We love our pets and they are important members of our family. When you share your home with pets, especially dogs and cats, there’s a good chance at some point in time an accident may happen on your floors. Pet stains on hardwood floors can be unsightly and embarrassing when visitors come to your home. Our K &C Master cleaning professional cleaning teams see an array of pet stains on flooring; you’re not alone. Here, we’ll share with you some of our best tips for how to remove pet stains from hardwood floors and reclaim your floor’s beauty.
Removing Pet Stains on Wood Floors
The acid in pet urine can discolor wood floors often leaving ugly stains that may appear dark. Repeated urination in the same spot will create the darkest stains. Unfortunately, simply scrubbing the stain with household cleaners won’t get the job done. You’ll need an oxidizing agent like hydrogen peroxide. Avoid any cleaners or chemicals that contain ammonia or vinegar. While both have a strong aroma, these smells won’t mask urine order. When working on removing pet urine stains from hardwood floors, begin by pouring hydrogen peroxide onto the stain. Cover it with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Place a plastic bag over the peroxide-soaked cloth and allow it to sit for at least 8 hours or overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and cloth. The stain will be gone or significantly lightened and any lingering urine aroma should be gone. You will have to then sand and refinish the damaged flooring. This will not work on laminate flooring.
Tip: One of the best ways to protect your hardwood floors from pet urine stains (and even surface scratches) is to have a high-quality polyurethane seal applied. If your pet does have an accident, it will be more difficult for the urine to penetrate to the wood.
Small Pet Stains on Wood Floors
For smaller or light stains, hydrogen peroxide can be used, but you don’t need to allow it to sit overnight. Apply a small amount to the stain and let it work for about 10 minutes and then do a visual check. If the stain is still there, let the hydrogen peroxide sit for another 10 minutes and then wipe it away with a cloth. Some sanding and staining will be needed to blend the spot back in with the rest of the flooring.
Dogs and Hardwood Floors: Scratches
Dog claws can leave scratches on your wood floors. In a home with both hardwood floors and dogs, consider keeping a stain marker on hand. Wood finish stain markers can be found at any hardware or home improvement store and come in a variety of stain colors so you can match easily to your floor. Simply fill in the scratches with the stain marker. If it’s a huge area affected, it might be time to consider calling in the professionals for a sanding and re-staining of the floor. If the pet damage to your hardwood floors is becoming too much to deal with yourself, contact K&C Master Cleaning today and let our cleaning professionals resolve the issue quickly.