because most stain or odor removers contain harsh chemicals like bleach, which will damage the hardwood floor. And so, in an attempt to remove pet urine stain and odor, you’ll end up damaging the floor, making it super expensive to get repaired.
So, when your pet stains the floor, clean up the mess and open the windows for ventilation because then this way, you’ll be getting rid of the odor and breathing in the fresh air.
John Wesley is passionate about cleaning industry especially vacuum cleaners. He is having more than a decade of experience in repairing and selling vacuum cleaners from a well known retail shop. When he’s not testing and reviewing latest vacuum cleaners for this site, he likes to spend time with his partner, 2 kids, and doing house projects.
