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How to Wash Dog Urine Out of Towels & Laundry: Simple & Effective Steps
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All dog owners have faced this kind of inconvenience at one time or another, especially with puppies that have not yet acquired control of their bladder. In some cases, it has nothing to do with an education not yet completed. Your pup may have walked or laid down on urine before coming home. Whatever the cause, the smell of dog urine (or any animal urine, for that matter) in your home and on your linens and towels is highly unpleasant. The situation worsens over time if a good cleaning is not done, not to mention the appearance of unsightly stains that become difficult to remove.
However, there are some straightforward tips that allow you to clean urine traces and remove the smell for a healthy interior that is pleasant to live in for everyone. In addition, you can use commercial products available in all supermarkets.
Before You Start: What You Need to Know
Do Not Use Bleach to Clean Your Dog's Urine!
It's a fact: bleach is a multi-functional and multi-surface cleaning product, which has the merit of cleaning, disinfecting, and masking foul odors. But above all, never use it to clean your pet's urine, as this would be completely counterproductive!
Indeed, even if bleach can effectively remove traces of urine, it turns out that dogs and cats love the smell of bleach! So, if you use it at home to clean your pet's urine, there's a good chance that as soon as your cleaning is finished, your pet will come back to the same place to repeat this annoying behavior.
Why Is It Necessary to Eliminate the Smell of Dog Urine From Your Clothes and Other Textiles?
Beyond the obvious hygienic reasons, you should know that dogs have a much more developed sense of smell than ours. It is, therefore, necessary to use an odor eliminator suitable for the urine of the dog. If you have several pets, urine stains can quickly become a problem since they can make it a habit. If they smell their urine on something in the home, many pets think they can and should pee there again.
To make cleaning easier, there are products suitable for animals consisting of:
Our top pick for cleaning up pet messes is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.
Yes, it’s our product, but we love it so much, we have to share! Not only does it permanently remove the very worst smells and stains (yes, everything you can imagine!), but we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee!
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular levels to dissolve any pet mess you encounter and lift it away at the source.
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture, fabrics, and more. Whether it's urine, feces, vomit, or drool, you can erase all foul spots and smells!
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical fragrances to get the job done. We eradicate smells and stains, not just cover them up.
Note: Before using any odor eliminator, read the instructions carefully to use it correctly.
What Are Some Effective Natural Products for Removing Dog Urine?
- White vinegar: This is a natural disinfectant that you can use throughout the house. Pour it on any surface (textiles, tiles, etc.) with urine stains. You can reduce the smell of white vinegar by diluting it with sparkling water (about 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to 4 tablespoons of sparkling water). If that's more convenient for you, you can spray white vinegar, with or without water, through a spray bottle. Wait for 10 minutes before rubbing with a damp sponge. Then, rinse off with water and let dry.
- Lemon: It neutralizes odors without damaging surfaces thanks to its natural acidity. You can use it on all surfaces. However, do a test on the most fragile surfaces in an inconspicuous or invisible area. Use the juice from the lemon or simply cut it in half. Pour lemon juice over the stain or rub half the lemon on the soiled area. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. Repeat as many times as needed until the smell is gone.
- Hydrogen peroxide: Mix water with a teaspoon of soap or mild dish soap. Dip a tea towel in the mixture, then rub the stain. You can also spray it directly on it. Leave to dry. Repeat this technique several times.
- Baking soda: You can sprinkle baking soda directly on the urine on hard-to-clean areas, such as a thick carpet or carpet. Rub so that it penetrates lightly into the fibers. Leave on for several hours. Finish by vacuuming everything up. You can wash the urine beforehand with sparkling water to naturally loosen it from the fibers.
- Charcoal: It is an ideal air purifier when it comes to camouflaging odors in a room. Place charcoal in a container and wait a few days. The charcoal will gradually absorb the smell of urine.
How to Remove Urine Odor From Clothes or Bed Covers
Did your dog pee on your bed? No need to panic! First, rub the area with water to dilute the urine. Then put the sheets or blanket in the washing machine at 140 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate bad odors.
If your laundry cannot be washed at 140 degrees, soak it in water mixed with soda crystals, scrub the stain, and wash your sheets on the regular cycle.
Tip: You can use some urine stain and odor-eliminating cleaners on your clothes. Read the instructions on the product carefully. The product should generally be left to act for 15 to 30 minutes before washing the garment in the machine.
The 5 Tips to Remove Dog Urine From Sofas and Other Places
1. Use Baking Soda on Carpets
Baking soda works wonders around the house. Used for cooking, cleaning, or even personal hygiene, it is used in a thousand ways and has many advantages. It is also helpful in removing urine odor and stains from carpets, rugs, or mattresses.
You just need to:
2. Remove Urine From Leather Surfaces
If your dog has left a smell of urine on your leather sofa, don't panic! You have the solution at your fingertips, in your makeup bag, or your bathroom.
Follow these steps:
3. Use a Mixture of Baking Soda and Lemon
The acidity of lemon juice and its disinfectant effects are extremely valuable in sanitizing and deodorizing surfaces marked with dog urine. Combined with the action of baking soda, they are both effective in disinfecting and deodorizing.
How to exploit these virtues? By making the following mixture:
Then spray this mixture directly on the urine mark and let it dry (do not rinse).
4. Use Vinegar and Alcohol Against Particularly Stubborn Urine Odors
Here is another mixture that is particularly effective in eliminating dog urine odors:
Apply directly to the affected area before rinsing and drying.
5. Use a 2-in-1 Deodorant and Cleaner
Very practical, professional deodorants and cleaners can be used everywhere. Indeed, there is, unfortunately, no off-limit place where dogs choose to urinate. In the event of illness, they are also likely to leave stubborn traces of feces and vomiting.
To meet this challenge, multi-purpose sprays are very versatile. They are useful with:
In short, these products offer a quick and effective solution to cleaning and eliminating bad urine odors left by your dear canine companions. The Simple Solution Extreme Spring Breeze Pet Stain & Odor Remover is an economical and easy-to-use option that will leave a fresh scent on stained surfaces.
Bonus: How Do You Keep Your Dog From Urinating in the Same Place?
To prevent your pet from coming back to the same place for relief, you can use natural repellents:
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to get rid of dog urine odor from your clothes, towels, and other surfaces around the house. But once the emergency cleanup has passed, it's essential to understand the cause of this behavior. If it is repetitive, it will need to be addressed.
Make sure your pet does not have a health problem or is under severe stress. Take your dog out the most frequently or at the times when the accident occurs.
However, they may be territorial marking (especially if your pooch is not sterilized), or it could be incontinence if your pet is elderly. In any case, do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian for advice.
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Malasia Johnson, Pixabay
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Genevieve, a biologist and science writer, who harbors a profound affection for capuchin monkeys, pumas, and kangaroos. This passion has led her to travel extensively, volunteering and working at wildlife rehabilitation centers in Bolivia, Guatemala, Canada, and Australia. Now residing in Argentina as a Canadian expat, Genevieve enjoys the view of horses and cows greeting her from the vast plains outside her home office window. She proudly cares for three rescued dogs—Lemmy, Nala, and Pochi—and a playful kitten named Furiosa. Sharing her extensive knowledge and love for animals brings her immense joy and fulfillment.
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