Cats, as lovable as they are, sometimes have a little accident on the floor. And if you’ve experienced the wrath of cat pee on your beautiful wood floors, you know it’s not just a minor inconvenience.
Cat urine releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can penetrate deep into wood, so it’s essential to treat both the surface and underlying layers to fully eliminate the odor. This is not only for hygienic purposes but also prevents your cat from returning to the same spot.
There are several tried-and-true methods for getting rid of the cat pee smell on wood floors, so don’t despair. Follow these ten foolproof steps to restore your floors to their former glory.
How to Get Cat Pee Out of Sealed Wood Floors?
Sealed floors have a protective coating that does not allow liquids to pass through, making it easier to clean up accidents quickly. However, cat pee can still seep into the cracks and crevices of sealed wood floors, leaving behind a lingering odor.
To test if your wood floors are well-sealed, place a few drops of water on the surface of the flooring. Allow it to sit for approximately two hours. The surface can be considered impermeable if the water remains beaded and hasn’t soaked in.
Step 1: Ventilate the Room
Before you do anything, make sure to ventilate the room. Open up windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate. Use fans if you’ve got them to help move the air. This will not only help dissipate the initial odor but also remove any airborne particles that can linger. While this won’t solve the problem completely, it provides a cleaner environment for the real work to begin.
Step 2: Blot and Clean the Spot
Grab some paper towels or an old cloth and blot the area to absorb as much of the urine as possible. Be gentle but thorough—press down and lift without scrubbing to avoid spreading the urine deeper into the wood. Once you’ve blotted up the liquid, clean the spot with a hardwood floor cleaner to remove surface stains. This step is crucial to prevent the smell from penetrating deeper into the floor.
Step 3: Use an Effective Cleaning Solution
Now it’s time to tackle the real culprit—the smell. Enzymatic cleaners are your best friend here. These cleaners break down the proteins in cat urine, effectively neutralizing the odor. Simply spray the cleaner onto the affected area, cover it with a damp cloth, and leave it to work its magic for 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda or hydrogen peroxide for a similar effect. Just be sure to test these agents on a small, hidden area first, as they can have bleaching effects.
Step 4: Allow the Solution to Work
Patience is key! Once you’ve applied your chosen cleaning solution, you need to give it time to soak in and do its job. Whether it’s an enzymatic cleaner or a homemade remedy, leave it on for at least 15 minutes. For more stubborn stains, you might need to leave it overnight. This soaking period allows the solution to penetrate deep into the wood and neutralize the odor-causing compounds.
Step 5: Wipe the Area
After letting the solution soak, take a clean cloth and wipe the area. This removes any residue left from the cleaning agents. If you’ve used a powder solution like baking soda, you’ll need to vacuum the area thoroughly to ensure no particles are left behind. This step is vital to preventing any new odors from forming.
Step 6: Rinse Thoroughly
Using clean, cold water, lightly rinse the area to remove any remaining cleaning solutions. Be cautious not to use too much water as this can damage the wood. A damp cloth is often enough. Rinsing ensures that no cleaning residues are left that might cause future discoloration or odors.
Step 7: Dry Completely
Drying the area is crucial to prevent moisture damage to your wood floors. Use towels to soak up excess moisture and then allow the area to air dry completely. You can speed up the process by turning on fans or using a hairdryer on a low setting. Ensuring the area is dry will help prevent mold and mildew from developing.
How To Remove Cat Urine From Unsealed Wood Floors?
If your unsealed wood floor has gaps or a poor finish that allows liquids to soak in, you may need to sand the floor to fully remove cat urine and its odor. Cat urine can penetrate deep into the seams or porous wood surfaces, so here’s how to tackle the issue effectively.
Step 1: Check Floor Thickness
Before sanding, ensure your floorboards have enough thickness left. A quick way to check is by lifting a threshold to examine the thickness. If the flooring has been sanded close to or just above the tongue and groove, it may be too thin for further sanding.
Step 2: Prepare the Area
- Contain Dust: Tape plastic sheeting over doors, windows, and other openings to contain dust.
- Remove Quarter-Round and Baseboards: Use a flat pry bar to carefully remove quarter-round moldings. Score caulked edges with a utility knife to prevent paint or wood damage. If possible, remove the baseboards too, resting the pry bar against a stud for support. If baseboards are heavily painted, sanding close to them instead of removing them may minimize damage.
Step 3: Rent the Right Sander
- Light Sanding: For minor sanding, rent a vibrating floor sander or a disk sander, especially for engineered wood floors with a thin veneer.
- Deep Sanding: If you need to sand deeply on solid hardwood, use a drum sander. For sanding near walls and corners, an edge sander or random-orbit sander is useful.
Step 4: Sand the Floors
Run the sander smoothly across the floor, starting with coarse sandpaper and gradually working down to finer grits. Keep the sander in motion and never press down or let it rest in one spot, as this can damage the floor.
Step 5: Clean Up Thoroughly
Sweep the area to remove debris, then mop twice with a slightly damp mop to remove any remaining dust. Ensure the mop is well-wrung to avoid soaking the wood.
Step 6: Apply a Floor Finish
Finish by applying a water-based urethane coat to seal and protect the wood, preventing future stains from setting as deeply.
5 Tips for Removing Cat Pee From Wood
Identify Your Floor Type
Check if your floor is solid wood or a lookalike material like luxury vinyl, wood-look tile, or laminate. Unlike wood, these materials are impermeable and can be cleaned with a regular odor-removal product.
Consider the Finish Type
Pre-finished floors are more prone to urine seepage because of unsealed seams between planks. Site-finished floors, which are sealed after installation, provide better protection against liquids penetrating the seams.
Start with Odor Removal Products
Before resorting to sanding, use a cat urine odor remover. If your wood floor has a solid, seamless finish, these products are often effective at eliminating both the smell and stain.
Choose the Right Cleaner
Look for urine removal products with hydrogen peroxide or enzymes, which target and break down the odor-causing compounds in cat urine.
Minimize Damage with Prevention
Protect seams and edges by applying a waterproof floor finish if possible. This added layer helps keep liquids from soaking into the wood in the future.