How do you get cat urine out of hardwood floors

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1. Blot Any Dog Urine That’s Soaked Into the Hardwood Floor

   First things first: Grab your paper towels and soak up the urine ASAP. Cleaning up spills quickly is an important part of maintaining your hardwood floor. The quicker you can get rid of the pet urine, the less time it’ll have to absorb into the wood’s porous surface (and the less time you’ll have to smell it).

2. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap to the Spot

   Hydrogen peroxide is the best cleaner for dog urine on hardwood floors if you’re looking for a DIY fix. Fill a small bowl with 3% hydrogen peroxideand a squirt of dish soap. Soak your rag in this mixture and gently wipe down the area. 

   Side note: This also works on cat urine and other types of pet urine, too.

3. Towel-Dry the Spot

   After a few minutes of wiping, blot the area with a clean towel until it’s fully dried off. 

   Note: Warping is a common problem with hardwood floors if they’re wet for too long. Be as prompt as possible with this step.

4. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Area

   Wondering what neutralizes dog urine odor? Baking soda is an excellent natural odor buster for pet urine, and you probably already have it in your pantry. Once you’ve blotted away any excess wetness, sprinkle baking soda over the area. Leave it overnight to absorb any lingering odors.

5. Vacuum Up the Baking Soda

   The next morning, vacuum up the leftover baking soda. At this point, you can do a sniff test to see if the floor has any remaining pet odor. If not, then you can go play with your dog and forget it ever happened. If there’s still a smell, proceed to the next step.

6. Wipe the Area With Diluted White Vinegar

   Dilute ⅓ to ½ cup of white vinegar into a 1-gallon bucket of warm water. Soak a rag in this mixture and gently rub at the spot. Vinegar works great on dog and cat urine odors, but it might damage some wood floors. Always do a spot-check in an inconspicuous area before applying vinegar to your hardwood floors.

   Note: Avoid using vinegar regularly when caring for your hardwood floor. Cleaning the whole floor with vinegar is a “don’t” on our list of do’s and don’ts of hardwood floor maintenance, as this will wear away the finish over time. 

   "This is great advice when cleaning spots on your hardwood floors with an abrasive solution,” says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. “If the finish wears off, any stain or debris will have direct access to the porous wood flooring."

7. Wipe Clean and Pat the Floor Dry

   Wipe down the area once more with a damp rag and pat it dry with a towel. Now it’s time for another sniff test. If there’s no more smell, go take Roverfor a walk to eliminate any lingering stress. If you still smell pet urine and you’re dog-tired of the stench, don’t worry: You’ve got options in the next step.

8. Manage Any Leftover Stains and Urine Damage to Hardwood Floors

   If you’ve done it all and you’re still left with a stain and stubborn odor, don’t stress, but do be cautious with whatever other cleaners you try. The best way to clean hardwood flooring is knowing the right products to use. 

   Steam cleaners and abrasive products are a no-go, but there are some commercial pet stain removers that are safe for use on hardwood. Make sure you carefully read the label and always do a spot-check beforehand.

9. Refinish Hardwood Floors With Pet Stains

   For stains and odors that just won't budge, your best bet is to hire a local wood floor repair pro to help you. A pro will be able to assess the damage and find the right solution for your floor.

   If you decide to refinish the entire floor, there are a few things you should know about refinishing hardwood floors, which costs around $1,800 on average, or about $3 to $8 per square foot. It’s a big job that doesn’t make a great DIY project, as there’s a high risk of gouges and scratches—and that’s just from the belt sander, not your dogs. For the best results, find a local wood refinishing contractor to help with the task.

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