Do you have pets or babies at home? If yes, you must be aware of the struggle of removing old stubborn marks on your floors. Being hardwood flooring experts, we frequently come across people wanting to know how to remove old black urine stains from hardwood floors, get solutions from us and easily clean their floors.
Old Black urine stains can be removed from hardwood floors through dish soap, vinegar, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, commercial cleaners, scraping, or even sanding and refinishing the stained part.
In this article, we will guide you on the stepwise methods of cleaning pee stains from hardwood floors with the right concentration of products without causing any damage.
Let’s study further,
8 Ways To Remove Old Black Urine Stains From Hardwood Floors
Dark black stains develop on your hardwood floors when urine sinks deep into the wood. Therefore, it is suggested to wash or blot out fresh urine through blotting paper immediately.
If urine stays on the floor longer, they leave a dark black stain which sucks in terms of cleaning. Do not worry. We have mentioned eight easy and practical ways of removing these urine spots from wooden floors. Start by spotting these dark areas and opt for any one of the following methods:
1. Remove Stains With Vinegar And Grapefruit Oil
Vinegar is an easily available ingredient well known for its cleaning properties. Grapefruit oil is perfect for removing foul odors. Follow the steps mentioned below and remove the black urine stains from your floors:
- Mix equal parts of white Vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of grapefruit oil in it.
- Spray the solution directly on the stain. Make sure the entire affected area is covered with the solution.
- Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes to penetrate the stain.
- Use a clean cloth or sponge to scrub the stain gently. Be careful while scrubbing.
- Rinse the area with clean water and dry it thoroughly with a clean towel.
- Repeat the process if necessary until the stain is completely removed.
According to a study, Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner. But remember, Vinegar is acidic, and its high concentration may damage certain hardwood floors. Hence, test the solution on a small area of the floor first to check that it does not cause any damage.
2. Clean With Warm Water And Dish Soap
Water and dish soap solution is famous for regular cleaning. It perfectly cleans the recently peed urine spots. However, removing old dark stains through this solution is slightly difficult. Add a few drops of vinegar, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide to make this solution more effective.
Take a bowl. Add water, dish soap, vinegar, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide. Take a sponge or any cloth. Dip it in the prepared solution and rub it on the stained area. Leave the solution for five to ten minutes to soak the urine. Wipe it off using a clean, soft cloth and dry the floor.
3. Use Wood Bleach For Dark Urine Stains Removal
Wood bleach is another cleaning option for urine stain removal. Keep in mind; this is a chemical cleaner. So you must wear gloves, a mask, and glasses. Use it in well-ventilated areas only.
It is preferred to sand the area slightly to activate the wood. Then, apply the wood bleach to the affected area. Leave it for ten minutes and then rinse it off.
Point to consider: Bleach can only be used on light-colored hardwood floors. Do not use it on dark-colored hardwood floors, as it may fade away the original color of your floors.
4. Use Baking Soda To Remove Pet Urine Stains
Baking soda is a natural, gentle and safer cleaner for most of the hardwood floors. It removes the animal urine smell efficiently. Use it in the following steps:
- Mix a small amount of water with baking soda to form a thick paste.
- Apply the paste directly on the stain
- Allow the paste to sit for at least 30 minutes or until it is completely dry.
- Once the paste is dry, use a damp cloth to gently scrub the stain.
- Wipe off the area with a damp towel and let it dry thoroughly.
5. Try Commercial Cleaners
Mentioned above were the DIYs. If you want a ready-made solution, use the commercially available best urine stain remover for hardwood floors.
Experts usually advise using enzyme cleaners. They contain natural enzymes and are non-toxic. They can act on urine and break down its uric acid-producing carbon dioxide and ammonia. Such cleaners quickly remove the stains and foul odor from that area. Make sure you are using a good quality cleanser.
Take a non-abrasive sponge. Add a few drops of commercial enzyme cleaner on it. Rub it on the entire stained area thoroughly and leave it for 15 minutes to sit and work on the floor. Now, take a towel and bolt it off from the entire surface. Remove Black Urine Stains With Hydrogen Peroxide.
6. Remove stains with Hydrogen peroxide
Looking for something to remove heavily pigmented urine stains? Hydrogen peroxide solution with water comes to rescue you. It is a potent chemical that causes slight discoloration of the floors as well. Be careful while using it.
- Take 3% concentrated hydrogen peroxide and mix it with equal parts of water.
- Take a microfiber cloth, dip it in the solution, and rub on the urine stain.
- Gently scrub the stain and cover the area with plastic film to keep it wet for 3 hours.
- Check if the urine surface has popped up or not. If not, repeat the process until the stain leaves the surface.
- Wash the area with water and mild soap to remove all the debris and smell.
- Coat it with a floor polisher if you observe a slight discoloration.
According to research, High concentrations of hydrogen peroxide affects the indoor air quality of the house. Therefore, it is not suggested for frequent use. Also don’t forget to properly ventilate the area while using it.
7. Use Hand Scrapers
If no cleaning solution successfully removes these stains, it’s high time to scuff the stained area with hand scrapers for hardwood floors. Using it with care is an efficient option for scrubbing wooden floors.
- Clean the affected area to remove any dirt or debris from the surface.
- Use a hand scraper to carefully scrape away any raised or rough portions of the stain. Be sure to use a light touch to avoid damaging the wood.
- Use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the rough surface of the wood. Sand in the direction of the grain to avoid additional damage.
- Vacuum or sweep up any dust or debris left behind.
- Apply a hardwood floor stain or finish that matches the rest of the floor to the affected area.
- Allow the finish to dry completely before walking on the area or replacing any furniture.
8. Sand And Refinish Floors To Remove Oldest Stains
If you are suffering with stubborn urine stains on your floors, sanding and refinishing your hardwood floors is the ultimate option.
Clean the surface of the stained area. First use sandpaper with coarse grit to remove the rough urine stained surface. Then use fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the entire surface. Once it is done, vacuum the hardwood floors to remove dust and clean the area. Complete the process by applying a sealer for the fine perfect finish.
FAQs
How To Remove Black Dog Pee Stains From Hardwood Floors?
To remove black dog pee stains from hardwood floors, start by cleaning the area with a hardwood floor cleaner. Then, mix equal parts of warm water and vinegar. Use a cloth to apply the solution to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe it away with a clean, damp cloth. For persistent stains, use hydrogen peroxide instead of vinegar.
What Is The Best Method To Remove Cat Urine Black Stain From Hardwood Floors?
The best method to remove black cat urine stains from hardwood floors is to clean the area with the hardwood floor cleaners. You can use vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, dish soap, hand scraper or even sand the heavily stained area. Make sure to use the right concentration and right procedure.
Conclusion
Removing old black urine stains from hardwood floors may seem daunting, but it is possible with the right technique. Now that you know all the helpful ways to clean urine-stained wooden floors, you are safe to keep pets at your place.
If you have used any of the above mentioned methods, let us know your results.
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