The typical smell of urine depends on the presence of bacteria and the accumulation of uric acid crystals, or the residues of urinary excretions. Often these crystals get trapped in porous and permeable materials, such as clothes, fabrics and carpets, and becoming fertile ground for the proliferation of bacteria, they release a strong odor of ammonia. That is why it is not enough to simply clean or "dry" a urine stain. Even if it appears to disappear, the smell may persist. This article shows you a number of methods that will help you get rid of this nasty smell from your clothes, bathroom, furniture, and floors.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Clean Machine Washable Items
Step 1. Put all the dirty items in the washing machine
Do not mix stained or urine-stained clothes with the rest of the clothes to be washed. It is best to keep them separate until you have removed the stains.
Step 2. Add half a pound of baking soda
Add it to the detergent you normally use and do your laundry as usual.
As an alternative to baking soda, you can add 60 ml of apple cider vinegar to the load along with normal detergent
Step 3. Air dry your laundry if possible
If the weather is nice and warm, lay it out in the sun. Sunlight and a gentle breeze will help you remove and neutralize the bad odor.
Step 4. Run the washing machine again if the odor persists
This time add an enzymatic detergent. It is a biodegradable and non-toxic product that helps destroy and eliminate unpleasant odors. You can buy it at pet food and accessory stores, home cleaning stores, and department stores.
Method 2 of 4: Clean the Bathroom
Step 1. Spray the vinegar on the toilet
Do not dilute it. Spray it on all surfaces and grooves. Then let it act for a few minutes.
Step 2. Clean the toilet
Using a clean cloth or paper towels, wipe down every nook and cranny of the toilet.
Step 3. Moisten another cloth and wipe again
Take another rag and wipe the inside of the toilet to get rid of any vinegar residue.
Step 4. Repeat the same operation on the bathroom floors, pipes and walls
By doing this, you will be able to remove all traces of urine - which give off an unpleasant odor - not only from the toilet, but also from nearby surfaces. After all, it is normal for some squirting to happen outside the toilet!
Step 5. Clean the toilet and surrounding areas regularly
By washing it regularly, you will prevent urine stains from accumulating and caking and, in this way, you will keep the bathroom fresh and clean.
Method 3 of 4: Clean the Upholstery
Step 1. Use a product that eliminates bad odors from fabrics
The best known brands are Glade and Febreeze. You can find it in any supermarket and home cleaning store. It comes packaged in bottles with a vaporizer, so you can spray it on chairs and sofas and let it air dry.
Thanks to this product, upholstery and other fabrics will once again have a fresh, clean scent. However, keep in mind that it masks dirt and odors rather than completely treating and removing the problem. Just consider it as a temporary solution
Step 2. Prepare a home remedy and apply it
There are several recipes that require the use of household products. Remember to always do a test before applying any solution over the entire stained surface. It is better not to fade and spoil the upholstery. Be aware that there is always this risk when using a combination of substances.
- Use a solution of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Combine 470 ml of hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of washing-up liquid, and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Apply it to the urine stain until it becomes soaked. Let it sit until it dries completely. If white residues appear, vacuum or brush them.
- Make a water and vinegar solution. Combine equal parts hot water and distilled white vinegar. Pour it onto a clean cloth or rag, then scrub the stain in circular motions. You should do this at least twice. Then let it dry. You can use a hair dryer or a fan to speed up drying times. If it still smells bad, try just sprinkling with vinegar. In this case, the persistence of the bad odor suggests that the urine has penetrated into the fibers of the fabric, so repeat the operation using a sufficient amount of vinegar.
- Try denatured alcohol. Moisten the stain and then blot with a dry cloth.
Step 3. Use absolute baking soda
Baking soda is a natural substance that eliminates odors. Pour it diffusely on the affected area (don't be thrifty!) Until it is completely covered. Use a brush to penetrate it deeply in circular motions.
- Once it has worked inside the fabric, vacuum it. With this procedure, not only will its function of neutralizing unpleasant odors up to the fibers be ensured, but you will also remove the bicarbonate residues.
- If the urine odor persists or is particularly strong, you may want to do this twice.
Step 4. Buy a urine remover
Look especially among enzymatic cleaners because they eliminate stains and molecules that cause bad odor. They contain agents that promote the production of bacteria capable of degrading urine.
- The best known brands are those intended to eliminate bad odors caused by the urine of animals, but they can also be used for human urine. They include Urine Off, Neutralize Odors (Bayer), Uri-Go and MAFRA Urine Removal.
- Follow all product instructions.
- It is the least tiring method, but it requires the purchase of a product.
Step 5. Contact an upholstery cleaning company
It is the last solution if the smell persists despite the remedies described so far. Identify a company and inform the employees of your situation to see if they believe they can resolve it. Ask if they have various alternatives available to customers. Also try to check if there are any reviews on the company you have chosen.
Be aware that hiring a cleaning company can be quite expensive. It can cost almost as much as cleaning and restoring furniture
Method 4 of 4: Clean the Floor
Step 1. Use a homemade natural remedy
In a vaporizer bottle, mix 150ml of hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 2.5ml of orange dishwashing liquid or 3 drops of wild orange essential oil. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients well. Spray the solution on the affected area until it is soaked and let it dry completely. Once dried, it will look like a dusty patch. Then aspirate it.
- You will likely have to repeat the process twice if the smell persists.
- This solution is suitable for wood, linoleum and carpet floors.
Step 2. Use a detergent
The enzymatic ones are more effective on both furniture and floors.
Step 3. Rent or borrow a carpet extractor or vacuum cleaner
Since, unlike hard surfaces, carpeted floors absorb liquids, this appliance will help you remove all traces of urine. It works like the vacuum cleaner, but with the addition of water. In other words, it forces the clean water to penetrate the fibers and at the same time extracts the dirty one.
- You could rent these machines from a cleaning company.
- Follow all instructions carefully.
- Do not use other chemicals or additives with these appliances. They work best with plain water.
- Do not use a steam cleaning machine to remove the urine odor from rugs and carpets. Since heat causes urine proteins to stick to the fibers of the fabric, it will permanently fix stains and bad odor.
- You could also consult a carpet cleaning professional or, if it is just a localized stain on a carpet, take it to a specialist company. However, keep in mind that this choice could be very expensive. Therefore, it would be cheaper to buy a new carpet than to pay for these services.
Warnings
- Whether it's a home remedy or a commercial product, always give it a try in a hidden corner. Before using it you must make sure that it does not damage clothes, furniture or floors.
- If it is a problem that systematically recurs in your home (whether due to the presence of pets or people), keep it under control. To find older urine stains, you could use ultraviolet light, which is sold at most home and DIY stores. You will need to turn off the lights and turn on the UV lamp to locate the spots. Outline the areas with chalk.
- The main remedy for urine odor is to prevent it! So, limit the problem in places where it is tolerated (outside, in the bathroom, in the litter box, etc.). Prevention is essential!
