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Removing Stinky Pet Urine from Fabric

Removing Stinky Pet Urine from Fabric

Removing all the smells (even old ones) is your objective here. Apart from your own needs, it is crucial to preventing repeat performances as your pet has marked the territory.  Bear in mind that the urine has probably pooled underneath the carpet so you will have to treat a greater surface area than that covered by the initial urine.

Clothing, Cushions and Fabrics

Launder item, adding ½ cup bicarbonate of soda to the detergent tray of your washing machine and some white vinegar to the softener tray. Set machine to soak cycle.

Don’t tumble dry – hang your fabric on the line.  

Carpets and Upholstery 

Blot up as much as excess urine as you can with a cloth. Do this by placing the cloth on your hand and use a blotting motion. Don't squish or rub. Do this as quickly as you can, but also make sure you have blotted up as much urine as you possibly can.

Mix together a solution with half/half vinegar and water and work this solution into the carpet. Bear in mind that you have to cover all the areas that the urine has penetrated. Blot this solution up (or wet vacuum) and repeat.

If your stain has dried out or is being particularly obstinate, you may need to add any oxygen based cleaner to the solution of vinegar and repeat the process a couple of times.



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Science Notes

It is important to remove all traces of the urine scent - not just for your own nose, but more importantly your pet, who will return to remark a spot if he can smell himself. Bear in mind that your pet's sense of smell is far far stronger than yours.

Vinegar helps to neutralise the ammonia in the urine. Avoid using ammonia based products to clean urine. Ammonia is a compound in urine and it may well encourage your pet to return.

Related Tip

Depending upon your fabric or carpet type, pet urine may cause the dye to run or bleach the fabric.  Unfortunately this recipe cannot reverse that action.>