Cleaning a sofa from adult urine at home: Getting rid of the smell

How to get rid of the smell of urine on the sofa is a question that becomes relevant when a small child, pet or elderly person lives in the apartment. In such situations, unfortunately, unpleasant embarrassments often occur - we are talking about urine stains on the sofa, which every housewife strives to get rid of. Today we will look at the most effective methods for solving this problem.

How to get rid of urine smell on the couch

Features of removing different types of urine

Different methods are used for different types of urine.

Children's urine

How to remove fresh baby urine from the sofa:

Blot the stain with paper towels, towels or toilet paper. Do not proceed to the next step until most of the moisture has been removed.
To process, apply a soap solution with soda: 1 tablespoon of laundry soap per 1 liter of water.
If the stains are gone, rinse the upholstered furniture with clean water.
Dry the upholstery using any method you can.

Urgent measures

If the liquid has not yet been absorbed deep into the upholstery, proceed to emergency actions:

soak the area with a dry paper towel folded in several layers;
actions should be continued until the paper remains dry;
instead of a paper towel, a disposable diaper does the job well;
then several layers of paper are again applied to the place and pressed down with something heavy on top;
At the last stage, the stain should be cleaned with plain water.

Removing old stains

How to wash urine from a sofa if it appeared a long time ago is of particular interest to housewives. There are many methods for removing these stains.

Laundry soap

Wet the sponge and scrub it well with laundry soap. Treat stubborn stains and leave for 5-10 minutes. Rinse off the foam with warm water and dry.

Removing old stains from the sofa with laundry soap

Potassium permangantsovka

Dilute 2-3 crystals. The solution should be light pink in color. Dip the rag or towel over the stain and leave for 30 minutes. Dry upholstered furniture. This method is suitable if the upholstery is dark in color.

Why is it difficult to refresh your sofa at home?

Upholstered furniture items are necessary in the house for a good rest. Almost all household members spend most of their time on the sofa, so in any case it needs systematic cleaning. If someone used it instead of a toilet, it will not be easy to refresh the sofa.

There are several reasons why it is difficult to remove the smell of urine from a sofa:

The liquid quickly penetrates into the product, absorbing not only into the foam rubber, but also into the wooden parts of the frame.
Urine reacts with substances contained in fabrics and foam rubber. As a result, stable compounds are formed.
If the stain is not treated immediately, it will become an excellent breeding ground for various microorganisms, which will become a source of unpleasant odors.

Experienced housewives know well: the smell of urine does not disappear. You cannot expect it to disappear on its own, otherwise it will be completely impossible to remove it.

Neutralization and removal

To remove the stench and yellow streaks, uric acid is neutralized with a vinegar solution. Spray the damaged area. Under the influence of vinegar, the acid disintegrates and evaporates. When the liquid has evaporated, pour soda onto the treated area. The powder is sprayed on top with a solution prepared from:

washing gel (2 tsp);
clean water (200 ml);
peroxide (200 ml).

As a result of combining the components, a thick foam is formed. After 2 hours, the microbes causing the persistent odor will be destroyed. The dry powder is cleaned.

Smelloff sprays are used to block musky odors.

A universal spray for removing strong odors contains plant enzymes, surfactants, and essential oils. Destroys sources of odor (urine, sweat, spoiled food) at the molecular level. Smeloff means to purify the air; process textiles, floor coverings, clothing and footwear. After deep treatment, the furniture dries within 24 hours.
Odor blocking spray contains methylisocyanolinone, zinc salts and surfactants. Used to block the “odors” of dog and cat urine on floors and soft surfaces. They use it to treat a dirty area; After 10-12 hours, the cleaning is repeated.

Useful tips

To facilitate and speed up the process of cleaning upholstered furniture at home, use the advice of experts:

The main thing when working with any chemicals is safety. Be sure to wear protective gloves if you are going to work with chemicals. Do not inhale sprayed liquids under any circumstances; wear masks.
Test before each use of an unknown product. Carefully examine drug reactions so that negative consequences do not come as a surprise. If paint has disappeared from the area being treated as an experiment or another undesirable reaction has appeared, you should not use this product on any area; it is better to abandon it altogether.
Please pay special attention: the area to be disinfected must be thoroughly moistened with water. Then the active substances of the chemical preparation will be able to penetrate into the upholstery more actively.
The disinfectant solution must be diluted strictly according to the instructions. It is best to use glass or plastic containers, which are not intended for table use, and treat the entire area of contamination with it, and not just the middle.
It is easier to remove a fresh stain than an old and ingrained one, so you cannot put off resolving this issue, but it is better to act quickly.

How to quickly clean urine from a leather sofa

Leather surfaces must be handled extremely delicately: as soon as a stain appears, the urine must be collected with a damp cloth; it must not be rubbed on the leather, natural or artificial. If you rub the stain, it will become larger.

You can eliminate the unpleasant odor using the “Miracle of Nature”, which is sold in pet stores. The composition is applied directly to the stain. When the product is absorbed into the skin, you need to wait until the sofa is completely dry. The treated area is then cleaned with leather furniture conditioner, which helps extend the life of the sofa.

Nature's Miracle is a special product that removes almost any stain from leather furniture

A composition that you can prepare yourself also helps to neutralize the smell of urine from a leather sofa. You will need:

hydrogen peroxide – 100 ml;
baking soda – 100 g;
dishwashing liquid - 1 tbsp

Mix the ingredients to form a smooth paste and apply to the stain. Wait 15 minutes, rinse with warm water. The treatment can be repeated only after the surface has completely dried.

Before using any product, test it on an inconspicuous area of your sofa.

If the sofa is made of leather

If a leather sofa has been stained with child urine, then you need to act quickly before the entire thing is saturated with moisture. Find the necessary folk remedies on hand or purchase suitable cleaning products to return leather furniture to its original appearance.

Preparing for cleaning

It is advisable to remove the stain when it is still wet. To do this, take paper towels, napkins, disposable diapers - anything that can absorb urine that ends up on the leather surface.

Don't try to wipe the urine away; this will only make the stain bigger and make cleaning twice as difficult. Instead, press down firmly on the stain, trying to blot as much as possible and absorb as much urine as possible into the paper towels. Change towels as they become soaked; you may need a lot of them.

Advice! Try removing the stuffing if the leather cushion on your sofa is stained. Typically, such furniture models have a fastener on the side or at the bottom edge of the cushion. Open it and take out the stuffing.

Now set the packing aside and will need to clean it with an enzymatic cleaner later. Don’t neglect cleaning the stuffing; this is very important, because even if a baby puddle was noticed right away, the liquid most likely managed to become saturated and get into the stuffing.

Even after cleaning the leather surface, the soiled padding will begin to emit an unpleasant odor after a few days.

If you cannot get the upholstery, you will have to contact the specialists of the furniture company, or it is better to immediately order the services of professional dry cleaning.

To avoid damaging the leather upholstery, choose specialized products for leather products when cleaning the sofa from baby urine.

Before applying the product to the stain, check its compatibility with the leather on the back of the sofa.

If after an hour there is no negative reaction, the product can be used. Otherwise, there is a risk that a wet spot on the sofa will not be the worst incident on your leather sofa.

Leather washing

Now you need to rinse the leather surface. To do this, use a clean cloth, dampen it with your chosen cleaning product and wipe the stain several times. It is very important to do this carefully so as not to rub the cleanser into the skin or stretch it.

By wiping the entire surface of the stain, from edge to edge, from seam to seam, you can slightly lighten that particular area, which will immediately catch the eye. Lightly wet and wipe the entire leather pad, not just the dirty area.

Advice! Among the folk remedies for fair skin, the following mixture is ideal: mix 1 tablespoon of any liquid dishwashing detergent, 1 liter of hydrogen peroxide and 100 grams of baking soda in a bowl. Mix everything carefully. Place a cloth in the resulting solution; when it is completely wet, wring it out. Treat the entire leather pad with this product.

Wash the padding using an enzymatic cleaner to remove urine stains and strong odors. To avoid deforming the pillow, wash the filling only by hand in plenty of water. After washing with an enzymatic detergent, it is important to rinse the pillow well several times with running water, squeeze thoroughly and dry. It is best to dry the stuffing outside; the sun's rays will help remove the smell of urine.

It is important to “transform” the completely dried filling and leather cover into a pillow without any deformation. Try to position the padding in the case in exactly the same way as it was originally located.

Advice! At the final stage, when the leather is completely dry, it is recommended to apply leather conditioner to it. Squeeze a little conditioner onto a suede rag and treat the entire surface of the leather pillow on all sides. The conditioner will make the skin smooth and soft, and will restore natural oils lost after cleansing.

How to clean an adult's urine from a sofa?

Method No. 1

You will need bleach or a substance that contains it. For disinfection you will need a 0.5 solution.
Apply to the stain and leave for half an hour.
Rinse the sofa with clean water until all the bleach is removed.
Dry the upholstery.
Ventilate the room.

Method No. 2

Take ammonia in a ratio of 10-15 drops per 1 glass of water.
Treat the stain and leave for 1–1.5 hours.
Rinse with clean water.
Dry the sofa.
Ventilate the room.

Removing urine stains from an adult sofa with ammonia

Cat marks

Prepare rubber gloves.
Mix 100 ml of vinegar + 0.5 liters of water.
Sponge contamination.
Wait for it to dry.
Now it’s time to dry clean with baking soda - sprinkle a 1-2 cm layer of the product on the stain.
Prepare a new solution: water + peroxide 1:1 + 1 teaspoon of detergent.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and treat the stain.
Leave brushing for 1 hour.
Wipe away any remaining stain. Vacuum or wipe off baking soda residue with a damp cloth.

How to Remove Cat Urine Stains from a Sofa Using Vinegar

Purchased household chemicals

In cases where self-prepared remedies for the smell of adult urine do not have the expected effect, you can use one of the purchased household chemicals.

Well-proven drugs include the following:

DuftaFresh;
Sanera Enzym;
OdorGone.

All these drugs are effective, convenient to use, but have a high cost.

Sanera Enzym

This professional product is designed to remove stains and unpleasant odors of organic origin, including urine. Can also be used in case of damage to the upholstery due to vomit and feces.

Saner Enzyme is based on active enzymes that react with organic substances, which helps eliminate unpleasant odors. The price of a container with a volume of 0.5 liters is about 700 rubles . Country of origin: Sweden.

How to use:

Clean the upholstery with a brush.
Spray the product over the surface or apply it with a damp sponge.
If necessary, rub.
Rinse off with a clean sponge.
Dry with a napkin.

If, with this use, both the stain and the odor do not disappear, a more intensive treatment is applied:

Apply Sanera Enzyme to the upholstery, ensuring good hydration of the fabric.
Cover the treatment area with a napkin, cellophane or plastic shield to slow down the drying of the product.
After removing the odor, rinse the product off the upholstery with water.
Dry with a napkin.

The consumption of the product can vary depending on the severity of the problem and the size of the spot.

OdorGone

This product is a professional neutralizer of odors of organic origin, which includes urine.

Interaction with the source of an unpleasant odor takes place at the molecular level. In this case, the smell of urine is eliminated rather than masked.

Manufacturer of biodegradable odor neutralizer - USA. The cost of the product is about 850 rubles.

Using OdorGone is quite simple, since the container is equipped with a sprayer. The product is sprayed onto the upholstery, ensuring good hydration of the material.

Cover the surface with film or cloth for 12 hours to slow down evaporation.

In cases where the stain is caused by a large amount of urine that has penetrated deep into the upholstery, it is recommended to use a syringe into which you take OdorGone and prick the sofa mattress.

DuftaFresh

This environmentally friendly product is designed directly to eliminate urine odor. It is produced in Germany.

DuftaFresh is safe for people and animals , which allows it to be used in residential areas.

The product contains enzymes of plant origin that break down substances that emit an unpleasant odor.

The DuftaFresh bottle is equipped with a sprayer. With its help, the drug can be easily applied to the entire surface of the area affected by urine.

Lay a film on top of the fabric moistened with the neutralizer. If after drying the result is not good enough, the treatment is repeated.

The price of DuftaFresh depends on the volume of the container . A bottle with a spray with a volume of 0.5 liters costs about 1,100 rubles, and a 2.5 liter canister costs about 3,700 rubles.

If the problem of dealing with the smell of urine on the sofa recurs frequently, it is beneficial to purchase a large-volume container and then refill the spray bottle.

How to remove the smell of baby urine

Children's urine, as a rule, does not smell at all, which is due to its less pronounced concentration.

But until your baby is used to going to the potty in a small way, you will not be saved by covering all the upholstered furniture with rubber diapers. And since young mothers are ready for anything, it will not be difficult for them to clean the sofa from the smell of urine. Sometimes it is enough to completely dry the newly formed puddle, which has not really been absorbed, and rinse the stain well with clean water; Enough. But if your child often lies on the sofa, as a child he is bothered, he will also usually urinate on his own. And you have to find a way to get the urine smell out of the couch.

Try the following options:

Regular mild gel cleanser. Lather the stain, let the foam dry for ten minutes and rinse the stain well with a sponge and water. Then dry it several times with a dry cloth and let the furniture dry.
Soda. Apply a paste of baking soda powder and water to the stain, rub, let it dry for ten minutes, and then remove the paste with a dry cloth.
Potassium permanganate. Use only on dark upholstery. Using a slightly diluted solution of potassium permanganate, moisten a cloth to the size of the stain, spread it on the sofa, and place a weight on top. After 30 minutes, remove the fabric from the stain and repeat all the manipulations again.
Lemon juice. By the way, this method of getting rid of the smell of baby urine can be considered safe for the baby’s subsequent contact with this place on the sofa. After all, where there are their bare asses and the eternal desire to lick everything, it is simply impossible to constantly control. Squeeze the juice from the lemon, strain, and wipe the stain with freshly squeezed juice. After half an hour, repeat the manipulations again. Place a piece of fabric over the stain and place a weight on it. After half an hour, rinse everything well with a sponge and water.

Protection

It is almost impossible to predict in advance where the child will go to the toilet next time and when this will happen. Therefore, it is advisable to protect those objects where the child often sleeps, plays or climbs.

With these products you can forever protect fabric and leather from moisture, maintaining its original appearance and saving on detergents. The products can be used not only for clothes or shoes - the interior can also be treated with chemicals to protect yourself from unexpected troubles, which are presented not only by children - spilled coffee, an overturned glass of wine, etc.

Now you know how to protect upholstered furniture and clean textiles and leather at home using professional and improvised household chemicals.

How to clean a sofa from dog urine?

Soak the area where the dog peed in vinegar.
Let it dry completely.
Use dry baking soda: sprinkle a 1-2 cm thick layer.
Mix 100 ml peroxide (3%) + 0.5 teaspoon detergent + water to a total volume of 200 ml.
Shake in a spray bottle.
Sprinkle with baking soda. It will foam.
Rinse off with water after some time.
Dry upholstered furniture and ventilate the room.

How to Remove Dog Urine Stains from a Couch Using Baking Soda

Cats are not only cute

In most cases, the smell of pet urine is the main cause of damage to upholstered furniture. We can confidently say that owners of adult dogs and cats are not at all immune from the appearance of puddles, but what then can we say about the owners of small pets? How to remove cat urine is the most frequently asked question by owners of cats and dogs.

Cat urine has a very unpleasant and persistent odor compared to even human or dog urine, so methods for dealing with it must be carefully described. Cat urine contains the same enzymes as skunk urine, which can now explain its foul smell.

All these substances are not particularly aggressive, so they will not spoil the upholstery of your favorite new sofa.

Getting rid of the smell of animal urine

Pets living in the house are, of course, a real blessing, but if they are not used to walking in the litter box, they can cause a lot of trouble for their owner.

If you have a cat at home, the animal can go to the “bathroom” on the sofa.

Many pet owners are interested in the question: “How to remove the smell of urine from the sofa?” This will not be difficult if very small kittens or puppies get wet.

Already adult animals still cause many problems for the owner.

To remove the smell of urine from animals, specialized products are usually used. They can be purchased at a pet store or household chemical store.

Using improvised means does not always give excellent results, but it can be dealt with.

First you need to remove the stain that has formed, and only then remove the smell. Hydrogen peroxide can help neutralize it.

Leave the mixture for an hour, then clean with a brush and, if necessary, wipe with a damp cloth. The sofa is completely clean, the smell of cat urine has been removed.

Sprinkle baking soda onto the scented surface.
Mix hydrogen peroxide with water in a 1:1 ratio and add a little liquid soap to the resulting solution.
Using a sponge, apply the product evenly to the desired area.
Leave for an hour and a half.
Rinse with water and wait for the fabric to dry.

There are many products available in retail stores to eliminate urine odor.

If your pet is a cat, lemon juice is a great way to eliminate urine odor. Cats also hate the smell of citrus fruits, which will prevent new stains from appearing on your favorite sofa.

Spread a couple of citrus peels on the inside of the sofa - the animal will never ruin your furniture again.

What happens to urine in the upholstery and filling of the sofa

When urine gets on the upholstery of a sofa, it is quickly absorbed into the structure of the fabric and into the top layer of the filler. The speed of this process depends on the absorbency of the materials and the presence or absence of moisture-proof layers/impregnations.

Within a few days after the “incident,” urine evaporates and loses up to 96% of its volume, which is water. Precipitated metabolic products remain in the materials - uric acid salts, urea, pheromones and other water-insoluble substances. The pH of urine shifts from acidic (pH 5-6) to alkaline (pH 9-10).

The main source of the foul “aroma” is uric acid salts. The characteristic odor of ammonia is given to the components of urine by bacteria that enter biological secretions from the outside and/or are initially contained in them (present in the urine of sick elderly people). The yellow color of the urinary spot is given by urochromes - derivatives of bile pigments.

When in contact with water, the components of uric acid form highly volatile organic compounds, thiols (mercaptans), which emit a disgusting stench. To neutralize it, dry cleaners use special odor absorbers.

Read in the blog: “Even dry cleaners fail: 6 problems when dry cleaning upholstered furniture.”

How to wash urine from a sofa: a review of store-bought products?

Various manufacturers produce special products that will help cope with such a delicate problem.

Dufta Fresh

The product from the German manufacturer Dufta has a pleasant soft aroma and contains herbal ingredients to eliminate strong odors. Does not cause allergies or asthma attacks.

Clean urine with Dufta Fresh

Nature's Miracle

For leather furniture. Easy to use: Once all the moisture has been collected, apply the product and let it dry. Then apply leather furniture conditioner.

Cleaning a sofa using special equipment

If folk remedies and household chemicals cannot cope with odors, then use household appliances.

Steam generator

Water is poured into the steam generator tank. The device converts it into hot steam, which cleans and disinfects surfaces well. If you first clean the surfaces with a steam generator and then treat them with a professional neutralizer, you will be able to eliminate almost any odor.

Washing vacuum cleaner

Sofas and other upholstered furniture can be cleaned using a washing vacuum cleaner. This is a good way to comprehensively combat the unpleasant smell of urine on upholstery. If you choose the right attachment, you can even process any materials and hard-to-reach places.

Precautions when treating a sofa for urine

Don't mask odors—perfume or cologne won't remove stench. If you don't want to clean it yourself, ask someone in the house or buy a ready-made dirt and odor remover.
Be careful: caustics are often used for cleaning. If there are small children, animals, or people with allergies in the house, it is better to avoid vinegar or bleach.
Wear rubber gloves, gauze or a respirator.
There should be no people or animals in the room during cleaning.
The room should be ventilated both during and after cleaning the upholstery.
If possible, move the sofa outside. Sunlight or icy wind can help combat odors.

Precautionary measures

When deciding to get rid of an unpleasant odor on upholstered furniture, you must adhere to 2 rules:

Observe safety precautions when working with components used to prepare cleaning products. You should not assume that if substances that are in everyday use were used to make a solution or mixture, then they will not cause harm. It is recommended to carry out work with rubber gloves, avoid contact of products with skin and clothing. After carrying out work to help remove urine from upholstered furniture, hands are thoroughly washed and moisturized with a nourishing cream.
You should carefully consider the choice of a product designed to remove unpleasant odors from furniture. Before using them, test the prepared mixture on a part of the furniture hidden from view. If there is no change in the color of the sofa upholstery, get to work.

Common mistakes

Mistakes when handling a sofa due to the unpleasant smell of urine in the home can damage the upholstery of upholstered furniture. To avoid making such mistakes, you need to know what not to do when cleaning sofas:

Do not use cleaning products without first testing their effect on an inconspicuous area of the furniture surface.
Some delicate fabrics (silk, velvet, flocking) cannot be cleaned with household products. This requires specialized professional solutions for delicate fabrics. Some can be found on store shelves, but in most cases they can only be purchased from cleaning companies.
The use of pure bleaches, acids and ketones is prohibited. Only in low concentrations that are safe for human health and the surface being treated.
It is not recommended to use very hot water for cleaning. It can age the upholstery, making it less elastic and faded.
Do not leave a poorly washed sofa after cleaning it. Residues from detergents destroy the upholstery and render it unusable.

Features of cleaning furniture made from different materials

Upholstery type	Removing stains
Velours	Dry cleaning and drying with cloths. No harsh chemicals. Do not use sponges or fluffy cloths. Vacuum only with a rubber attachment.
Flock	Dry cleaning with foam from a sponge or a damp brush, not wet, otherwise marks will be left to remove marks. It is important not to use a lot of water so that the base on the glue does not come apart.
Tapestry	Dry cleaning with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner.
Leather	Do not use solvents, stain removers or other aggressive detergents. Do not use a hair dryer for drying.
Faux leather	Wet cleaning.
Suede	Dry cleaning. Vacuum with a soft attachment.

Rules for drying upholstery

If you are removing stains from a felt-tip pen, baby urine, food and other types of stains with your own hands, then after cleaning you need to dry the upholstery well. Do not use hair dryers, irons or other heating devices that may cause fading or deformation of the material. The best solution is natural ventilation, so it is recommended to open the windows or turn on the air conditioner. Inadequate drying leads to the appearance of mold and mildew, the proliferation of bacteria and dust mites - all this poses a threat to human health.

At home, it is difficult to remove chocolate stains from the sofa, as well as baby urine and other types of dirt. Fresh marks can still be removed, but to deal with old stains it is better to involve the employees of a cleaning company. The speed of their work is 3 times higher than the speed of a person who cleans himself. Cleaners will also determine the composition of the upholstery and select the optimal cleaning method, which will prevent changes in the characteristics of the material.

Drying upholstered furniture after treatment

Natural drying. Do not touch the sofa and wait for it to dry.
Artificial. Iron. Remember: it should not remain in one place for more than 1-2 seconds, so as not to burn the fabric.
Hair dryer. Don't forget to turn it off periodically.
Dry holiday. Cover the sofa with it and dry thoroughly.
Fan. Place a fan in front of the damp area.

You can get rid of urine on the sofa quickly and effectively. The main thing is to follow all the recommendations, otherwise you can ruin the sofa.

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