How to Get the Smell of Dog Urine Out of Wood

Removing dog urine smell from wood floors can be a tricky procedure if you are unfamiliar with it. Some cleaners can damage or discolor wood, and less harsh cleaners will not completely remove the smell. There are a few simple steps you can take to remove smells safely from wood flooring and prevent them from returning.

Things You'll Need

  • Antibacterial mouth wash
  • Spray bottle
  • Water
  • Lemon juice
  • Baking soda
  • Cleaning rag
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a spray bottle with a solution of one part water and one part antibacterial mouth wash. Then add two ounces of lemon juice. This solution will break down the enzymes that are contained in dog urine without harming the wood. It will also leave a clean, lemon scent in place of the urine smell after you are done cleaning.

    • 2

      Clean the area first with cold water and a cleaning rag. Hot water will make the stains set in, so always use cold water and never use a steam cleaner. Cleaning this way will ensure that your wood does not warp and that the finish on the wood is not stripped off.

    • 3

      Spray the solution on the wood and let it sit for ten minutes. This will allow the solution to soak down and clean the deeply soaked in urine instead of just the wood surface. The combination of lemon juice and mouthwash will penetrate deeply without discoloring the wood and begin to break up the chemical bonds of the urine.

    • 4

      Wipe up the area with a cleaning rag, then sprinkle it with baking soda. The baking soda will help to eliminate odors, but will also pull the moisture out of the wood that contains your cleaner and the broken down urine. Leave the baking soda on the affected area for fifteen minutes to allow it to soak up moisture, then clean it up with a cleaning rag and cool water.

    • 5

      Allow the area to air dry. The evaporating water and cleaner will carry away the odor, leaving a slight lemon scent in its place. Do not try to scrub the area clean, as you could damage your wood and possibly rub the urine more deeply into the wood. Allowing it to air dry will give you better results and has the bonus of being much easier.

    • 6

      Repeat the procedure if necessary. Sometimes it will take up to three treatments for the smell to be gone completely. If a slight smell remains after the first time, the urine could have penetrated deeper into the wood than the cleaner. In this case, just allow the solution to soak in for a longer period of time. This means leaving the baking soda on longer as well to pull the moisture out. After three treatments following these steps, your floor will be urine free, and more importantly, smell free.