This DIY method will make you wish you ditched the air fresheners sooner
Whether you’re a pet owner or you have little ones running around, accidents happen. While a mop can take care of accidents on your linoleum flooring, couches can be a different beast altogether. Thankfully, it’s easy to learn how to get pee smells out of your couch once and (hopefully) for all by following this DIY method.
You have the best chance of permanently removing the pee smell from your couch if you address stains as quickly as possible. To do so, you’ll need to keep the necessary cleaning supplies on hand. That way, you can avoid rushing to the store while unfortunate stains seep into your couch.
Stock your cupboard with these go-to cleaning supplies:
Hydrogen peroxide
Baking soda
Dish soap
White vinegar
Paper towels
Enzymatic cleaner
For small, fresher pee stains, you may be able to get out the smell with a simple homemade solution. Tougher urine smells that linger after it’s dried may require further cleaning measures, like enzymatic cleaners or steam cleaners. Follow the steps below.
If the accident is fresh, wipe away the pee itself before you attempt to get rid of the odor. Use paper towels or old rags to remove wet spots on the couch. Be sure to dab at the accident rather than vigorously wipe against the grain, as this can damage the couch fabric.
There are several options for banishing bad odors from your couch, including homemade solutions and store-bought products. A wet, fresh stain on your couch is easier to eradicate than one that’s had time to seep into the cushion. To save time, create a DIY cleaning solution using household products. You should inspect your couch label to see which cleaning solutions you can use and which you should avoid.
Here are the recipes for two homemade cleaning solutions to use on couches:
Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and mild dish soap: Combine 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a few drops of mild dish soap into a spray bottle.
White vinegar and water: Combine two parts water and one part vinegar into a spray bottle.
Before you blast your couch with your homemade or enzymatic cleaning solution, always test it on the upholstery in a small, inconspicuous location to ensure the material won’t get damaged. Wait at least 15 minutes, then check the area for signs of damage.
Leather or faux leather couches, in particular, can get discolored by hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. If you test it and the material tarnishes, you may need to buy a leather-safe cleaner.
Remove any cushions from the area you want to clean and spray the solution onto the stinky area until it’s thoroughly saturated with the liquid. Be sure to coat the area without over-pouring the cleaning solution onto the surface. Otherwise, you may risk damaging the upholstery.
Press a wet rag onto the couch cushion firmly. For old stains that may be difficult to remove, give the couch a gentle scrub along the grain to avoid ruining the fabric. You may want to spray the solution and re-wipe the upholstery a few times if the stain dried deep into the cushion. Then, allow the fabric to dry completely.
Once your couch is completely dry, sprinkle baking soda on the area with the urine smell. Baking soda absorbs odors, so you’ll want to cover the area with a thin layer of it to encourage maximum absorption. Allow the baking soda to work its magic for at least an hour before you vacuum it up.
If you want to ensure your couch is odor-free, do one more round of cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner. This cleaning agent breaks down those stinky urine chemicals, giving you a better chance of removing the offending odor.
Keep in mind that you should always follow the instructions for the particular cleaner you purchased and double-check that it’s compatible with your couch’s upholstery. Also, test the enzymatic cleaner in an inconspicuous area as you did with the homemade solution to ensure it won’t affect your couch.
In some cases, not even an enzymatic cleaner can remove the toughest urine odors, which is usually the case for days-old urine stains. One last step you can take is to use a furniture steamer to steam clean a couch.
Consider renting a steam cleaner from your local home improvement store to deep clean your upholstery. Follow the instruction manual when operating a steam cleaner on your couch. Some require a separate detergent, while others require only water.
There’s no doubt about it: Removing pee smells from your couch DIY-style is an unpleasant but economical choice. You could spend as low as $15 to $25 if you take on this project on your own.
However, if you’d rather not deal with the scent or the stain is severe, consider hiring a local furniture cleaner to take care of the problem. Furniture cleaner specialists know the ins and outs of removing all kinds of odors, stains, and messes from couches. They’re equipped with the right tools and supplies to tackle even the most stubborn odors—without damaging your furniture. Professional furniture cleaning is particularly helpful for tough stains and smells that don’t go away with a homemade cleaning solution.
The average cost to hire a furniture upholstery cleaner to clean your couch is between $100 and $300, but some materials like suede or leather may cost as much as $500 to clean.
Many household items neutralize the smell of urine, including fabric sprays and baking soda, a great odor absorber. Or try combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to cut through the smell. If these items don’t work to completely remove the smell of pet urine, try an enzymatic cleaner, which works to break down organic matter such as urine, and is readily available at most pet stores.
To get urine smell out of a fabric couch, mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Gently dab the solution on the affected spot and let it sit for a few minutes, then blot it dry. For stubborn smells, especially if your pet likes to pee in the same spot, it’s a good idea to hire a professional cleaner versus choosing the DIY route. A pro can use an upholstery steam cleaner to get the dried urine smell out of the fabric.
If left untreated, the smell of pet urine may not go away on its own. This is because urine is a surfactant that can penetrate fabric and upholstery, even some porous concrete. Plus, urine attracts bacteria, which can worsen the smell. When dealing with urine on your couch, treat it immediately or pay for the cost of a house cleaner. Most pros charge between $30 and $50 per hour.
