How To Remove Dog Urine From Sofa/Rug

Having pets can be a rewarding experience for people of all ages, but caring for them can be oftentimes difficult and time-extensive. Although you have already potty-trained your pooch, it seems that he decided to use your living-room sofa as his toilet instead of the litter box. Or, even worse, he decided that the new rug is the perfect place to relieve himself. Dog urine is a common concern for pet owners, as it usually leaves stains that are difficult to remove, not to mention a totally displeasing smell of ammonia. Once your dog eliminates on either your rug or sofa, you are stuck with visions of cleaning and cleaning but never getting rid of the stain or smell. Even after using the harshest chemicals and strongest cleaning products, the stain and odor are still there.

But don’t despair – there are many ways to quickly remove dog urine from your rug or sofa with fewer cleaning products, less time, and significantly less effort. Check out our 5 methods below.

1. Vinegar and Baking Soda

Baking soda is a multi-purpose ingredient we all have in our kitchens, and one we can successfully use to remove dog urine from either the rug or sofa. It helps remove urine odor, and also completely remove any urine stain when used in conjunction with vinegar. Follow the guide below to see how to remove dog urine with vinegar and baking soda.
• If possible, find a paper towel and use it to soak up the urine from either the rug or the sofa. The more urine you soak up, the easier the cleanup process is going to be.
• Create a mixture of 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water in a sealable container. Shake it well to mix the ingredients into a paste.
• Once the baking soda has been completely mixed into the water, take a damp cloth and apply the mixture to the area with the dog urine.
• Use distilled vinegar on the paste. Clean up with a dry towel to soak up the moisture. Repeat this process as needed until you get rid of both the stain and the smell.
• Blow dry the affected area to quicken the drying process.

2. Liquid Dish Soap and White Vinegar

Although liquid dish soap works best for, well, dishes, it can also make a wonderful cleaning agent when combined with white vinegar. For this particular method you will need waterproof rubber gloves, 2 clean cloths, liquid dish soap, white vinegar, and a spray bottle. Follow these steps to remove your pooch’s urine from the rug or sofa:
• Put on the rubber gloves. As much as you love your dog, you definitely would not like to come into direct contact with his business.
• Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap on a clean cloth, then dab it on the urine stain.
• Mix 1 part water to 2 parts vinegar in the spray bottle, and shake well.
• Spray a generous amount of the mixture on the urine stain, but do not scrub it, otherwise you might push it deeper into the sofa or carpet.
• Allow to dry, then use a clean cloth to remove any remaining residue at the end. Don’t worry about the vinegar odor, as it will eventually dissipate.

3. Listerine Mouthwash
Listerine mouthwash is one of the most popular of its type – and on top of keeping your mouth clean and fresh, it can also help remove dog urine from rug or sofa as well. To use it:
• Mix Listerine mouthwash with water. The Listerine : water ratio is not important, but you might want to use slightly more Listerine mouthwash to ensure that any trace of urine will be entirely removed.
• Use a spray bottle to apply the mixture to the affected area. Make sure to apply a generous amount of the mouthwash mixture. Leave for a few minutes.
• Soak up the moisture with either paper towels or a clean, dry cloth. Put out the rug or sofa into the sun if possible, or blow dry it to quicken the process.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent dog urine remover, as it helps break down the “crystals” of urine and pull out the stains as well. Preparing a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will give you a potent solution against your pooch’s “accident,” helping you avoid both stains and odor. You will need 1/2 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1 cup baking soda, paper towels, 1 teaspoon eco-friendly dish liquid, and a bowl.
• Use the paper towels to soak up as much urine as possible.
• When no more liquid can be pulled up, sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the affected area
• Mix the hydrogen peroxide with the dish liquid, and slowly pour the solution over the baking soda.
• Use a cloth or scrub-brush to gently scrub the area, and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
• Once done, vacuum the area carefully until there is no more baking soda on the rug or sofa. Repeat the process for tough urine stains.

5. Citrus and Enzymes

When it comes to removing dog urine, enzymatic cleaners are the most popular option among pet owners, as they digest and break down stains and odors on a molecular level. But who says you cannot make your own? You will need 1 1/2 cups of lemon and orange peels, 1 liter of water, 7 tablespoons of brown sugar, and a bottle.
• In a sealable container, add the brown sugar and citrus peels.
• Add the water, then tightly screw on the cap of the bottle. Give everything a good shake to mix the ingredients well.
• Loosen the cap and leave it on halfway to release gases. This will prevent the bottle from “exploding” due to buildup.
• Leave the mixture sit for the following 3 months. This method is not to be used immediately, as the enzymes will need time to be properly extracted, otherwise the solution will turn out completely ineffective.
• Apply the enzymatic cleaner to the affected area, scrubbing it with a cloth, sponge or soft brush. Soak up the moisture with paper towels, then blow dry the area until both the urine stain and odor are completely removed.

Final Thoughts

It is true that bleaching agents can be good at removing dog urine from rugs and sofas, but they oftentimes damage and discolor the surface they are applied to. These homemade cleaners are more effective, and they will quickly remove stains and odor without actually damaging your rug or sofa.

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