Sofas are important interior items in an apartment. Most often they are installed in the kitchen or living room. They are designed for comfortable and pleasant sitting, and are most often made from high-quality and expensive upholstery. If stains appear on them, it is necessary to immediately take measures to eliminate them. In a home with pets or small children, urine often gets on the sofa. In this case, it is important to figure out how to wash the sofa from urine and remove the resulting stain. For the urine of a child and a cat, different means are chosen, and it is also possible to use both traditional methods and modern substances, with the help of which it is easy to wash various contaminants from the upholstery.
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 heavy odors. Does not cause allergies or asthma attacks.
Wash the sofa against urine with Dufta Fresh
Nature's Miracle
For leather furniture. Easy to use: after all the moisture has been collected, you need to apply the product and let it dry. Then apply leather furniture conditioner.
Wash the sofa against urine with Nature's Miracle
OdorGone
Does not leave traces of processing on surfaces. Eliminates microbes at the molecular level, which helps complete the cleaning process successfully. The smell is easily removed even from cat litter boxes. The reviews are positive, in some cases they complain about the price.
Wash the sofa against urine with OdorGone
Vanish
A well-known product for removing dirt and bad odors. They can remove both old and fresh urine stains.
Wash the sofa from urine with Vanish
How to remove stains on a sofa using household chemicals
In household chemical stores you can find products that will not only clean the upholstery of dust, but also remove stains from its surface. Each of these compositions is selected strictly depending on the upholstery material. Avoid products that contain aggressive chemical components and petroleum products. How can you treat a sofa?
Amway
American products, which have been not only extremely popular for many years, but are also highly effective. To clean sofas, use a multifunctional cleaner that will take care not only of the cleanliness of your upholstery, but also of other surfaces. To clean the sofa, prepare a solution in a ratio of 9:1. Then the resulting foam must be evenly distributed over the surface of the furniture and wait for some time. It is foam that is actively involved in removing stains, stains and dust.
The advantages include high-quality effect, economical consumption, absence of toxic odor, ease of use. Among the disadvantages - it is suitable only for specific fabrics, high cost.
VANISH
Cleaning products from the British company Reckitt Benckiser under the Vanish brand are probably unknown only to the lazy. They cope well with stains of various origins due to the action of oxygen, which is released as a result of the reaction of the composition with the pollutant. All you need to do is prepare the solution according to the instructions and clean the sofa.
Vanish has several significant drawbacks - a strong chemical smell that requires careful rinsing and rinsing. However, due to its very high-quality cleaning, most housewives prefer this product.
UNICUM
Unicum Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner is not suitable for all types of upholstery. For example, a chenille sofa is likely to suffer more from cleaning with this composition. Therefore, when purchasing, be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions to see if it is compatible with the upholstery material of your furniture.
The method of use is quite simple: use a spray bottle to apply the product to the surface of the sofa and, without allowing it to dry, immediately clean it with lye or a cloth. Once the material has dried, you can additionally vacuum it thoroughly.
Among the advantages of this product, it is worth noting its effectiveness, pleasant smell, and foams well. Among the disadvantages, the chemical composition is noted, due to which any work should be carried out exclusively with gloves.
Before applying any of the compounds to the upholstery, test its effect on an inconspicuous area of the sofa. Also be sure to follow the instructions for use.
Many people mistakenly believe that the more they dilute the detergent, the more effective the cleaning will be. This is far from true. In some cases, it is even advisable to reduce the volume, so as not to suffer from the appearance of soap stains later.
After you have cleaned the entire sofa, you need to blot it evenly with paper napkins to remove excess moisture. Otherwise, very wet areas will dry later than others, and this will again result in the appearance of stains and an unsuccessful fight against them.
Precautions when treating a sofa for urine
- Don't mask odors: perfume or cologne will not help get rid of stench. If you don’t want to clean it yourself, ask someone in your household or buy a ready-made product to remove dirt and odors.
- Be careful: caustic substances 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.
- Use rubber gloves, a gauze bandage or a respirator.
- No people or animals should sit in the room when cleaning.
- The room must be ventilated both during and after cleaning the upholstery.
- If possible, take the sofa outside. Sun rays or frosty wind help fight odors.
What cat owners need to know
Dogs rarely pee on sofas; owners teach them to walk. But if cats live in the house, you cannot protect yourself from the appearance of fragrant puddles on the upholstery of the sofa. Animal urine is more concentrated and has a stronger odor. After drying, it leaves white streaks. They need to be removed with a vinegar solution (100 ml of pure essence per half liter of water).
It is rubbed into the soft part of the furniture with a brush, then the upholstery should dry on its own. You can clean the sofa with a damp sponge dipped in soapy water. To prepare it, it is better to use a bar of laundry soap. It contains a lot of alkali, which can break down urine crystals.
If a cat craps on the sofa once, it will do it constantly. You can wean it off if you treat the dirty stain with lemon juice, and then lay out the citrus slices on the sofa, stuffing the dry peels into the cracks between the pillows. The aroma of the fruit will scare away the animal.
Features of removing different types of urine
Different methods are used for different urines.
Children's urine
How to clean a sofa from fresh baby urine:
- Dry the stain with paper napkins, towels or toilet paper. Do not proceed to the next step until most of the moisture has been drawn out.
- For processing, apply a soapy solution with soda: 1 tbsp. laundry soap for 1 liter. water.
- If the stain has disappeared, rinse the upholstered furniture with clean water.
- Dry the upholstery using any method you can.
Common mistakes
Mistakes when treating a sofa for the unpleasant smell of urine at home can lead to damage to 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 checking their effect on an inconspicuous area of the furniture surface.
- Some delicate fabrics (silk, velor, flock) should not be cleaned with homemade products. This requires specialized professional solutions for delicate fabrics. Some can be found on store shelves, but in most cases they are only available in cleaning companies.
- The use of bleaches, acids and acetones in their pure form 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 and make it less elastic and faded.
- You should not leave a poorly washed sofa after cleaning. Residues from detergents destroy the upholstery and render it unusable.
Removing old stains
Housewives are especially interested in how to wash urine off a sofa if it appeared a long time ago. There are many methods to remove such stains.
Laundry soap
Wet the sponge and rub 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 turn out a light pink color. Dip a rag or towel, place it on the stain and leave for 30 minutes. Dry upholstered furniture. This method is suitable if the upholstery is dark in color.
Removing old stains from the sofa with potassium permanganate
Lemon juice
Squeeze the lemons. Blot the cloth and leave it on the surface for 20 minutes. Another way is to pour the solution into a spray bottle. Wipe off the juice with a damp cloth and dry the upholstery.
Removing old stains from the sofa with lemon juice
Method number 2. Potassium permangantsovka
- To effectively eliminate urine odor and stains, ordinary potassium permanganate is used. Prepare the solution so that the liquid has a soft pinkish tint. As a rule, about 2-3 crystals are required.
- Put on gloves, prepare a piece of terry cloth, soak it in the solution, and squeeze it out a little. Apply to the contaminated area and cover with cling film.
- Remove the rag after half an hour, rinse with water and dip it again in the manganese solution. Do the same steps 1-2 more times until you achieve the desired effect.
- After all manipulations, dry the sofa naturally or use household appliances (hair dryer, heating radiators, etc.).
- When choosing a hair dryer, keep the device at a distance of 20-30 cm, and turn off the device every 7 minutes, otherwise it may burn out.
how to get rid of cat urine smell
How to clean an adult's urine from a sofa?
Method No. 1
- You will need bleach or substances containing it. For disinfection you will need a 0.5% solution.
- Apply it to the stain and leave for half an hour.
- Rinse the sofa with clean water until the chlorine is completely 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’s sofa with ammonia
Cat marks
- Prepare rubber gloves.
- Mix 100 ml vinegar + 0.5 l. water.
- Treat the dirt with a sponge.
- Wait for it to dry.
- Now it’s time for dry cleaning with soda - sprinkle the product onto the stain in a layer of 1-2 cm.
- Prepare a new solution: water + peroxide 1:1 + 1 tsp. detergent.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the stain.
- Leave brushing for 1 hour.
- Brush over any remaining stains. Vacuum any remaining soda or remove it with a damp cloth.
Removing cat urine stains from the sofa with vinegar
Method number 6. Lemon juice
- It is known that lemon has excellent disinfecting, brightening and refreshing properties. With the help of citrus you can get rid of odors and stains of any kind, so the method is considered effective.
- Squeeze the juice from two lemons, filter it and pour it into a spray bottle. Distribute the product over the surface and leave for half an hour. To enhance effectiveness, cover the treated area with cling film.
- When the specified period comes to an end, blot the sofa with dry wipes. Repeat the steps 3 more times, then spray the mattress with vinegar. Vacuum and wait until dry.
- To ensure that the smell disappears completely, it is recommended to take the treated piece of furniture out into the fresh air. The main thing is to avoid direct ultraviolet rays.
As mentioned earlier, the smell of urine is persistent and difficult to remove. Stains are difficult to remove due to their specific composition. However, if you follow practical recommendations, you can still cope with the problem. Use vinegar, peroxide, lemon juice, and professional products.
how to get rid of dog urine smell
How to clean a sofa from dog urine?
- Soak the area where the dog peed in vinegar.
- Leave until completely dry.
- Use dry cleaning with soda: spread the product in a thick layer of 1-2 cm.
- Mix 100 ml of peroxide (3%) + 0.5 tsp. detergent + water so that the total volume is 200 ml.
- Shake in a spray bottle.
- Spray baking soda over top. It will foam.
- Rinse with water after some time.
- Dry upholstered furniture and ventilate the room.
Removing dog urine stains from the sofa with baking soda
Drying upholstered furniture after treatment
- Natural drying. Don't touch the sofa and just wait until it dries.
- 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 sheet. Cover the sofa with it and wipe thoroughly.
- Fan. You need to place the fan opposite the wet spot.
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.
