There’s no denying that household pets are adorable, beautiful, and lovable. Unfortunately, all it takes is the unpleasant smell of their urine, or the sight of a cat or dog peeing on the couch, for our love to be put to the test. There are many lovers of four-legged friends among us, so this guide on cleaning such tough stains from difficult surfaces like upholstered furniture will definitely come in handy. Here, you will learn how to save your beloved piece of furniture and get rid of the smell of dog or cat urine from your couch. Some animal habits are beyond our control, especially when they are small and only just learning or need to mark their territory. So, we have to be prepared for unpleasant surprises such as a peed-on couch. Pet urine means not only unattractive stains, spots, and discoloration but also a long lasting smell. Fortunately, there are many methods to deal with it, and most of them are based on agents which we usually have at home. The problem mainly lies in the bad odor, which can remain our efforts and make life very difficult. Therefore, simply removing the liquid and the stain from the surface of the sofa may not be enough. We also need to effectively get rid of the smell.

How to clean a dirty sofa

First of all, you need to remove the excess liquid very quickly and do not allow the urine to penetrate the upholstery.

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What to use to wash dog or cat urine from the sofa? At home, the most commonly used solutions are vinegar and baking soda. In the first step, using a clean cloth, collect as much liquid as possible to remove the urine from the couch. Next, you need to clean the fabric. For this step white vinegar is the best, mixed 1:1 with water. The pungent smell of vinegar may pose some inconvenience, but its effectiveness is exceptional, so it could be worth sacrificing a little bit of comfort. It’s best to spray the entire surface of the stain with this solution, soak thoroughly, and then collect the dirt, gently pressing the stained area. Do not rub the fabric, because the urine will penetrate into the fibers even more, and what’s more, you can irreparably damage the material itself.

In the third step, remove the excess moisture and the unpleasant odors. Here you only need two ingredients: baking soda and a natural fragrance oil, such as lavender. For a pillow-sized stain, you should measure a cup of baking soda and add about 15-20 drops of oil to it. Mix everything with a fork, evenly distributing it. Then, generously and evenly sprinkle a fairly thick layer over the flooded area and let the baking soda dry and absorb the scent for several hours or even overnight. Next, vacuum the couch, removing the baking soda. Cat lovers who already have cat litter at home, can use that instead, as it has moisture absorbing and neutralizing properties. It should help to get rid of urine odor as well. Even if you’re not entirely happy with the result, this initial stain neutralization can significantly increase the chances of saving the sofa.

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Home remedies for “tough stains”