A typical problem for every housewife, especially if there is a small child in the house, is cleaning upholstered furniture and cleaning it from odors and urine stains. Urine, like any liquid, is very quickly absorbed into furniture upholstery, and when it dries, it begins to smell unbearably.
Having once encountered such a problem, every mother will want to know how to independently remove the smell of baby urine from the sofa using special sanitary preparations or folk remedies at home.
Let's consider the options for the most effective methods in our article.
Basic recommendations
You need to understand that complete removal of the smell of human urine from furniture upholstery is only possible if the “trouble” has just happened, and not yesterday or a week ago, when the liquid has already soaked the entire fabric to the ground.
What should you do in the first minutes after discovering a wet spot on the sofa? Here are some recommendations:
- Take 15-20 paper napkins or several dozen sheets of toilet paper. Fold the paper in several layers, press it tightly against the wet upholstery and wait until the urine saturates each napkin.
- Immediately replace the stack of wet napkins with the same clean ones and blot again. Continue until the paper remains dry. Napkins and toilet paper can be seen in disposable baby diapers and diapers - they absorb liquids well.
- Use a spray bottle. Wet the stain well with clean water and repeat the procedure again with napkins to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Now choose the cleaning method that is most convenient for you, described in detail below in the article and, following the instructions, begin removing the odor.
Have you already removed the smell of baby urine from your sofa upholstery?
Not really
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.
Sources
- https://77clean.ru/chistota/kak-vychistit-divan-ot-mochi.html
- https://matrasium.ru/mebel/divany/kak-vyvesti-mochu-s-divana-i-ubrat-zapah-mochi-koshachej-i-cheloveka/
- https://legkovmeste.ru/remont-i-izgotovlenie-mebeli/effektivnyie-sposobyi-vyivesti-pyatna-i-zapah-mochi-s-divana.html
- https://UborkaPro.info/borba-s-zapahami/mochi-s-divana.html
- https://housetip.ru/chistota/kak-vyvesti-nepriyatnyy-zapah-mochi-s-divana.html
- https://dinoil.ru/chem-otchistit-divan-ot-mochi-vzroslyh/
- https://www.sympaty.net/20210818/vyvesti-zapax-mochi-divana/
- https://yborka.online/uborka/mebel/divan/ochistka-ot-mochi/vzroslogo-cheloveka
- https://mebelarity.com/himchistka/kak-izbavitsja-ot-zapaha-mochi-na-divane/
- https://berkem.ru/drugoe/izbavlyaemsya-ot-zapaxa-mochi-na-divane/
Reasons for persistent urine odor
Sweat and urine are the most unpleasant types of biological pollutants for the sense of smell. These secretions have a persistent unpleasant odor.
Important! The fact is that when oxygen interacts in the urine, irreversible oxidative processes begin, which after a certain period of time lead to the appearance of a persistent stench.
17 reliable and simple ways to get rid of the smell of urine on the sofa can be found in this article, 18 simple ways to get rid of unpleasant odors from the sofa can be found here.
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.
What tools will you need?
The sofa in a large room is the favorite place of all family members, so it is the one that most often gets dirty and looks greasy and shabby over time. In addition, upholstered furniture absorbs surrounding odors best in the house. To eliminate the smell of baby urine from furniture, you need to be patient and have the “tools” at hand.
Sponges
A good housewife always has several clean sponges of different sizes in stock. They are the ones most often useful for cleaning urine from sofa upholstery. Next we will tell you in more detail how to use them.
Napkins
To quickly remove a wet stain from a sofa, you will need napkins. You can use both regular paper ones and special wet ones for cleaning premises.
Advice! If all the wipes in the house are gone, you can blot the upholstery with a disposable, moisture-absorbing diaper or even a clean baby diaper.
Folk remedies
Before dealing with an unpleasant odor, it is important to eliminate the stain at the scene of a recent accident. The choice of cleaning product depends not only on what sanitary products are in the house, but also on the color, type of material and pattern on the upholstery of the soiled furniture. Restrictions are possible both for light and dark fabrics and, of course, for leather.
Laundry soap
A simple and effective way. Wet the dirty area with water and rub with a piece of laundry soap. Leave for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and be sure to dry, using a hairdryer or iron. Suitable for cleaning all colors of upholstery and leather.
Potassium permangantsovka
Children's urine is not as “toxic” as adult urine. You can cope with the consequences of a “children's surprise” on the sofa using a weak solution of potassium permanganate. First, the stain should be washed with water, then wiped with a sponge soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. Wait an hour and, after rinsing off the solution, dry the upholstery.
Attention! Potassium permanganate will dye light fabric red. This product can only be used on dark fabrics and skin.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice perfectly eliminates unpleasant odor. You can squeeze fresh juice from one lemon or use citric acid from the store. If the juice is fresh, there is no need to dilute it, but the powdered acid should be diluted in warm water at the rate of 1 teaspoon per glass of water.
Soak the sofa upholstery fabric with a sponge soaked in the product, leave for 15-20 minutes, rinse and dry. For best effectiveness, it is recommended to combine the juice with a tablespoon of 9% vinegar.
Vinegar
If your child is no longer a baby, then his urine will cause much more damage to the sofa. It has a specific smell that is not easy to get rid of. Vinegar will help here. It is mixed with water in a ratio of 1 to 5 and the fabric on the soiled area of the sofa is moistened with this solution. Leave for several hours, rinse with clean water, and wipe dry.
Vinegar will also help when cleaning the microwave and washing machine, and when washing the refrigerator.
Iodine
Iodine is great for removing the smell of baby urine from the sofa. With a solution of 15 drops of iodine and 500 ml of water, thoroughly wash the wet stain on the furniture and allow to dry. Like potassium permanganate, it is not suitable for light-colored upholstery, as it will leave brown stains.
Alcohol
An alcohol solution or vodka is a universal cleaning agent for fabrics and leather of all colors. Apply a solution (50 ml of alcohol and 50 ml of water) or vodka to the surface washed from urine with a cloth. After an hour, dry with a hairdryer or iron.
Hydrogen peroxide
Ideal for cleaning sofas with white or beige upholstery. Dilute 50 ml of 6% hydrogen peroxide in a liter of water. A fresh stain is first washed with water, then the desired area is treated with a sponge soaked in the solution. Cover it with cling film for 10-15 minutes, rinse thoroughly and vacuum the upholstery.
Baking soda
Baking soda removes yellow stains well and easily removes the smell of baby urine at home. It is used either alone or in a mixture with hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing detergent.
In the first case, cover the entire dirty spot with baking soda powder and leave for 3 hours, then remove with a vacuum cleaner. The second method is similar to the first: pour a mixture of a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, 100 ml of peroxide and 100 ml of water onto the baking soda sprinkled on the stain. After half an hour, the resulting foam is blotted with a paper napkin.
Attention! Neither the first nor the second method is suitable for dark fabrics.
Do you use folk remedies to remove odor?
Not really
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.
Special preparations for cleaning upholstery
It often happens that a wet spot on the sofa was not noticed in time and became old. The problem was discovered only when the moisture had already evaporated and a persistent, pungent odor appeared. Specialized preparations for cleaning furniture will come to the rescue. Let's talk about a few of the most popular ones.
Dufta fresh
This product was specially developed to remove odor and stains from human urine. Available as a spray and concentrate. Quickly and effectively breaks down organic molecules of foul odor and destroys it. Main advantages of the product:
- Eco-friendly. Does not contain toxic or harmful substances.
- Safe for people, animals and the environment.
- Convenient. The maximum effect is achieved within 30 minutes after application.
Odor Gone Med
OdorGone Med is an American-made sanitary product. Neutralizes at the molecular level and removes urine odor. Release form: spray. In addition to odor, it removes toxic impurities and allergens from the air and from surfaces, and has antibacterial and antifungal properties. After processing, it leaves no traces, is harmless, and does not require protective equipment. We feel the result immediately after use.
Amway Home LOC
Amway Home LOC is a universal cleaning product from the American company Amway. Suitable for daily cleaning of all non-porous surfaces. Biodegradable concentrate, safe for children and animals. Helps remove the smell of baby urine from the sofa and carpet, but will be especially effective only on fresh stains.
After removing traces of urine, use a napkin on the upholstery and a sponge soaked in LOC to thoroughly wipe the stained area. Leave for 20 minutes, rinse with water and dry.
Eared nanny
A stain remover can help cope with the consequences of a “children’s surprise” only if the incident occurred recently and the color of the furniture upholstery is exclusively white. It is necessary to treat the stain with gloves, dilute the concentrate strictly according to the instructions, and after use, rinse thoroughly and dry.
Important! Stain removers are completely incompatible with leather surfaces! Be careful!
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.
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.
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 protect a sofa from a child's surprise?
To ensure that your sofa does not suffer from the inevitable “children's surprises” in the future, use removable covers. They can cover both the entire sofa and the part where the child usually sits.
Important! Covers must be waterproof and washable. An alternative to a cover can be disposable baby diapers, which are convenient to cover the seating area on each sofa.
These tips will not only protect your furniture from dirt, dampness, unpleasant odors and mold, but will also save you time.
