Hardwood floors are prone to urine stains that darken over time and form dark discolorations. Fortunately, you can remove urine stains with the help of home remedies. Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda all help get rid of urine stains on hardwood floors. You can also use a commercial stain remover and wood bleach.
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Remove dark urine stains using vinegar and grapefruit oil
You can eliminate urine stains from hardwood floors using everyday home products. In this method, you will use distilled white vinegar and grapefruit oil as an alternative to commercial hardwood cleaners. The acidic white vinegar lightens the stain while grapefruit oil removes the rancid odor from the wood.
The following steps are how you remove dark urine stains from your hardwood floors using vinegar and grapefruit oil:
- Fill a container with a liter of lukewarm water.
- Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the container.
- Then add at least a teaspoon of grapefruit oil.
- Mix well to form a cleaning solution.
- Grab a non-abrasive brush or a sponge and soak it with the cleaning solution.
- Use the soaked brush or sponge to scrub the urine-stained area of your hardwood floor.
- After the urine stain is no longer visible, rinse the area to clear the hardwood from the remaining cleaning solution.
- Dry the hardwood with a clean towel.
Get rid of dark urine stains using hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a type of bleach, so don’t use this approach on your dark-colored hardwood, as it can lead to bleaching and slight discolorations. Hydrogen peroxide lightens the dark urine stains by lifting the urine residue from your hardwood floor. So, only use this method for light-colored hardwood.
Follow the steps below to get rid of dark urine stains on hardwood floors with hydrogen peroxide:
- Soak a clean cloth with concentrated 3% hydrogen peroxide.
- Use the soaked cloth to scrub the urine-stained hardwood as a pre-treatment process.
- After scrubbing, cover the entire stained area with a new clean absorbent cloth.
- Soak the absorbent cloth with hydrogen peroxide by generously pouring it all over the cloth.
- Allow the soaked absorbent cloth to sit on the stained hardwood for at least an hour.
- Upon drying, check if the urine stains lighten or disappear.
- Afterward, rinse the stained area with clean water.
- Dry with a clean cloth.
Clear up dark urine stains using baking soda
In this method, the baking soda will act as a cleaning agent and a deodorizer. Baking soda always works best with vinegar. So, when performing this cleaning method, you will need the additional help of white vinegar. Together, these two stain removers can get rid of dark urine stains on your beautiful hardwood floors.
Follow the steps below to remove dark urine stains on your hardwood floors using a baking soda and vinegar solution:
- Create a mixture of baking soda and distilled white vinegar with the same consistency as that of a paste.
- Use the mixture to coat the stained area. Leave it for an hour.
- Remove the remains of the baking soda and vinegar coating with a microfiber towel and dispose of them.
- Wipe the area with a dampened cloth and allow it to dry.
Eliminate dark urine stains using enzymatic cleaner
Enzymatic cleaners are commercial, non-toxic products that use natural enzymes to neutralize urine, leading to the disappearance of the stain. This method speeds up the stain removal process, and it may need to be repeated more than once when working on old, stubborn, and dark urine stains.
The following are the steps to follow when removing dark urine stains with commercial enzymatic cleaners:
- Just like any other method, start by cleaning the surface of the stained area.
- Afterward, apply the enzymatic cleaner on the urine-stained site.
- Succeeding steps may vary depending on the manufacturers’ instructions. So, ensure you check the instructions when using the product.
- After the stains are no longer visible, rinse the area with water and allow it to dry.
Pre-formulated urine stain removers are great for use on hardwood floors and surfaces. Keeping an enzymatic cleaner at home is a good idea for pet owners and people with small children. Having it on hand, allows you to always manage urine stains immediately.
If all else fails, the best option is to sand down or replace your hardwood floors completely. And from then on, never allow your hardwood to catch urine stains again.
Commonly asked question about urine stains on hardwood floors
Can I use household bleach to remove dark urine stains?
Yes, but you need to use different kinds of bleach, like hydrogen peroxide and special wood bleach to remove dark urine stains on your hardwood floor. That’s because common household bleach such as sodium hypochlorite is not enough to deal with stubborn dark urine stains and can cause damage.
Will dog urine cause staining on my hardwood?
Dog urine is one of the root causes of dark urine stains on hardwood floors. The odor of dog urine is also problematic when urine seeps in the hardwood, making it harder to remove. That is why it’s best to potty-train your furry friend to ensure your hardwood floors stay clean. And when accidents happen, act immediately to treat the stain.
How do urine stains get dark?
Urine stains get darker over time because urine pigments stick to the surface of your hardwood floors. When urine spills on hardwood and sets in, the color of the stained area becomes dark because of the deposition of water and residues. However, even dark urine stains are still manageable and possible to remove.
Video: How to get dog urine out of carpet
The Bottom Line
The removal of urine stains requires effort and full commitment. It’s best to deal with accidental urination quickly to avoid the hassle of removing old dark urine stains on your hardwood floors. But you’re not always there when these accidents happen, so ensure you have the right tools for stain removal to help you deal with the stains with ease.
