Removing Stains and Odors on Hardwood Floor

Removing Stain and Odor

Pets are human friend and good addition to family, however they occasionally cause problems. Pets, whether it is a dog, cat, or other type of pet require some special training to know where to go when they got to go. Even with training it can be difficult to keep your floors and house looking great and pet stain free. If you have brought home a new puppy, consider crate-training for its security and your peace of mind. Most dogs readily adapt to a crate; it appeals to their instinct to seek out a den and they are less anxious when you are away from home.

When pets become older or are left alone for too many hours during the day accidents can happen. To prevent it, also consider the following:

a. Clip your pet’s nails regularly.

b. Sweep, vacuum or dust mop at least weekly to remove dirt, grit and fur.

c. Clean up spills and other liquids immediately. Standing water and other liquids can damage floors so wipe up urine or spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.

d. Choose water bowls designed to avoid spills. Pet stores sell bowls with stable bases that deter tipping. Some bowls even come in stands. A throw rug could help absorb the stray drop or two, but any mat should be removed immediately if it gets too wet.

The ideal solution for removing a urine stain from a wood floor is to sand and refinish it, since it is very difficult to match up the floor finish once you have treated a urine stain in the wood. However, you can still try. To remove urine stains and odors from your wood floor, first blot the area with an absorbent cloth to remove any excess urine. We split into two category:

New / Fresh Pet Stains:

Fresh pet stains by nature have not soaked into the floor to a great extent. You will be able to remove the stain and odor from the accident without too much work. You will need paper towels, warm water, white vinegar, and a specialized stain and odor- removing agent with bacteria and enzyme properties. Recently the technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Be careful to choose, some stain removers may harm the coating on hardwood floors because the ingredients are too powerful.

Follow the process for removing fresh pet stains and odor:

• Blot the affected area with a paper towel to remove the urine.
• Scrub the area with white vinegar to help remove the stain and the odor.
• Rinse the stained area with warm water.
• Blot the area dry with paper towels. Make sure to dry the area completely so that you will not leave any water damage. You do not want to let any of the liquid remain for long are it could warp the area of the wood.
• Apply a specialized stain and odor remover with bacteria and enzyme properties to the affected area to avoid future instances.

When you shop for the stain remover check the label to make sure it is usable on hardwood floors.
Old Pet Stains:

If the stain is still visible, the urine has probably penetrated the finish and marred the wood, in which case it is necessary to remove the finish and refinish the surface. Refinish/sand it until you reach a point that is not stained. If the stain is deeper than the surface you will have to remove that section of flooring. You may have to redo the entire hardwood floor depending on the extent of the damage. When a stain has been left for several years the urine may seep into the sub- flooring or at least the odor. Sometimes commercial bleach can remove the stain and odor from old pet stains, however it is a very sensitive solution and you need to have proper gloves and training. If you have to sand the floor you will want to resurface the area with shellac based primer.

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