How To Remove Pet Pee Stains From Carpets and Sofas?

September 10, 2021

We all love our pets, there is nothing cuter than a fluffy puppy or kitten however sooner or later, most canine parents need to deal with pee stains on their home furniture or carpets. Regardless of how well-trained your little fur-ball might be, accidents always happen. If these “accidents” are not handled almost immediately, a distinctive undesirable smell begins to linger at home. But why does pet urine smell? Urine from any animal is a mixture of unique, odorous of hormones, germs, uric acid, and ammonia. Over time, ammonia in the urine concentrates, turning to mercaptan, also known as methanethiol, a pungent gas that gives ammonia and dog pee their distinct scents. Ammonia is a toxic substance,  at Magic Carpet Cleaning UK we never recommended to use cleaning products containing ammonia on pee stains. Not only will it make the stain more visible, but it’ll also make the smell even worse. 

It’s very difficult to remove dog urine from a carpet. After all, you can’t just throw your carpets, rugs and sofas in the washing machine! Urine can also soak down into the cushioning beneath carpeting, which is a hazard. The best technique to deal with carpet stains and pee odour differs depending on the age of the stain and how often that particular location is peed on by your pooch.

What to do when you catch them in the process:

Your pet should only pee outside or on his/her designated urination pad . Nevertheless The best you can hope for is that you’ll be there to clean up the urine before it becomes a stain. If you can deal with the situation right away, then the result of your stain removal will be even better.

  1. Using the dabbing method , blot the liquid using a white absorbent paper towel.
  2. Carry on until the stain has transferred onto the white towel.

You may be surprised about how quick and pain-free this process is, however this is only for urine stains that have immediately been attempted to remove! If you find that there is still an unpleasant odour. No two rugs are alike, and synthetic carpets are treated differently than natural fibres like wool and cotton.  Despite the fact that we rely on the internet for the majority of our questions, Magic Carpet Cleaning advises against following website recommendations that include the use of chemicals and stain/smell removers. It’s impossible to identify chemicals that work for all stains because each pee stain has its own set of components and reacts differently.

What do we suggest if a distinct smell (after the mess is cleared) still lingers in your home space?

  1. Sprinkle the area lightly with baking soda to absorb any lingering scent.
  2. Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Vacuum up the remaining powder.

How to remove recent pet urine stains from your carpets & upholstery?

For recent pee stains your furry friend has made, that has had enough time to sink in and leave a stain. Try this DIY method – you will need:

  • A cup or small bowl of water/club soda
  • A sponge (if necessary)
  • An absorbent towel

Follow these steps to remove the stain:

  1. Using a white paper towel, blot as much of the stain as possible. To avoid the dyes from the towels transferring to the rug or carpet, use a white towel.
  2. Next, dab the stain with cold water or club soda, ensuring that any surplus liquid is eliminated.
  3. Avoid rubbing! so that the urine stain does not spread farther into the rug TIP: To help the stain lift out, use moderate pressure and short/quick dabs.
  4. Continue dabbing until the stain is completely absorbed by the cloth.
  5. Do not use the same towel for an extended period of time to avoid the damp towel staining the upholstery.

What about older pet urine stains?

Older stains will be more difficult to remove, but we still recommend using cold water or club soda. We strongly advise against using chemicals on your carpets, sofas, or rugs because not all chemicals are compatible with the fibres in your furniture as well as the components in urine. Almost all of the remedies available for purchase online may irreversibly destroy your carpet’s fibres, potentially causing irreversible damage.

Can’t get it out? 

Don’t give up if neither of these approaches worked. This just means it may be time to have your carpet rejuvenated. Not to worry! Magic Carpet Cleaning UK will take care of everything for you. Once our team of experienced carpet cleaners and technicians are done with your stain, your upholstery will be as fresh as a daisy. We are happy to give any free advice or talk through how to clean your stain over the phone. Just call us at 02089302650.

Do’s and Don’ts:

TIP #1: Begin blotting from the centre of the stain – this ensures that the stain does not become larger while being blotted.

TIP #2: If you really have an immediate need for treatment and want to utilize store-bought chemicals, spot test them on an unseen or small hidden section of your upholstery item to determine if they change the colour/texture. 

With sensitive materials like velvet or swede, Magic Carpet Cleaning UK strongly advises waiting for professional help. These can only be cleaned with a dry cleaning procedure since any liquids that come into contact with such materials will leave an undesirable residue or watermarks.

TIP #3: With sensitive materials like velvet or swede, Magic Carpet Cleaning UK strongly advises waiting for professional help. These can only be cleaned with a dry cleaning procedure (see Magic Carpet Cleaning’s dry cleaning method here), since any liquids that come into contact with such materials will leave an undesirable residue or watermarks.