Dogs & Wooden Floors: How to Get Dog Urine Out of Your Wood Floor?

Dogs will be dogs. No matter how much time and effort you put into potty training, they will sometimes go potty on your wood floors just because they can. If that ever happens to you, you should not panic – cleaning dog urine from wood floors is possible and relatively easy!

If you look up how to get dog pee out of wood floor, you will come across dozens of different guides and recommendations. We have compiled some of the best, most effective practices to help you eliminate stains and odor left behind by your dog’s pee. So, read this guide to learn more on the topic!

Getting Dog Urine Out of the Wood Floor: What Do You Need?

Let’s say you come home to a stinky mess that your dog made on your beloved wood floors. What should you do? Should you go out and get pet stain removers or odor-eliminating sprays?

If you are a newbie pet owner, you might think so. But experienced owners will tell you that you can clean the same mess with things you already have at home. There is no need to waste time going to a pet store or spend money on products that might or might not be effective. You can do the cleaning with products such as the following:

• Protective gloves
• Paper towels
• White vinegar
• Dish soap
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
• Old rags
• Vacuum cleaner
• Pet stain remover (optional)

Whether you use all the listed products or just some will depend on the stain, how long it has been on the floor, how likely it is that the floor absorbed some of it, and so on. We recommend that you have all the products before you start with the cleaning and decide whether you will use them all or not as you go along.

How to Get Dog Pee Out of Wood Floor? Step-by-Step Instructions

Are you wondering how to get dog pee out of wood floor? Do not worry – we got you covered. We prepared a step-by-step manual that will tell you precisely what to do.

Step 1 – Soak up the dog pee

One of the first things you should know about dog pee is that it is very acidic and can damage your floor. No matter if you have sealed or unsealed wood floors, they can absorb the urine and adopt a faulty smell that will be more difficult to eliminate. So, you need to clean the pee as soon as possible.

When you first see the pee, open up all windows so the area can start to air out. Then, put on protective gloves, grab some paper towels, and begin cleaning.

Soak up most of the pee using towels. Do not rub the towels on the floor, as that can lead to damage and scratches. It will be best to gently dab the towels to remove the pee.

Step 2 – Clean the spot with hydrogen peroxide

Once you soak up most of the pee, inspect the area and see if your floor is stained. If it is, the pee has been on there for a while. But no worries – we can clean that up as well!

Pee stains on wood floors show that the floor has already absorbed some pee. You will need to remove the pee and prevent further absorption. You can do that with dish soap, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a clean rag.

Use a small bowl to mix a bit of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Soak the mixture and apply it to the pee stain using a rag. Keep it on the stain for at least 15 minutes so the products have enough time to work their magic. Then, grab a dry towel and dry the area. You do not want the hydrogen peroxide to stay on the floor for longer, as it can cause damage and discoloration.

Here is some advice against using hydrogen peroxide because it is a bit too harsh for wood floors. If you think it might cause damage, try doing a spot check first. You can use the hydrogen on the actual pee stain if the spot shows no damage.

Step 3 – Use baking soda to remove odors

After learning how to clean dog pee from wood floor, you will also need to learn how to remove the god-awful stench that the pee leaves behind. For this part, we recommend using some odor-neutralizing baking soda.

You might not know this, but baking soda has high pH levels that can easily break apart the acidity in dog pee to neutralize the smell. What’s more, baking soda is very affordable, and everyone has it at home, so it should not be a problem to grab and use it on your recently-peed-on floors.

You do not need too much baking soda, only a spoonful. Sprinkle it over the area, leaving it overnight. It will take about eight hours before the odor is completely removed. After that, you can sweep or vacuum the baking soda off the floor.

Sometimes, going in with one round of baking soda will be enough to clean the pee smell. But if you can still sense the odor after using the baking soda trick, you should go in with a second round of baking soda or some white vinegar. To learn how to get dog pee smell out of wood floor using vinegar, go into the next step.

Step 4 – Kill the germs with white vinegar

White vinegar is excellent at killing germs and removing odors. It can be extremely helpful when cleaning dog pee too, but we do not recommend using it on wood floors often as it can cause discoloration and damage.

Use a mixture of one part water and one part white vinegar every now and then. Soak a rag in the mixture and gently rub it on the floor. Then, wipe the area clean using a dry towel. Ensure the area is dry – if it is not, either air dry it or use a hair dryer to dry it thoroughly.

Optional step – Use a pet stain remover

If you do not want to clean dog pee off hardwood floors using household ingredients, you can always try using a pet stain remover. When choosing the remover, read the ingredient list carefully and ensure no harsh chemicals are in the solution. Otherwise, you risk damaging your floors.

Follow the instructions on the remover to safely remove the pee stains and odor. Then, clean the area to ensure no remover stays on the floor. Most removers are mild and do not get the job done, but you can always try using one to see what happens.

Optional step – Protect your floors

If you are a pet owner, it could be a good idea to seal your floors. This may be a significant investment, but it will be worth considering your floors will be better protected. You should also consider re-sealing the floors if they have been peed on by your furry friends a lot.

Nowadays, there are some great pet-friendly flooring options to explore. Pet-friendly floors will make cleaning and maintenance much easier for you if you plan on keeping your dogs in your house. So, think about that as well.

The Best Way To Clean Dog Pee Off Hardwood Floors

We hope this guide helped you learn how to get dog pee out of wooden floor with little to no effort and practically no investment. Remember that you should go through the entire process each time your dog pees in your house. If you leave even a drop of pee or some lingering smell, your dog will most likely go to that spot and pee on it again.

If you do not want to do the cleaning yourself, you can always contact us at Certified Clean Care and have our professionals clean your floors and make them spotless. Do not hesitate – book a consultation or give us a call today!

FAQ

How to remove the smell of dog urine from wood?

To remove the smell of dog urine from wood, whether wood floors or furniture, you will need to use either a ready-made odor-removal spray or a mixture of water and white vinegar. If you go with the former, use one that does not contain harsh chemicals that could be harmful to your floors or the environment.

If you go with the latter, use a 1:1 ratio because plain vinegar can damage the wood. Wipe the area with the cloth soaked in the mixture, then dry it thoroughly.

What neutralizes dog urine on wood?

To neutralize the smell of dog urine on your wooden floors, you can use hydrogen peroxide or baking soda. The former could damage your floors, so you must be careful when using it. The latter is the safer option and even a bit more effective.

There are a ton of stain and odor removers on the market, too, so you can use them to neutralize dog urine. However, most such removers are ineffective, so we do not recommend spending money on them.