Pet Stains & Sofas

Pet accidents are a part of being a pet owner, especially during the training process. Stains on a sofa can be difficult to remove.

  1. Fresh Stains

    • Soak up as much of the wet area as possible. The Humane Society recommends placing a thick layer of paper towels over the wet area, followed by a thick layer of newspaper, and then put as much pressure as possible on the padding for approximately one minute. Repeat these steps until the area is nearly dry and then rinse the area with cool water and dry again.

    Old Stains

    • Use a shop vac or shampooer to clean the stained area thoroughly. The Humane Society suggests that you avoid using cleaning products; instead, only use water.

    Neutralize

    • Use a pet odor neutralizing agent on both wet and dry stains after cleaning them thoroughly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use and be sure to test the neutralizer on an unseen area of the sofa to make sure it won't cause damage.

    Considerations

    • Avoid using steam cleaners to clean a stained area. According to the Sacramento SPCA, using a steam cleaner will set the stain odor into the upholstery permanently because the heat causes the proteins in urine to bond to man-made fibers.

    Warnings

    • According to the Humane Society, if you don't completely neutralize the odor of a pet stain, there is an increased chance that your pet will have an accident in that same location again.