Wood floors or furniture absorb moisture from the dog pee and produce unpleasant odors that it very difficult to remove. However, knowing how to get dog pee smell out of wood properly can help you eliminate odors without damaging wood or its finishes.
In this case, you clean surfaces and use plenty of home remedies like enzyme cleaner, baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide to remove the dog pee smell. You can also potty train your dog or apply hardwood sealant or penetrating oil to protect the wood from dog pee.
Table of Contents
How To Remove Dog Pee Smell From Wood?
It can be challenging to remove the dog pee smell out of wood flooring. However, you can follow these steps to get dog urine smell without ripping up the rood floor:
1. Clean The Surface
Dog pee is very acidic and it can damage both sealed and unsealed wood floors. This is because wood absorbs urine quickly and adopts an unpleasant smell that can be very difficult to remove. So when you notice dog pee on the wood floor, open all windows to remove smelly air. Then cover the pee with a paper towel to prevent it from spreading around.
Wear protective gloves and wipe the surface residue as much as possible. Don’t rub the paper town on the wood floor as it can scratch and damage the floor. So gently drop the paper towel on the floor and remove the urine.
2. Use An Enzyme Cleaner
Dog pee will leak into the wood floor even if you clean the mess immediately. In this case, you can use an enzyme cleaner to remove the dog pee smell from the wood floor. Enzyme cleaners can break down odor-causing compounds and remove smell from penetrating absorbent surfaces effectively. However, you have to choose an enzymatic cleaner that is specially designed for pet urine. In this case, you can use Nature’s Miracle or Kleen Free Naturally. If you can’t find an enzyme cleaner or don’t want to buy it, you can make an enzyme cleaner at home.
How To Use Enzyme Cleaner On Wood?
Make a thin paste using biological laundry soap and hot water. Then make the solution strong and effective by adding a bit of white vinegar. Then mix the cleaner with the strongest recommended thinning and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Clean debris from the surface before applying enzyme cleaner.
Spray the solution on the affected wood floor thoroughly and scrub the area a little bit. Wait for around 30 to 60 minutes so the enzyme can destroy the urine, eliminate smell and the place gets dry. If you want to get a dog pee smell out of stained wood or from repeated urinated areas, leave enzyme cleaner overnight or apply it a couple of times.
On your sealed floor, enzyme cleaner can leave darker spots that can attract dogs to pee again. If so, you’ll need to clean the spot separately. On the unsealed floor, the odor can reach into the wood’s pores. So the cleaner needs to penetrate that deep too.
After that, wipe up the enzyme cleaner and rinse the wood floor using hot water for 2 to 3 times. Finally, clean the floor. This should lift the dog pee smell out of the wood.
Try Baking Soda
If you don’t want to apply chemical cleaners on a wood floor or furniture to remove the dog pee smell, use baking soda. It can absorb dog urine odors without damaging the wood floor. Baking soda can also remove visible stains. So sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let it sit for 7 hours or overnight. Then vacuum the area or sweep away to eliminate the dog pee smell.
Apply Vinegar And Water
If can use vinegar instead of baking soda to eliminate the dog pee smell of wood. White vinegar contains a high acidity level and it can neutralize odors. White vinegar can also kill germs in bacteria to avoid causing further issues. To make while vinegar solution, mix equal parts water and white vinegar. You can also add essential oils like grapefruit oil into the mixture to get a better smell from the solution.
Then pour the solution on the affected area and gently scrub it. After that rinse the wood floor with clean water and dry it. You can also use a wet vacuum to eliminate moisture.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
If you want to get the dog smell out and restore the look of your wood floor or deck at a time, use hydrogen peroxide. To do so, prepare a solution mixing 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 3 parts water. Then test the solution in scraps of hardwood to make sure it won’t discolor your wood flooring.
Apply the solution over the affected area and cot using a clean cloth dripping in hydrogen peroxide. Then cover the cloth using a plastic wrap and weigh it with a book. Let the solution set for a minimum of 8 hours or overnight. Finally, clean the area using a dry cloth.
Seek A Professional Cleaner’s Help
If the dog pee smell persists, the urine may penetrate under the wood floor. If so, you’ll need to remove the floorboard to clean underneath to eliminate the odors. You may also need to replace the wood flooring to eliminate dog urine odors particularly if it penetrates deep into the material. In this case, you’ll require professional help. So hire professional cleaners who have specialized solutions and pieces of equipment to remove stubborn odors.
What You Shouldn’t Use On The Wood Floor To Remove The Dog Pee Smell?
Though wood is a solid material, it can get scratched or damaged and ruin the beauty of home decor particularly if you apply the wrong products to it. Below are some products that can make the problem worse if you apply them on the wood floor:
Steam Cleaner
Steam cleaner can be beneficial for carpets, but it can damage the hardwood surface. It can cause hardwood to wrap due to excess moisture. The heat of the steam cleaner can also set the pee smell even more deep by connecting proteins.
Ammonia-Based Cleaner
Don’t use any ammonia-based products on wood surfaces to remove the dog pee smell. Ammonia has strong chemical smells. If you use ammonia-based products on the wood floor, it will make your dog think that another dog marking his territory. So your dog will get inspired to pee in the same place repeatedly.
Mix Of Chemicals
Vinegar is a helpful cleaner to remove dog urine odors from wood. However, you should mix it with other chemicals like bleach, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide. The reason is that this mixture will produce toxic gas.
How To Prevent Dogs From Peeing On Wood Floor Or Furniture?
Follow these tips to positively discourage your dog from peeing on your hardwood floor:
Block Your Desired Area
If your dog pees on a specific area on your hardwood floor, it means your pet marks the place as his territory. So block the area to prevent your dog from peeing on it. In this case, you can put pet gates in certain areas. You can also play with your dog in that area or treat him to discourage him from peeing. You can also take your dog outside when notice any signs of peeing like scratching at the door, barking, or sniffing around.
Use Pet Repellent Sprays
You can use pet repellent sprays to discourage your dog from urinating on wood floors. Pet repellent sprays contain synthetic or natural scents of vinegar, citrus, or bitter apple. These scents are unappealing for dogs.
Potty Training
You can train your dog to go to the bathroom in a specific place or wear him a potty pad or dog diaper. Rotate the puppy pads hourly and reward your good for good behavior. These products can also help establish a routine and reduce the chance of peeing on hardwood floors. However, you’ll need to use an enzyme cleaner to eliminate odors.
Take The Dog To Vet
If your dog urinates on hardwood floors continuously, take it to the vet. This is because dogs can urinate in unwanted places due to various medical conditions like anxiety or stress. In this case, the vet will prescribe certain medications to recover your dog.
FAQs On How To Get Dog Pee Smell Out Of Wood
How To Protect The Wood Floor From Dog Pee?
When a wood floor absorbs dog pee, it can get damaged over time. So you can use hardwood floor sealant to prevent hardwood floors from soaking moisture. You can also use penetrating oil or lay an area rug on the floor to protect the floor from all liquid including dog urine.
How Do You Get Old Dog Urine Out Of Wood?
Prepare a solution using one cup of vinegar and one bucket filled with warm water. Then add a few drops of grapefruit oil into the solution. Scrub your wood floor using this solution targeting the most prominent spots. The old dog’s urine odor should disappear.
How To Neutralize The Dog Pee Smell Out Of My House?
You can use plenty of household products to neutralize the dog pee smell including vinegar, baking soda, and various enzymatic cleaners. But don’t use any steam cleaner as it can set the stain deeper and make it harder to remove.
Final Words
As a pet parent, knowing how to get dog pee smell out of wood is an essential skill. It will help you maintain a hygienic and comfortable house avoiding wood damage. However, sometimes home remedies like vinegar or baking soda and dog pee smell removal products may fail to eliminate odors or can ruin the finish. In this case, you may need to replace the hardwood floor to eliminate odors.
