Hardwood floors are one of the top choices when it comes to flooring. It is one of the most appealing floorings, which is also strong and durable. On the other hand, the hardwood floors are low maintenance and don’t require a lot of cleaning and care. However, it can be pretty hard to remove the cat urine from hardwood floors if it becomes a stain.
Almost all of us have pets in your house, and we do love them. But it becomes very disturbing when they accidentally urinate on the floor. Especially if you have hardwood floors, it will become hard to clean as the floors are sensitive. In our today’s article, we will discuss how to remove cat urine from the hardwood floors easily.
How to Remove Cat Urine from Hardwood Floors ehow
Cleaning Cat Urine for Sealed Wood Surface
Hardwood floors arrive at two variations, which are sealed floor and unsealed floor. The best way to clean the sealed hardwood floor is by using a steam mop. It can help you to lift off the stains entirely without working so hard. It can also sanitize the floor by cleaning the virus, bacteria, and other things with high-temperature steam.
Things You Will Need:
- An appropriate steam mop for hardwood floor.
- Water
- Electric source
Follow the given steps below for cleaning the floor.
Step-1
First, you will need to sweep the floor to get rid of the loose dust, dirt, grime, etc. from the floor. You can do using a traditional rag or a vacuum cleaner. It will help you to complete the cleaning function smoothly. The loose dirt and dust can also damage the pads of your steam device.
Step-2
Now add water in the reservoir of the steam mop. Depending on the machine’s model, you will either need to use the distilled water or usual tap water. Also, make sure that you are pouring the right amount of water in the water reservoir. Then connect the device with the electric outlet.
Step-3
Now set the preferred mode for cleaning the hardwood floor. You shouldn’t use extreme temperature on the wooden floor as it can damage the floor. You will need to select low or medium mode to work on the hardwood floor safely
Step-4
You will require waiting for some time to let the water become steam. Usually, most of the steam mop requires around 10 to 15 minutes for steaming the water. You may need to wait for more or less time, depending on your device. Check out the specification or the usual manual of the steam mop to be assured about it.
Step-5
Start cleaning the floor by targeting the stained area. Use the machine in backward as extreme heat from the steam can burn your feet. You shouldn’t hold the device on one space for a long time as it can damage the floor. Turn off the steamer machine and disconnect it from the electric outlet when you are done cleaning.
Cleaning Cat Urine from Permeable Wood Surface
You can use Baking soda to clean the permeable hardwood surface. The baking soda is a household item that is often found in most of the kitchen. One of the interesting points about the baking soda is it is capable of cleaning things effectively. You can also use the baking soda for cleaning the cat urine from the permeable wood surface. Check out how you should do it:
Step-1
Start with cleaning the floor by sweeping using the traditional rag or the vacuum cleaner as above. It doesn’t matter which method you are implementing; it is always essential to make the floor ready before cleaning.
Step-2
Now apply the baking soda on the affected or stained area. You can also make a solution of baking soda and grapefruit oil for an enhanced result. The baking soda will remove the cat urine and stains when the grapefruit will help you to remove the odor from the floor. You can also apply the solution directly.
Step-3
Wait a while after applying the solution to let it work. After waiting for 10 minutes, you can move to the next step. Now use a sponge or brush to scrub on the affected area. If the stains have been there for a while, then they will no easily come out. That is why you will need to scrub gently on the stains to lift them off.
Step-4
The stain should be removed from the floor. If you see there are still stains or urine marks, then you should reapply the solution. Then use fresh water to rinse off the excess solution and the removed stains from the surface. Do this step carefully, as the remaining solution can cause new stains if not cleaned properly.
Step-5
You can also use a microfiber rag for cleaning the excess solution from the floor. Then turn on the fan and open the windows of the house to dry the floor. You shouldn’t use the floor until it is dry.
Should You Sand the Hardwood Floor?
Frequently sanding the hardwood floor is not a good idea as it will decrease the floor thickness and make it less durable. However, if the floor has become dirtier and multiple cat stains on the floor may seem permanent, you may consider sanding the floor. Note that professionals should do sanding if you have no prior experience in working such projects.
Also, note that the sanding requires using noisy machines and produce a lot of dust. If you are going to do it by yourself, then make sure to wear protective glass, and hearing protection. Eye protection is also recommended to keep your eyes safe from the dust.
Having a hardwood floor in your house increases its beauty and also increases the value of the property. You should try to remove the cat or dog urine immediately to resist them from becoming stubborn stains. However, if anyhow the urine becomes stains, you can rely on the above procedure to get rid of them.
Resources:
https://lifehacks.stackexchange.com/questions/1861/how-to-get-cat-urine-smell-out-of-wooden-floors
https://lifehacks.stackexchange.com/questions/1861/how-to-get-cat-urine-smell-out-of-wooden-floors
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