Sometimes accidents happen, from a grandparent who’s dealing with old-age, to your child not being able to contain themselves. There’s urine on your couch and you don’t know what to do, do you throw the couch away? Throw the cushions in the washer? Can you get the smell out without a professional cleaner?
How do I remove Human Urine Smell From Couch? Baking soda, vinegar and water are some of the surefire ways to remove urine smells (and stains) from your couch. Each of these provide neutralizing and deodorizing benefits that attack some of the bacteria that resides in urine.
According to Britannica, urine is composed of creatinine, water, urea (an amino acid metabolite) and pigmented products of blood breakdown (these give urine that yellow color.) Because of this, urine is harder to clean due to the byproducts and bacteria that resides in it.
Because of its chemical makeup, urine can be harder and leave a longer lasting smell than the other messes that could arrive on your couch. There’s a wide array of solutions and techniques one can use in order to get rid of the smell, stain and everything else that comes with a stain uninvited.
Keeping a home odor free is no easy task, it’s always best to practice good hygiene throughout the day. That means: Wearing gloves while cleaning spills, washing your hands after cleaning, and using plenty of hand sanitizers.
Cleaning a urine smell is typical and anyone has done it in their house, but you have to utilize proper cleaning techniques to make sure you get the stain out completely, and no smell can linger.
Regardless of where the stain came from, it’s always best to find the most appropriate way to get rid of it; there are various techniques. These can range from plopping baking soda and allowing it to deodorize than harden out, or by mixing a concoction of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Whichever tactic you may choose, know that you’re making the right decision to clean out the mess instead of letting it stagnant.
How do I Clean Human Urine From My Couch?
Fresh or old, there are various ways to clean out the urine smell and stain and get your couch back to looking as good as new. Using Towels, Vinegar, Dish soap and many other techniques are the best way to clean urine from your couch.
Bodily fluids appearing not where you want them to is one of the plights (or joys) of owning a home. It’s a tiny problem that can be solved within a day’s time, and you’ll be able to use your couch (or other type of furniture) within a couple of hours.
Microfiber towels as well as an odor/stain killing mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide (3%) is just one of the methods you can boldly use to remove any stain (not just pee related) form your couch.
| Best Deodorizer and Cleaners For Stains/Smells | Best Uses |
| Baking Soda | Natural deodorizer due to its chemical makeup helps it bear the flagship for stain and smell remover. |
| Vinegar | Due to its acidic nature, it is powerful enough to dissolve grime, dirt and grease with ease. |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | Oxidizes compounds found in organic life, which is why it’s a great bacterial disinfect and home cleaner. |
| Warm Water | Helpful for cleaning large pockets of residue left by messes. Warm Water is able to halt bacteria from growing by removing host bodies for it to stick to. |
| Cold Water | Good for cleaning clothes, as well as cuts. Due to it being cold, the water refrains from allowing pesky stains to settle deeper into the clothes. |
It’s always best to check the tags of your couch (their placement can vary depending on brand) to make sure you are not going to bleach or stain while using your own cleaning method.
It is always best to Vacuum any dried stains you have before you start cleaning, to get rid of any residual mess from the couch’s fibers.
In order to clean a Fresh Urine Stain from your couch cushion, you will need the following:
- Baking Soda
- Spray Bottle
- Distilled Vinegar
- Water
- Microfiber cloth or towel
- An Enzymatic cleaner (This will help further break down the stain and odor.)
- A vacuum (to clean up the residual bi-carb soda)
Note: Mixing a couple drops of essential oil on your water and vinegar solution is another great way to freshen up your room. While not necessary, it could be that extra push that pushes the odor out.
Step-by-Step:
- Mix One part Vinegar to Three parts water into a spray bottle.
- Test out this spray bottle on another part of your couch to make sure it will not stain it.
- Remove the stained cushion from your couch.
- If you cannot, that is fine. Do be careful not to spread the mess during the clean.
- Blot with a paper towel.
- Spray the solution across the affected areas.
- Do Not douse, spray lightly and sparingly.
- After the solution has dried along the stain, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on top of the affected area.
- Allow this to dry; this will get rid of around 80-90% of the noticeable stain/smell.
- Vacuum or shake out the residual excess of the baking soda.
- Apply your enzymatic cleanser, I recommend the Rocco and Roxie Stain Remover, it has multi-faceted uses, can help clean dry blood, pet urine, and get the toughest of stains out. Get yours on Amazon, Today!
- Allow time to dry.
Note: This is the most useful strategy for cleaning out fresher, noticeable urine stains that you come across.
Can I Clean an Old Urine Stain From My Couch?
Using a formula to create a solution, you’re able to clean an old urine stain from your couch. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are paramount in order for you to get your couch looking as good as new.
If the urine stain has dried and you’re just now getting it to it. It will be a heftier task to undergo, but deep cleaning an old urine stain is still possible. Using this Professional Cleaner’s concoction, you should be able to get out even the oldest, toughest urine stains.
You will need:
- Baking Soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide (At least Ten ounces)
- Two-three drops of dishwashing detergent.
- A bowl
- Spray Bottle
- Towel or Microfiber cloth (up to four)
Step-by-step:
- In the bow, mix three tablespoons of baking soda, ten ounces of hydrogen peroxide, and the dishwashing detergent.
- Mix until the baking soda has dissolved.
- Careful as to not spill, pour the solution into the spray bottle.
- Pre-test by spraying on a small area of the upholstery.
- Allow it to dry, if the fabric does not change color, you’re good to continue.
- If the fabric changes color, you may have to hire a professional cleaner due to your couch being made of specific fabrics that can be damaged/bleached by the concoction.
- Spray the stain, allowing it to dry for up to an hour.
- Once it has dried, blot with a damp towel (or microfiber cloth) until all the cleaning solution is gone.
Note: This is an important step, if you allow the solution to sit for too long you can possibly stain, bleach or ruin your couch’s upholstery. Be Sure to blot within an hour or two.
This should help get rid of the stain. But do be warned, it may be time for a professional cleaner to come in if this technique does not work. Unless you have a deep cleaning agent or machine lying around, you may have to swallow some form of pride and contact your local cleaner.
Though if you have the expendable money, and like to add another tool into your arsenal, I’d recommend the Bissell SpotBot Portable Deep Cleaner. Not only is it portable, but it can be used on a wide ray of spots, stains, and even help reduce smells and odors. It does all the scrubbing for you, allowing your hands to be free and saving yourself from the extra tiring and gruel that comes with constant scrubbing. Get Yours On Amazon Today!
How do I Remove a Human Urine Smell from My Couch?
Once you’ve properly cleansed the stain from the couch, this will usually rid yourself of the urine smell. But if that smell of urine persists you would just need a usual deodorizer or air freshener to liven it up.
You’ve cleaned the couch, the stain is gone, but the smell persists. The best way to get rid of this is by using a common air freshener to spray around your living room. Once most smells have been extinguished from a surface, they will naturally try to latch on elsewhere.
Though if you can tell that the human urine smell still persists long after your cleaning. It may be time to call for professional help, as they deal with chemicals that are extremely costly whose only use is to disinfect upholstery.
If you think that you’re able to get the smell out without help, it’s best to try the stain/smell removing strategies listed above, as they get both smell and stain out, you just have to scrub a bit harder. Also adding a couple drops of essential oils into your water/vinegar solution is another way to combat that awful odor.
How Do I Prevent Stains From Getting On My Couch?
Through mindfulness, maintaining proper manners as well as always being aware of your surroundings, you’re able to stop urine (and other) stains from spreading onto your couch.
Pet stains, coffee stains, buttery popcorn stains, they’re all a hassle. Accidents happen, and when they do, it’s best to be prepared to clean them. But preventing the accident before it even happens is the best way to never have to clean an unnecessary stain.
| Types of Stains | How to Clean |
| Red Wine | Blot the area with a dry, clean towel to pick up any remaining liquid. Do Not Scrub, as this can spread the stain deeper into the fibers. Pour carbonated water on top of the stain, blot and dry it until you have removed the liquid residue. Mix a ¼ cup of baking soda and ⅛ water to create a paste. Apply the paste and allow it to dry, this can take several hours. |
| Butter / Oil | Sprinkle the affected area with cornstarch or baking soda. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Vacuum the residue with the Couch attachment hose of your vacuum. Using dish soap and a toothbrush, softly scrub away at the area. Blot the remaining residual mess away with a moist paper towel. Allow it time to dry. |
| Ink | Create a solution by mixing a tablespoon of white vinegar and ⅔ cup of rubbing alcohol. Dip a clean microfiber towel or cloth into the solution and blot the stain. Note: Do not rub the stain, as it will only spread it further! |
| Dirt / Mud | Allow the dirt to dry, vacuum and scrape off loose pieces. Mix a solution of water and one tablespoon of clear dishwashing liquid. Using a sponge, blot the solution to the stain. Blot dry with a paper towel (or cloth), continue Steps 3-4 until the stain has come off. |
| Beer / Coffee | Rub the stain with an ice cube. Create a solution using a teaspoon of liquid detergent and warm water. With a paper towel, blot the solution on the stain. Note: This can also clean coffee stains, but you do not need to do Step 1. |
| Pet Stains | Using one cup of vinegar and one cup of cool water, create a solution and mix it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the stain, spritz not soaking. Use a clean towel, blot the stain. Work from the outside to the inside. |
Pets love us, but the downside is that they’re still animals. If they’ve been outside on a wet day, once they come in and see you sitting on the couch they generally want to join you. Once they jump up and have attracted the mud and dirt on the cushion, the damage is done. To prevent this, have a dirty towel (or clean) and wipe your pets paws off once they’ve come inside. Soon enough it’ll be a habit of theirs to stand and wait for you once they come in.
It is also best to vacuum your couch cushions and clean them once a week if your pets are allowed on them. You don’t want an over influx of dog hair to replace your cushion!
For all other human oriented stains, Practicing mindfulness and changing your habits of what you bring to the couch will help. If you’ve found yourself constantly spilling a drink then you can invest in a Couch Cover (commonly called slipcovers). This thin sheet can spread evenly across your couch and protect from every type of spill. They come in a wide range of colors, and most can fit any type of couch. Get Yours On Amazon Today!
If you have small children that always find a way to stain your couch with something besides their own bodily fluid, investing in possible sippy cups or forbidding them from having food on the couch is a mindful way to teach them both manners and to take care of their things.