How to Properly Clean Dog & Cat Urine

Ever step into a puddle in your home where one shouldn't be? Or have a guest arrive, sniff and ask, "Do you have a pet?" Then your dog or cat's "accidents" are not being adequately cleaned and deodorized.

First Things First

As soon as you detect that one of your pets has urinated in a spot where he should not, grab a roll of paper towels and blot up the liquid that you see. To avoid spreading the smell, dispose of used towels in a plastic bag, seal it tightly when finished, put it in the trash and wash your hands thoroughly.

Different surfaces require different cleaning approaches after the initial liquid is removed. Hard surfaces, such as wood, tile, linoleum and vinyl floors are easier to clean than soft ones like carpeting and upholstery. Litter boxes, pet carriers and kennels also need to be cleaned and deodorized.

To Effectively Remove Stains and Smell

After you have sopped up the wetness from a hard floor, pour an enzyme-based, stain-and-odor-eliminating product over the affected area and let it soak in; simply spraying is insufficient. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then blot it up and allow the remainder to totally air dry. Secure the area by covering it with a disposable baking sheet or an upside-down laundry basket.

Soft Goods

On carpets and upholstery, start by blotting the wetness with paper towels. The size of the spot you see will be smaller than the size of the spot under the carpet or fabric because stains and odors spread. The front and back of a carpet will need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

To clean fabrics, test whatever product you choose in a small area before you attack the entire piece to ensure it won't create its own stain. Nature's Miracle and Simple Solution both offer a range of enzymatic cleaning products. Urine-soaked padding may require replacement.

Heavy-Duty Cleaning

If you're unsuccessful in eliminating the urine smell from carpeted floors and upholstery, consider renting a carpet shampooer or bringing in the pros. A carpet cleaning company that is experienced in pet odor removal has the machinery and enzymatic products needed to saturate the spot, follow with dry carpet powder, work it in with brushes and power-vacuum everything up.

If your pet makes a habit out of urinating in unexpected places, there may be other factors at play. Learn more about incontinence in pets.