Q&A for How to Remove Urine Odors and Stains Permanently

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  • Question
    How can I get rid of urine odors after I've cleaned up the mess?
    Susan Stocker
    Green Cleaning Expert
    Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
    Green Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    Once the urine is cleaned up, sprinkle baking soda over the area. Let the baking soda sit for at least one hour, although you can leave it out for longer if you'd like. This will give the baking soda time to absorb the odors. Vacuum up the baking soda when you're done and inspect the area. The smell should be gone, but you can repeat this process if it isn't.
  • Question
    How can I get a urine stain and odor out of a mattress without letting my parents know?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If the stain is fresh, you can try cleaning it up with a detergent, vinegar, and cold water solution. Toss any towels or cleaning cloths you use into the laundry and wash them immediately. You'll need to let the mattress air out until it's completely dry before putting fresh sheets on it. For older stains, you might need to use a little hydrogen peroxide or an enzyme cleaner.
  • Question
    How do you remove the smell and stain of human urine on driver's side seat?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Try the vinegar, dish soap, and cold water solution to clean up the stain. Leave the windows open if possible to let the car air out as you work, and make sure to blot up as much excess moisture as you can. If you have a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, you might try using that to help get the moisture out. For an older stain, you might need an enzyme cleaner or some hydrogen peroxide (if you can use it without damaging your upholstery).
  • Question
    How do I get old dog urine odors out of my carpet?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Try using an enzyme cleaner. You may also need to shampoo the carpet. If the urine has soaked into the pad underneath the carpet, it might be necessary to replace it.
  • Question
    If I use this method a second time will it reduce the odor even more or are there some additional steps I can take?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can try going over the stain a second time with a homemade cleaner to reduce the odor more. If that doesn't work, you might try an enzyme cleaner or bring in a professional to deal with the problem.
  • Question
    How do I get the urine smell out of my mattress without using baking soda or vinegar if the urine has already dried?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can try using an oxygen-activated enzymatic cleanser, such as Nature's Miracle or Out! Oxy-Fast. Follow the directions on the packaging for proper use. Usually, you spray the cleanser on and around the stain, let it sit until it dries, then vacuum it out.
  • Question
    How do you get rid of a human urine smell?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Human urine smells respond to a lot of the same cleaning techniques as pet urine odors. Enzymatic cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, or disinfectants that destroy odor-causing bacteria can help.
  • Question
    Will professional carpet cleaning get rid of urine odors?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Getting your carpet professionally cleaned is a good choice if you have stubborn urine odors. Many cleaning pros specialize in dealing with these types of stains and odors, and they have cleaning supplies and chemicals that are ideal for the job.
  • Question
    Will bleach get rid of a urine smell?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Bleach can help disinfect an area that’s been tainted by urine, but it won’t do much to get rid of the smell. Even worse, bleach can react with the ammonia in urine and create toxic fumes. If you want to use bleach to disinfect a urine stain, soak up any liquid urine first and clean the area with an enzyme cleaner, then rinse thoroughly with water. After that, you can use a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water to sanitize the area. Open some windows or doors to ventilate the area while you work.
  • Question
    If mice urinated on stored sheets and I can't get the stain out, are they salvageable or should they be thrown out?
    Community Answer
    I would throw them out. Mice urine and droppings can cause multiple health problems. Better safe than sorry.
  • Question
    How do I get urine smell out of blankets?
    Community Answer
    Rinse off as much of the urine as you can before you place the blanket into the washer. Wash in warm water using a pre-wash, wash and extra rinse if possible. (Don't use hot water, it'll lock the urine odor in the fibers.) If your washer does not have these, run the blanket through a wash first to remove the urine. Use bleach on the blanket if it can be bleached. If not, vinegar can be used. Add baking soda to the wash with detergent. If you smell the urine in the dryer, stop the dryer and put it back into the washing machine. If there is no smell in the dryer, you've accomplished your mission.
  • Question
    How do I remove urine odors from hardwood flooring?
    Community Answer
    Pour some hydrogen peroxide over the stain until it puddles, then cover it with a towel. Wait 24 hours, then repeat if necessary. Once the odor is gone, lightly sand the area to remove any discolorations, and apply some wood stain and varnish.
  • Question
    Does human urine show up under a black light?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it does.
  • Question
    How do I get fresh urine out of a mattress?
    Community Answer
    Put down towels or something very absorbent and then stand on the mattress and step on them. You can use any of the cleaning methods described in the article as well, and/or use a carpet shampooer. If you can, get the mattress outside to dry. If you don't get it done the first time, repeat the process. You can use baking soda to remove the odor. Sprinkle it on and wait as long as you can (ideally 24 hours). Then vacuum it up.
  • Question
    What solution should I use to remove pet urine on hardwood floors?
    Community Answer
    Wash the floor with detergent, rinse and vacuum. Spray the area with diluted OdorXit Concentrate as directed on the bottle.
  • Question
    How do I get rid of urine smells out of a carpet?
    Community Answer
    Vinegar works wonders for this. Put a gallon of it and warm water in mop bucket, and mop the carpet. The smell may be overwhelming at first, but it fades quickly as it dries, and will take the odor of urine along with it.
  • Question
    How can I remove a urine stain from a car seat?
    Community Answer
    Use men's heavy duty soap and conditioner. It will need to sit on the stain for about 10-15 minutes. Then remove the soap/conditioner completely with hot water.
  • Question
    What can I do to stop my bathroom from smelling like urine?
    Community Answer
    I would recommend putting 1/4 cup of bleach in your toilet, letting it sit, and then flushing it. This should get rid of any lingering odors. In the future, you can prevent urine smells by having a well-ventilated bathroom and something like a scented candle that can keep the room smelling nice.
  • Question
    I bought a couch off of someone and it smells like animal urine. How can I get rid of it?
    Community Answer
    Try covering the couch in a baking soda based carpet and upholstery deodorizer, leaving it for a day, and then vacuuming it up.
  • Question
    What do I do after using a peroxide/baking soda solution for 15 to 20 minutes? Should I blot it up or scrub it with a scrubber, or what?
    Community Answer
    Blot it up and always finish by rinsing with water. Peroxide can bleach, so test an out of sight spot first. Be careful using a scrubber, as this could damage your carpet.
  • Question
    How do I remove dried urine stains from my trainer bottoms?
    Community Answer
    Soak them in warm water, scrub the stain to remove the majority of the stain, then throw them in the wash.
  • Question
    How do I get rid of human urine on couch that has dried up?
    Debra R
    Community Answer
    Use the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish soap formula successfully with a cloth couch. Spray the area until thoroughly wet and let dry. The smell will likely be gone after one application.
  • Question
    How can I get a strong urine smell out of laundry?
    Community Answer
    Try adding half a cup of white vinegar to your laundry. The vinegar will help eliminate urine odor.
  • Question
    What's best method for removing a cat urine stain from a feather bed?
    Community Answer
    JJJee may help. Simply spray it on the bed, soak it for an hour, and then use a small brush to brush the stain with a circular motion. Leave it on for a while and repeat many times for stubborn stains. No need to rinse.
  • Question
    How do I get urine smell out of a cloth car seat?
    Community Answer
    Spray a generous amount of JJJee on the fabric car seat, leave it on for a few hours (or over night), and the smell will be gone. JJJee cleans, disinfects and deodorizes at the same time. It kills the bacteria that causes the smell.
  • Question
    After a water flood of my bathroom, I removed all the water possible with a carpet shampooer and placed fans on to dry. There is now an odor, how do I get rid of the odor?
    Community Answer
    Unfortunately the odor is likely coming from under or behind the area that flooded. I’ve had a similar problem in our rent house when the ac drip pan flooded the floors into the bathrooms, it warped the cabinets in both bathrooms and the walls and baseboards smell like mold all the time. You can try treating any areas with a vinegar water mix and place fans to dry but if you can’t see the source it’s impossible to treat it without a professional service that handles water damage.
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