Removing Pet Stains on Hardwood Floors
Pets are a wonderful addition to any family, however they occasionally
cause problems. Pets, whether it is a dog, cat, or other type of pet
require some special training to know where to go when they got to go.
Even with training it can be difficult to keep your floors and house
looking great and pet stain free. When pets become older or are left
alone for too many hours during the day accidents can happen. If you
have hardwood floors and find you are having trouble removing the stains
left behind by your pet then you will need to gather a few items. It
will also depend on how fresh the stain is. Older stains on hard wood
floors will take some extensive work, while fresh stains can be remedied
in a short period.
Part of a pets nature is too mark their territory, which means an old
pet stain can have a new pet in the home trying to mark that territory
as their own. It is very important when removing fresh pet stains or old
pet stains to remove the odor from your pet’s senses.
Fresh Pet Stains:
Fresh pet stains by nature have not soaked into the floor to a great
extent. You will be able to remove the stain and odor from the accident
without too much work. For this job you will need paper towels, warm
water, white vinegar, and a specialized stain and odor- removing agent
with bacteria and enzyme properties. When you shop for the stain remover
check the label to make sure it is usable on hardwood floors. Some stain
removers can actually harm the coating on hardwood floors because the
ingredients are too powerful. Below is the process for removing fresh
pet stains with the above materials.
Blot the affected area with a paper towel to remove the urine. Scrub the area with white vinegar to help remove the stain and
the odor. Rinse the stained area with warm water. Blot the area dry with paper towels. Make sure to dry the area
completely so that you will not leave any water damage. You do not want to let any of the liquid remain for long are it
could warp the area of the wood. Apply a specialized stain and odor remover with bacteria and
enzyme properties to the affected area to avoid future instances.
Old Pet Stains:
Older pet stains may have seeped into the wood and the sub- flooring,
which means you need to sand the wood to find out the extent of the
damage. Sand the stained hardwood flooring until you reach a point that
is not stained or if you find the stain is too deep. If the stain is
deeper than the surface you will have to remove that section of
flooring. You may have to redo the entire hardwood floor depending on
the extent of the damage. When a stain has been left for several years
the urine may seep into the sub- flooring or at least the odor.
Sometimes commercial bleach can remove the stain and odor from old pet
stains, however it is a very sensitive solution and you need to have
proper gloves and training. If you have to sand the floor you will want
to resurface the area with shellac based primer.
|
