Dog owners will inevitably encounter situations where their furry friends accidentally urinate on towels, bed sheets, or clothing. Before you rush to throw away these urine-stained items, don't worry! With the right cleaning methods, you can completely remove both the urine stains and odors. Follow these six simple cleaning steps to get your fabrics fresh and clean again!
Step 1: Quickly Absorb the Urine
While the urine hasn't yet soaked deep into the fabric fibers, grab a towel or paper towels and press down to absorb as much liquid as possible. The faster you act, the better the cleaning results will be!
Step 2: Rinse with Cold Water
Next, thoroughly rinse the affected fabric with cold water. Be sure not to use hot water, as heat can cause the proteins in urine to "set" into the fabric, making stains and odors much harder to remove.
Step 3: Soak with Enzyme Cleaner or White Vinegar Solution
For stubborn urine stains, spray an enzyme-based cleaner directly on the stain, or prepare a soaking solution by mixing 2 cups of white vinegar with 4 liters of cold water. Soak the soiled items overnight before proceeding to the next step.
Step 4: Wash in the Washing Machine
Set your washing machine to the highest water temperature safe for the fabric, and add your regular laundry detergent. To boost cleaning power, you can also add 2 cups of baking soda or 1 cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle.
Step 5: Air Dry Naturally
After washing, let the items dry naturally in the sun to help kill bacteria and remove odors. Avoid using a dryer, as the heat can cause the urine smell to become permanently embedded in the fabric.
Step 6: Repeat if Necessary
If you still detect any urine odor after washing, be patient and repeat the above steps. Sometimes it takes two or three cycles to completely eliminate the smell and stains.
Conclusion
These steps work whether the urine is fresh or already dried. The sooner you start cleaning, the higher the chance of success. However, if the urine-soiled item is dry-clean only, be sure to take it promptly to a professional dry cleaner for proper treatment.
