Whether animal or human, urine stains are the last thing we want on our sofas. Not only are they incredibly unpleasant, but they also come with foul odors that tend to cling to fabric. When they’re left alone for a long period without being cleaned up, they can also be very hard to remove and clean up.
However, you don’t have to worry as long as you act quickly. And while you might think that you need a professional cleaner to deal with it, here are a few tips on how to clean urine from the sofa by yourself with items that you already have in your home.
Blot Pee Stains Immediately
As unpleasant as it may seem, it’s important to blot away as much urine as possible from your sofa using towels or clean microfiber cloth. This helps prevent it from soaking deeply into the fabric.
However, be sure to gently dab the stain, as pressing too hard could cause it to spread. For those wondering how long does pee takes to dry on a couch, the answer is generally about 2 hours. But, it will depend on the fabric material of the couch.
Clean Urine from Sofa with White Vinegar
White vinegar is a very popular household cleaning staple for a reason. It’s incredibly versatile and can also handle even the toughest stains with its antibacterial properties that serve as a disinfectant. If you have pets, accidents might happen that leave you wondering how to get dog pee smell out of couch. But you don’t have to worry, because white vinegar is a great pick when it comes to cleaning up pet urine smell off your couch.
To make your vinegar solution, mix one part white vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle and generously spray the urine stain. With a clean microfiber cloth, lightly scrub at the stain before letting it dry.
When the stain has dried, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the area to remove any foul odors lingering. Leave this on for a few hours before cleaning it up with a vacuum cleaner. Lastly, get a damp cloth and wipe the area to remove any trace of baking soda that the vacuum missed.
Clean Pee from Sofa with Dish Soap
Another great cleaning method is to combine 2 cups of cold water, 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dish soap in a small bowl. After preparing the stained area by removing excess moisture, get a clean microfiber cloth and dip it into the solution. Use the damp cloth to gently sponge and blot the urine stain from the outside and work towards the center.
This may take a while, so feel free to rinse and wring out your cloth as much as you need to and repeat the steps as needed. Once everything has been cleaned up, get a clean damp cloth and blot around the area to remove any residue left behind. Finally, get a dry microfiber cloth and gently blot around the area until it’s dry.
How to Clean Old Urine Stains from Sofa
It’s not ideal, but sometimes you don’t notice a stain until it inevitably dries up. As bad as it seems, it’s nothing to worry about, especially because you can clean it right up.
Mix together 10 ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 or 3 drops of dishwashing detergent in a bowl until the baking soda has completely dissolved. Por this into a spray bottle and make sure to test it on an inconspicuous area of your sofa to make sure that the solution doesn’t compromise the fabric.
After making sure that it’s safe to use, spray the solution onto the stain until it’s damp and leave it for an hour. Repeat this as much as you need to until the stain is completely gone.
When the stain is completely removed, get a damp cloth and dab it around the area before blotting with a dry towel to make sure that all traces of the solution are wiped off. This is a very important step because any detergent residue left behind could attract dirt, and the hydrogen peroxide could bleach your fabric and weaken its fibers.
Deodorize Using Baking Soda
When you’ve cleaned up the urine stain but still smell a bit of the odor, some baking soda might just be what you’re looking for. Baking soda is a great deodorizer, and it can also absorb any moisture that might have been left in your sofa. All you need to do is sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stain and cover this with a cloth.
Leave this for at least 6 hours or even through the night. When the next morning comes, just vacuum it all up before getting a damp cloth and dabbing around the area to get all the baking soda off.
Clean with an Enzymatic Cleaner
Enzymatic cleaners are specially formulated to break down the proteins and organic materials in urine, which are responsible for lingering odors and stains. To use enzymatic cleaner, you can simply spray the enzymatic cleaner generously on the affected area. Allow it to sit for the recommended amount of time (usually 10-15 minutes) to give the enzymes enough time to break down the urine.
Use an Odor Absorber
Using an odor absorber can help eliminate any lingering urine smells that disturb your senses. Thus to avoid this issue, you can utilize natural cleaning substances such as baking soda, charcoal, or even commercial odor absorbers. You should place them directly on the affected area to absorb any remaining odors.
Steam Clean the Sofa
Steam cleaning is one of the most effective ways to remove odors from your sofa. It works by deep cleaning every inch of the sofa, including the one that got peed on by your pets. You can use a steam cleaner to go over the entire sofa, focusing on the area where the urine was. The high temperature will help to sanitize the fabric and remove any remaining residues.
Dry the Sofa Completely After Cleaning
Drying your sofa thoroughly after cleaning is crucial to prevent mold, mildew, and lingering odors from growing around your house. You can utilize fans or dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process. Or if possible, you can also place the sofa in a well-ventilated area or near a window where it can receive direct sunlight.
Consider Professional Cleaning
In some cases, especially if the urine has deeply penetrated the sofa or if you're dealing with a delicate fabric, professional cleaning might be the best option. Professional cleaners have specialized equipment and cleaning solutions that can effectively remove urine stains and odors without damaging your sofa.
Key Takeaways
Stains and messes can come up in the worst times, and you might not always have the time to clean them up on your own. Whether you’re coming home from a long and tiring day or just have too much on your plate to add cleaning to your list, life gets in the way of regular cleaning—but it doesn’t have to with Luce Home.
With our well-trained and experienced cleaners, we can take care of cleaning your home so that you can spend your time on the things that truly matter to you.
Send us a message and schedule a cleaning appointment today!
