The Best Way to Remove Dog Pee From Your Couch Depends on What Kind of Couch You Have
“How do you get dog urine smell out of couch without damaging it?” is one of the most common questions we get asked in our work here in Long Island as a professional couch and furniture cleaner. There’s not a single solution that works for all types of couch fabrics, and care must be taken so you don’t damage your upholstery. We’ve put together this guide to help you safely remove dog pee spots and odors from 3 of the most popular upholstery fabrics using 3 common household ingredients:Disclaimer
Try these DIY methods at your own risk. Always test in a small conspicuous area before applying on the whole surface. If you really want to be safe, consult with or hire a professional upholstery cleaner who also specializes in odor removal.
How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Polyester Couch
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Vacuum
- Possibly vinegar for cleaning
Follow These Steps:
- Blot, if wet To make the cleaning process quicker, blot the wet spot with a white towel or paper towel. Blot till you’ve absorbed enough moisture to consider the spot as dry. Scrubbing or rubbing it will only spread the urine stain and make it sink deeper.
- Dry Before using baking soda to neutralize that stench, you need to make sure the area is dry. Applying baking soda on a wet spot can ruin its effects and leave you with more cleaning to do.
- Vacuum your couch You’ll need to combine cleaning with deodorizing if you want to save your polyester couch, so first vacuum it to eliminate pet hair and dried urine crystals.
- Sprinkle baking soda Baking soda acts as the neutralizing and deodorizing agent. Sprinkle a generous yet thin layer of baking soda on the pee spot. Use a soft brush to spread evenly.
- Take a short break Wait for a while to let the baking soda set in. Do this at night before you go to bed or any time during the day when you’ll be out for a long time.
- Vacuum again After the wait, use a vacuum to get the baking soda off of your couch.
Next Steps After Cleaning a Polyester Couch
If the urine also left a spot on your couch, you’ll also want to clean it after you’re done. Look at your couch’s label and use its approved cleaning method to get rid of the pet urine stain. If your couch is water-resistant, mix a tablespoon of vinegar, a tablespoon of liquid soap (dishwashing), and two cups of cold water and blot the urine spot. For best results, hire a professional upholstery cleaner. Not only can they remove stains, they are also equipped to remove the odor. If you’re on Long Island, learn more about our pet odor removal service here.How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Leather Couch
Leather couches are highly resistant to liquids. That’s good, but when exposed to excess dog pee, it may affect the stuffing by seeping in through the seams. So it’s imperative you blot it up as quickly as possible. Dog pee can also discolor leather if left too long. The vinegar you’ll use to deodorize can also reduce the chances of discolorization.What You’ll Need
- Microfiber cloth
- Vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Leather conditioner (we like this)
Steps to Clean Your Leather Couch
- Blot fresh urine Use a paper towel to blot fresh urine on your couch.
- Wipe your leather Dampen a microfiber cloth with cold water and wipe off the affected area to reduce the urine’s effect.
- Prepare your cleaning solution Vinegar is a perfect deodorizer and disinfectant, and its acidic properties can break down pet pee stains on your couch. Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray on the affected area. Allow your vinegar solution to set in for about 10 minutes.
- Clean your couch again Clean your couch with a damp microfiber cloth again. Use a dry towel to wipe off excess moisture and leave it to air dry.
- Condition Conditioning your leather couch is necessary as the smell of vinegar is not exactly pleasing. Hence, use a leather conditioner and a microfiber cloth to get rid of that smell. Leave to air dry after.
How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of a Microfiber Couch
What You’ll Need
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Possibly baking soda
Steps for Cleaning a Microfiber Couch
- Blot fresh urine Absorb as much urine as you can using several paper towels. Blot until your paper towel comes out dry when pressed into your couch.
- Vacuum Get rid of specks of dirt, pet hair and tiny urine crystals that will make it difficult for the alcohol to penetrate easily.
- Spray alcohol Spray alcohol generously on your couch. To ensure it goes deep into the fabric, pat it with your hand so it can sink in and get to the pet stain.
- Air dry Place your couch right below your ceiling fan if you have one and properly ventilate your room to aid the drying process.
Next Steps After Cleaning a Microfiber Couch
You’ll most likely smell the stench of alcohol after you’re done. To neutralize the odor, you can sprinkle baking soda on it. Better still, use an enzymatic cleaner which pretty much gets rid of the remaining odor and any possible stain. Follow the directions on the bottle.Still Stinky?
Here’s another tip you may try for getting rid of odors that still may remain after you’ve done the steps above. I have actually done this myself for clients! Great little tip!What About Enzymatic Cleaners?
Enzymatic cleaners are biodegradable cleaning agents that employ chemical reactions and catalysts in their formulas to break down any uric acids and salts that might remain after spot cleaning.
The Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator is considered the best enzyme cleaner for dog pee. One of the many reasons why this is a go-to enzyme cleaner is its versatility. You can use it on various materials like carpet & rugs, tiles, concrete, hardwood, and laminated floors. The Carpet and Rug Institute also certified it as safe for colorfast carpets.
If any of the methods above didn’t work for you. You might want to try an enzyme treatment. The enzyme is applied to the area, left to dwell for about 15 minutes, and then extracted with a steam cleaner. This is not done with a quick spray and then extraction. It requires a soaking and is why it won’t work for a leather couch. Even for others, unless you have the equipment to extract it, it may not be a good option for you.
Couple that with the fact that not all enzyme cleaners work. Get yourself a good one, or, instead, call a professional furniture cleaner in your area who has special training in removing pet pee odor from couches. If you’re in Long Island, call us.
More Tips for Cleaning Pet Pee from Your Couch
Use a Blacklight
If you can smell it but you can’t find it, turn off the lights in your room and scan through with a blacklight urine inspector until you notice a yellow or green patch.
In the following video, you can watch me using my black light to find urine spots at a customer’s home.con
Check the Cleaning Label on Your Couch
Your couch may come with a W, S, or X label, indicating the cleaning method to be used. For a W-labelled couch, use a water-based cleaner. S-labeled sofas require solvent cleaners. You’ll need to contact a professional if your couch comes with an X-label.
Act Quick
Don’t let the dog pee smell settle on your sofa. Removing old urine stains are much harder than taking care of the new ones.
Soak Away Excess Moisture
Get as much urine as you can from your couch upholstery using a towel. This may require several attempts and several towels.
TIP: Microfibre cloths create a positive charge (thanks to the way manufacturers arrange their fibers) which pulls water out of the material thanks to the charge they create.
Blot, Don’t Scrub
Scrubbing will only damage the fibers of your couch, leave scratch marks, and most times tear it, especially polyester couches. So, place the towel on the wet area and apply pressure till you have soaked up enough urine.
Use Light-Colored Towels
Blot the wet area with a white towel or other bright colors that won’t transfer their colors to your couc
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Best dog-pee cleaning tip ever! Don’t let it happen!
Catch them before they do the deed!
There’s still a chance for you to save your couch and yourself from the unbearable stench of dog pee from the time it takes to clean and deodorize. Noticing your furry friend’s behavioral pattern will help you keep it away from the couch before it gets soaked in urine. Here are some of the signals portrayed by different dogs;
How you know a Labrador Retriever needs to pee…
Labrador Retrievers are highly intelligent dogs. They pee at least 3 times daily. Before they pee, they wag their tails like they’re happy and try as much as possible to get your attention. When they do these, they either have no access to the toilet or are really just happy. With time, it’ll be easier to tell the message they are trying to pass across.
When a Labradoodle needs to pee…
For Labradoodles, signals are usually more subtle. They are naturally gentle. So, when you notice your dog moving round in circles, or dragging you to a particular spot, pay attention. The bathroom door is locked, and they need help getting out.
When a Chihuahua needs to pee…
Chihuahuas are naturally challenging to potty train. However, you can tell when they are about to pee. They become aggressive and restless. Pacing around and calling for your attention while looking all grumpy when they can’t hold it any longer.
When a Terrier needs to pee…
Terriers are usually energetic. When they need to pee, they are a bit calm and attempt to get your attention. They get pretty aggressive when they seem to have been holding their pee for a while.
When a Dalmatian needs to pee…
Dalmatians are independent dogs. Sending signals is not a thing they would do. If they are potty trained, they aim at the doors leading outside or to the bathroom. Either way, they are looking for a way to urinate without your assistance.
When a St Bernard needs to pee…
The St Bernard dog breed is strong-willed. They can get pushy and drag you to the door every time they can’t get access.
FAQs on Removing Dog-Pee Smells from Sofas
You need to make the dried-out dog urine wet again by using a vinegar solution. Mix a cup of vinegar and three cups of water in a spray bottle and shake gently. Spray your solution generously on the stained area and scrub lightly with a lint-free cloth.
Once your potty-trained dog starts peeing on your couch suddenly, it indicates that there is a health issue. Urinary Tract infections, bladder stones, bladder inflammation, and kidney diseases are some of the most common reasons. Visiting the veterinary doctor as soon as possible is the best way to identify the cause and find a solution.
Spray your vinegar solution on your couch and leave for a couple of minutes to disinfect and deodorize. Afterward, use a leather conditioner to get rid of that vinegar smell, as it is not exactly pleasing to inhale.
Use baking soda. Since your carpet is already clean, all you need to do is use baking soda to deodorize. Vacuum the carpet after leaving the baking soda to work overnight.
No, it won’t. Most shampoos have no active ingredients that can be used in treating urine. Your carpet will still smell like urine because the ammonia and bacteria content of urine always gets reactivated when they contact water.
No. Bleach will not kill urine smell as it has no deodorizing abilities. It only works as a disinfectant to kill bacteria.
See above. Use baking soda. Sprinkle a tiny amount on your couch and spread across using a brush. Wait for a couple of hours and vacuum off. The baking soda will deodorize your couch.
Call a professional. They’re better equipped (literally) to remove odors and most have had special training.
And these are your DIY tips to get dog urine smell out of couch without the help of professional upholstery cleaner. These processes will also work for cat urine smell and supplement as other pet stain remover.
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