The fix in 4 steps
You’ll need:
Naturally It's Clean Hardwood Floor Cleaner
The catch: It's a concentrate: mix it in the bucket and one bottle goes a long way.
Paper towels, press, don't rub.
Check the seams, where liquid hides.
In this guide
Sealed or not decides everything
Pet stain on hardwood? Drip a little water on a hidden spot. If it beads up, the floor is sealed: four steps below. If it soaks in and darkens the wood, read the unsealed note under the steps.
- Blot right away. Paper towels, press, don't rub. Rubbing pushes pee into the seams between boards.
- Apply an enzyme cleaner and follow its directions for wood. With Rocco & Roxie (see Rocco & Roxie at Amazon), let the first round dry fully before adding more.
- Dry it all the way. Once it has sat its full time, blot anything that spread past the spot, then add airflow. Check the seams, where liquid hides.
- Once the spot is done, wash the area with a floor cleaner made for sealed wood. Naturally It's Clean Hardwood Floor Cleaner (see it at Amazon) is a concentrate the maker calls plant-based, which you dilute first, for sealed hardwood and laminate only.
Whatever the floor: no steam mop, and no puddles of plain water left sitting. Water is hardwood's other enemy.
Unsealed or worn floor: if the water soaks in and darkens the wood, pee is already in the grain. That's a slower, more careful job, and sometimes a refinisher's job.
Old smell, no visible stain
Read this sectionHide this section
If the room smells but the floor looks fine, the pee is probably in the seams or under the boards. Get low and sniff along the seams, or use a UV flashlight in a dark room.
- In the seams: work enzyme cleaner into the gap with a small applicator, give it its full sit time, then dry it well. Repeat with full drying in between.
- Under the boards: if it keeps coming back, the subfloor needs treating from below or with boards lifted. Call a flooring pro unless you've done this before.
Black stains
Read this sectionHide this section
A dark gray or black stain means pee has reacted with the wood itself. Enzyme cleaner can take out the smell, but not the color.
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%) on a cloth over the stain can lighten it. Test a hidden spot first, since it can lighten the surrounding wood too.
- Wood bleach (oxalic acid) from a hardware store is the other option. Follow the package exactly.
- Sanding and refinishing is the real fix for deep black stains. A floor refinisher can tell you whether a board needs replacing.
Common mistakes
Skip these
- Rubbing the spill: blot, press, don't rub. Rubbing pushes pee into the seams between boards.
- Steam mops and steam cleaners: heat plus moisture is bad for wood, and high heat can knock out Rocco & Roxie's enzymes.
- Mopping with lots of water: standing water is how boards cup and warp.
- Scrub pads: they scratch.
- Vinegar, ammonia and bleach: over time, acid can dull a finish, and ammonia and bleach can damage it.
- Skipping the water test: Naturally It's Clean's hardwood cleaner is for sealed hardwood and laminate, not unsealed wood. Drip water on a hidden spot first to see which floor you have.
Stop the next one
Read this sectionHide this section
- Washable rugs on the dog's usual routes, with rug pads that don't trap moisture.
- A waterproof mat under the water bowl and at the back door.
- Gates to keep pets off the most expensive floor in the house.
- More frequent potty trips for seniors and puppies. And a vet visit if a house-trained dog suddenly has accidents.
Bottom line
In short
Blot fast, treat with an enzyme cleaner using its wood steps, dry it like you mean it. Black stains and smells from under the boards are the point to call a pro.
