Furniture Cleaning

Updated on April 05, 2008
S.R. asks from Falls Church, VA
38 answers

I recently potty trained my son and have several spots on our couches and chairs that have dried pee on them. I would soak up the extra pee with a towel at the time of the accident, but didn't have the foresight to treat with a cleaner (my husband thinks it's because I've never had a dog). I need ideas to get the smell and the stains out.

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So What Happened?

What an awesome response, thank you moms! There are a couple of things that have been repeated that I'd like to try. Thank you so much.

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

I have always and will for ever use Mean Green. I don't know if they have it where you are, but I buy it by the gallon. My daughter would sometimes fall alseep on the sofa and she would have an accident. I would get up what I could with a towel, and then I would clean with the mean green, and when the family was in bed. I would go back and just spray that spot with the mean green and leave it to dry over night. When the morning came everything was as good as new. I use it to clean EVERYTHING. I even spray spots on their clothes before I put them in the wash and it has ALWAYS worked. I LOVE MEAN GREEN.

2 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I do have dogs and I use Zep (aerosol can) from Home Depot. It works wonders!! It has even gotten red wine out of my white carpet.

I have not used it on upholstery because we have all leather. I learned a long time ago that with dogs in the house, leather is the easiest to clean.

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

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A.B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,
I don't know about toddler pee, but a simple solution of vinager and water takes care of dog urine. Gets the smell and the stain.
Good luck,
A.

3 moms found this helpful
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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.!! I use a great product...it has gotten stains and smells out and has kept future dogs from smelling it. I know you're talking about your son, but I figure if it works on the dog stuff, it'll work with him. We dog sit for friends/family alot! Anyway, not only does it work, but it's safe and environmentally friendly. No toxins/chemicals. It's called Solumel!! I LOVE it!!!!

3 moms found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

You can have it professionally cleaned. The pro will apply an enzyme that will eat the bacteria that is causing the odor. Otherwise, a surface clean will be just that, trust me it's in the padding. You can then have a protectant applied which will prevent further 's from soaking through. Make sure it's a truck mount steam clean method so that the couch gets sanitized. It's cheaper than a new couch and the small investment will be worth it, and your couch will be bright, clean, and smell nice once again.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

S.,

Jesus is the best friend we can have! Congratulations on potty training your son.

Find a Meleluca rep and buy Sol-U-Mel. It is the most amazing product. It gets pet stains out, wine stains, you name it. It is an awesome product.

Enjoy your blessings!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.W.

answers from Dallas on

I use BioKleen BacOut which is a natural product that I know you can get at Whole Foods, Sunflower Shoppe in Ft Worth & any Kroger with a health food dept like the one on Lamar in Arlington.

I mix it with water in a spray bottle to get rid of all kinds of odors & I used it when my granddaughter spit up & many other things. I am extremely sensitive to odor & it gets rid of the odor & is safe to use.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

I love your bio. I'm a Christian stay at home mom as well.

As far as the stains on your couch... Have you tried "spot shot"? I have yet to find anything that spot shot can't remove. I've used it on upholstery before and never had a problem with it taking out color (only the stain). Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Dallas on

Simple Solution & Nature's Miracle are great and available in the pet section at Target or Walmart or any pet store. They contain enzymes that break down the urine and neutralize the smell. You can also try Urine Gone. It was one of those "As Seen on TV" products & I've seen it at Target. I've never personally used this product, so you may want to check the web for reviews. Always check your fabrics to be sure the dyes won't run.

One great way to find the spots is to buy an inexpensive florescent light with a black light bulb. The pet areas usually have these, but you'll find them cheaper at Home Depot or Lowes. At night, turn out all the regular lights and turn on the black light. All the urine spots will glow so you'll know exactly where to treat the stain. You can also use this in the bathroom near the toilet. You'll be surpised exactly how much little boys "miss". I still use this every once in a while and my boys are 6 & 4, I usually find several "misses"!

K. C.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.J.

answers from Dallas on

Try Totally Toddler stain remover and pre treater. It worked on my white dinette chairs! Not sure about old urine but it works on old formula stains, even if it doesn't work at least it won't ruin furniture futher. Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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R.B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,

The best thing I have found for urine smells and stains is a product called Sol-U-mel. It's made by a company called Melaleuca. They have less expensive and safer products for your home. This month until the 20th they have memberships for only a $1. If you are not interested in a membership I would be happy to just get you a bottle of Sol-U-Mel. This product also takes permanent marker off wood, fabric etc and even blood red finger nail polish or red dye out of white carpet. I have been amazed at all the things this one product does. Call me if you would like to give it a try.###-###-####

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

I use a product called Natures Miracle. I originally bought for dog urine, but I've since had to use it for my son when he peed on the carpet. It works really well and breaks down the urine naturally. It comes in a big jug, so I had to put it in a spray bottle and spray several days in a row before the smell and the stain went away.
You can buy it a a pet store.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.
i use a cleaning line called Melaleuca (mela-luca) www.melaleuca.com. Its all natural and works WONDERS. They have all sorts of wonderful products for laundry,cleaners,vitamins,snack bars, make up etc. Feel free to contact me if you care to order some!
S. Kirkland

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,
Get some urine out stuff from the pet department to get the urine gone. Then get some Resolve to spray on the furniture to get the smell out. Hope this helps!
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Dallas on

I have used a product called Kids N Pets with good results on stains from our cat. You would need to test it on the fabric first in an area that is not seen. I use it on our carpte with good results. You can find it at Wall Mart.
About me - Christian mom to adult children and 3 grandchildren with two more due in Aug! I am also a massage therapist here in N. Garland - tlhmassagetherapy.com
God Bless,
T.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.I.

answers from Dallas on

There is a product in the pet aisle of most grocery stores called "OUT!" It is for pet stains but if you read the label it also is for vomit and other natural bodily fluds. It works great! You mix it with warm water and that activates the enzymes in the solution. I recently saw that rug doctor also makes a spray version that doesnt have to be mixed with water. But I havent tried that one. Any product that is for pet stains that is enzyme based should work for you though.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.H.

answers from Dallas on

There's a product called odorZout that is 100% natural with no perfumes or chemicals. I have had many dogs and two children, this product always works. The phone number for the company is 1-800-88-stink. The most important thing is that it gets the smell out. There are some local outlets that sell the product. Good Luck, B.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

Club soda is best, because it doesn't hurt your furniture. Just dot it on a rag and wipe the area until it's saturated. Try not to get it so wet that the padding gets soaked as it takes a LONG time to dry. I'm sure there are many other remedies, but this one has worked well for both dogs and boys! :) Have a great day.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.H.

answers from Dallas on

We would be happy to help you if you call in a professional - I am the owner of Cornerstone Chem-Dry and we have been serving the Dallas metroplex for 15 years. call us at ###-###-#### or email me at ____@____.com If you try to do it yourself -- I would recommend going to Home Depot and purchasing a can of Chem-Dry stain extinguisher -- test it on an area of your couch that can't be seen to make sure it does not discolor. Pet urine is the most difficult thing to remove. We have a professional product called PURT (Pet Urine Removal Treatment) that works wonders!
Thanks and Good luck!
E. Herman

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Go to the pet store and find a stain remover called, "Nature's Miracle." Get a big jug of it (it's a little pricey -- about $20 or so for the really big jug). Pour it on the stain full strength until the stain is saturated (these instructions are on the bottle too). Let it set for a few minute and then soak up with a clean cloth. It is the best stuff I've ever used for pet and kid stains. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about human urine, but Nature's Miracle for cats that I purchase at Petsmart works great on floors, carpet, furniture, etc. Read the label about using around small children. Good luck!

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P.L.

answers from Dallas on

Hi!
I have 2 dogs and a friend of mine told me that the Clear Windex with vinegar will remove the stain and the smell. I have tried it on an old stain on the carpet and it seemed to work well. It works better than Resolve or any other stain remover.

I hope it works on your sofa. Good Luck!

P.

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J.M.

answers from Lubbock on

You might try some of the great products out there for animal stains. Or go to the store and rent the carpet cleaner, but use it for upholstery.

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G.C.

answers from Dallas on

Kids and Pets, its in a bright yellow squirt bottle with blue writing at Walmart in the cleaning aisle. It looks like water but there is something to it. I think no home with kids under 5 should be without it. It works on vomit and spit up as well.

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G.R.

answers from Abilene on

just pour straight amonia on it and scrub. It smells horrible and will take your breath away, so just take a deep breath, pour just enough to cover the area and scrub. then take a few steps back where you can get another fresh breath then go back and make sure you covered the whole stained area. Then pour water on it or use a saturated rag with water and rinse it it. The smell will not stay. Put a fan on it to dry faster. The smell will go away in a day or two.
It's great for getting ground in grease stains out of kitchen linoleum!
I just learned about all this a few months ago and it works. Now I use amonia for all my deep stains. We even used it to get an oil boot dye out of the carpet. And it's cheap!

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L.T.

answers from Amarillo on

PetsSmart has a potty training system (I've forgotten the name of it) that is wonderful!! I used it with my pets in the beginning, and decided to try it with my children and it's wonderful!! It takes out the stains and any bacteria. If you ask them for thier potty training cleanup system, they'll know what I'm talking about. Good Luck!!

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A.F.

answers from Louisville on

Potty training is never easy but you should ALWAYS be equiped with the right cleaning products. Just towel drying a pee spot is not sanitary, and especially with it being on your couch, I know that if I was your guest I wouldn't want to sit on dried up pee. YUCK!!! Not ever having a dog shouldn't have anything to do with it. It's just common sense, or I thought it was, to clean up urin with a cleaner. You need to get krud kutter. It works great for getting stains out. The smell is going to be a little harder seeing that it has sat there for so long.

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M.D.

answers from Abilene on

go to the pet store and get some Natures Mircle. It works great. We use it to clean every spot on our carpet, even if it is not a pet or kid mess.

hope this helps
M.

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S.D.

answers from Dallas on

Try FOLEX. I use it on pet stains and it works great. It even gets out old stains. It is in a purple and white bottle, and I usually get it at Lowes. The bottle directions say to blot up excess cleaner with a paper towel, but I don't. I satuate the area , rub it in and let it dry. No need to rinse. Good luck! S.<><

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

I have used Urine-B-Gone, which you can find in Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Follow the directions, and it works GREAT on upholstry, carpet, etc.

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J.R.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Hi S., you should try Simple Solutions. You buy it at a pet supply store. I use it to clean up messy from my dogs and it gets rid of new and old urine odors. It also works for vomit odors. If it has gotten in you cushion you can squirt it full strength in there ( I had to use a horse needle once)and let it dry. This could take a few days but the odor will be gone. A professional cleaner told me that is how he would get the smell out. Good luck

J.

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S.G.

answers from Dallas on

Try RESOLVE. It is a really good cleaning product and smells great too. It comes in a spray bottle and you can find it at any grocery store. I used Resolve to detail my carpet in my car. I smoke, so I was not sure that it would take out the smell and the grease spots that were planted by the people who repaired my car. Behold my car smells like it is brand NEW and looks great too. It really works.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Walmart used to carry a solution in the pet section that was made to take out urine, etc stains and smell. I used it for when we were house breaking our dog as it claimed they would never urinated in the same spot...she didn't, she just went to another spot.

At any rate, it works for all types of "accidents". Not sure about long term stains but you could give it a try. I can't remember the name of it though, sorry.

J. S.

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J.E.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter threw up on our couch once and nothing would take the smell out. I immediately washed it w Dawn, cleaned it w a carpet cleaner w the attachment, and poured a few bottle of Frebreeze on it and NOTHING...that yucky smell was still there. The only thing that worked was Natures Miracle odor remover. I just poured it and saturated it into the spot, it took a couple days to fully dry out. After that, I could n't smell anything! I am not sure if it gets the stain out, but it works great on the smell! Goodluck!

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S.R.

answers from Dallas on

try urien b gone i think that is the name you can get it at cvs and i think walgreens its with the tv prodcuts its the bomb

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

Nature's Miracle at at pet store like Petsmart or Petco. Works wonders. I have a dog and that is how we got hooked on it but I use it for everything now related to kid stains too...pee and vomit. It completely takes the smell out. Just follow the directions. I've never had any type of problem with it and it is fairly inexpensive. I'd get teh squirt bottle. It also does well with kool aid or wine stains.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

If your furniture has removable cushion covers(they unzip) and if the fabric is washable, you can toss them in the washing machine.

I've dealt with pet and kid accidents for years and years. One of the best products I've found for cleaning (my vet recommended it to me because it's what he uses at his clinic) is a product called Odoban. I've only found it at Sam's Club, but someone told me that they found the ready-to-use spray bottle version at WalMart. Sam's Club has the gallon concentrate that usually comes with a bottle of ready-to-use. It runs about $10, but it will last you a long time.

It's very eco-friendly and non-toxic to pets and kids. It has a very light scent which is from essential oils like eucalyptus. It doesn't mask; it eliminates.

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

All the advice you are getting is wonderful except for one thing. The urine is likely down in the foam of the cushion and surface cleaning will do just that, clean the surface. You will need to take the cover off the cushions and rinse out the foam cushion. Personally I would not use anything but water mixed with a little white vinegar and flush the foam thouroughly with water. White vinegar is a wonderful cleaner and sanitizer and once dry has no odor (I use it on my tile floors). Press out as much of the moisture as possible then let them dry on end, pressing out the bottom end occassionally. Make sure they are completely dry before you re-cover them because you don't want mildew on top of the urine issue. Clean the fabric carefully with another cleaner or see if your local drycleaners will take care of them. Sometimes they won't touch them because of backing on them. I use to run a drycleaners years ago, and saw it all! I continue to handle fabrics through my custom sewing business and often I can combine the knowledge of both occupations!

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