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Removing urine stains
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Removing urine stains
Urine in the home is unpleasant, but mainly because it does two things at once: it leaves a stain and it can cause a strong odour that keeps coming back. Think of a child’s accident, a pet on the rug, or urine that has gotten under a sofa cushion. At first, it may not seem too bad, but after drying, you will often see a yellowish ring and notice a stronger odour, especially when it gets warm or when the area becomes slightly damp again.
When it comes to urine, it is important to act quickly, but you can avoid most of the hassle by tackling it properly the first time around. Not by soaking the spot, but by actually removing urine and residues from the material.
Below you can read what you need to pay attention to for each surface and what really makes a difference when it comes to urine.
Voor deze vlekken geldt hetzelfde advies: Urine, Pee, Wee, Mouse urine, Rabbit pee, Cat urine, Cat wee, Dog urine, Dog pee, Dog wee
Characteristics (anatomy) of a urine stain
Urine consists of water, salts and waste products. When it dries, these substances remain in fibres, seams and pores. This causes a yellowish discolouration and, more importantly, is the source of the odour. As soon as the area becomes damp again, these residues may start to smell again. Pet urine can have a particularly strong odour and penetrate deeper into materials. In carpets and upholstery, urine can penetrate the underlay or filling, causing the odour to become persistent. On hard floors, urine can seep into edges and cracks, especially along skirting boards or between joints, and remain there as an invisible source of odour.
Removing urine stains from carpets or rugs
Carpets and rugs are susceptible to urine because the liquid quickly sinks between the fibres and spreads beyond the area visible on the surface. This often makes the stain appear smaller than it actually is. Urine can spread deeper into thicker rugs or deep-pile carpets, causing the stain to become visible as a larger circle over time. On light-coloured materials, this usually appears as a yellowish haze, whereas on darker carpets it is more noticeable because the area looks different or dirt sticks to it more easily.
What makes urine particularly troublesome is what remains after it dries. Urine leaves behind salts and residues that can remain in the fibres. This can make the area feel stiff and make the surface more susceptible to new soiling. The odour may also return later, for example when the humidity rises, if the area becomes slightly damp again, or if the room is warmer. Then the scent “reactivates”, as it were, even though the spot seems less visually present.
When dealing with carpets and rugs, it is important to note that rubbing or unnecessarily wetting the material can cause the stain to spread easily. If moisture continues to spread, you increase the risk of a visible ring and of residues sinking deeper. In addition, a place that dries slowly can cause odours to linger longer. With this type of stain, it is therefore particularly important to limit its spread and prevent moisture from remaining in the material for a long period of time.
Treat with James Stainwonder
This stain can be treated with James Stainwonder. All you need is a bottle of James Stainwonder!
- Test for colour and material resistance in an inconspicuous area: apply, let it dry completely and evaluate.
- Allow the surface to dry completely.
- Apply James Stainwonder to the dry stain by turning the bottle upside down, placing the opening of the bottle on the stain and treating the entire stain.
- The product works for 12 hours, so the effect does not have to be visible immediately.*
- Is the stain not completely gone after treatment, but it has improved? You may repeat the treatment.
* With wool: in the vast majority of cases, James Stainwonder does not cause any discolouration. You have already established this by testing the product in an inconspicuous area as described above. In that case, you do not need to carry out the following step. If a (slight) discolouration did occur, you should neutralise James Stainwonder as soon as the stain has disappeared. In this case, immediately place a damp cotton cloth on the spot where the stain was and let it dry.
Immediate treatment with water
This stain can be treated immediately with water. For this you need a white, cotton cloth and water. Follow the steps below:
- First remove, as far as possible, any loose substances using a spoon.
- Immediately hold a white cotton cloth under the cold tap, wring it out and place it flat on the stain.
- Leave the cotton cloth in place to dry completely, no peeking. Should the cloth become saturated, replace it with a fresh one as described above. Then leave the cloth until it is completely dry.
Note: Do not perform the above instructions if water causes aspect loss or discoloration on the material to be treated.
Removing urine stains from hard floors
On hard floors such as PVC, vinyl, LVT, laminate and natural stone, urine initially appears easy to clean, as it remains on the surface and is quickly visible. However, sensitivity often lies in the details of the floor. Urine can remain in crevices, edges and small areas of damage, leaving a haze or dull spot after drying. This is particularly noticeable with matt floors, as the area reflects light differently from the rest of the floor.
In addition, seams and edges are an important point of attention. With laminate and click flooring, moisture can seep along the joints and leave behind residues. With PVC, vinyl and LVT, it is more often a case of small grooves or edges along skirting boards where liquid collects. Natural stone requires extra attention because some types are more porous, which means that urine is more likely to cause visible discolouration and odours can linger longer. The spot then appears to have ‘disappeared’, but remains noticeable in warm weather or after a humid day.
When cleaning hard floors, you must be careful not to accidentally leave behind a layer that makes the situation worse. If residues remain in edges or structures, this may cause odours or a persistent haze later on. It is also important that the floor feels completely dry afterwards, especially around joints and skirting boards. With urine, there is less risk of getting a deep stain, but a greater risk of residues remaining unnoticed in places where you cannot see them immediately.
Treatment with James Remover
This stain can be treated with James Remover.
Before use, always test in an inconspicuous area for color and material resistance: apply, leave for 5 minutes, clean the tested area with water, allow to dry and evaluate.
- Spray directly onto the purpose area
- Leave to soak for about 1 to 5 minutes
- Then, use a white cotton cloth to remove the grease
- If necessary, gently treat stubborn stains with a soft brush or plastic spatula.
- After use, always clean the area with water.
Attention: be careful when working near a glue seams. Allow James Remover to soak in shortly. Do not let the product penetrate into cracks or seams.
Treat using a moist cotton cloth
This stain can be treated immediately with water. Use clean water and preferably a white, cotton cloth.
Removing urine stains from upholstery
Urine stains are often the most challenging on upholstery fabric, because the liquid not only soaks into the fabric, but can also penetrate the filling. As a result, the spot may look quite ‘okay’ after drying, but the odour will return later. On light fabrics, you often see a yellowish ring, while on dark fabrics you are more likely to notice a dull spot or an area with colour variation. With some substances, the structure also changes: the area may feel stiffer or, conversely, become smoother due to dried-up residues.
Urine leaves behind salts and other residues that can become embedded in the fibres. These residues can continue to emit odours even after a long period of time, especially when exposed to heat or when the area becomes slightly damp again, for example due to condensation, cleaning in the vicinity, or simply higher humidity in the home. With cushions or seats, the odour can return more quickly because pressure and body heat “reactivate” the residual substances, as it were.
When dealing with upholstery fabric, it is important to note that an overly wet approach can cause the urine to soak deeper into the filling, thereby shifting the problem rather than eliminating it. Rubbing can also make the area larger and damage the fabric structure, resulting in a permanently visible mark. The most important thing with upholstery fabric is therefore to control the size of the damp area and prevent the spot from remaining damp for a long time. This stain often determines whether you will still be bothered by odour and ring formation later on.
Treat with James Stainwonder (*furniture fabrics)
This stain can be treated with James Stainwonder. Always test for colour fastness and material perpetuation in an inconspicuous area: apply, let it dry and evaluate.
- Allow the surface to dry completely.
- Apply James Stainwonder to the dry stain by turning the bottle upside down, placing the opening of the bottle on the stain and treating the entire stain. Spread a little James Stainwonder on a clean, dry cotton cloth towel and use it to cover the stain. This is to prevent circles from appearing after drying.
- The product works for 12 hours, so the effect does not have to be immediate. Do not remove the cotton cloth until it is dry to see the result.*
- Is the stain not completely gone after treatment, but it has improved? You may repeat the treatment.
* With wool: in the vast majority of cases James Stainwonder does not cause any discolouration. You have already established this by testing the product in an inconspicuous area as described above. In that case, you do not need to carry out the following step. If there is a (slight) discolouration, neutralise James Stainwonder with water as soon as the stain has disappeared (to do this, however, lift the cotton cloth in between to be able to assess whether the stain has already disappeared). In this case, immediately place another damp cotton cloth on the spot where the stain was and let it dry.
Immediate treatment with water
This stain can be treated immediately with water. For this you need a white, cotton cloth and water. Follow the steps below:
- First remove, as far as possible, any loose substances using a spoon.
- Immediately hold a white cotton cloth under the cold tap, wring it out and place it flat on the stain.
- Leave the cotton cloth in place to dry completely, no peeking. Should the cloth become saturated, replace it with a fresh one as described above. Then leave the cloth until it is completely dry.
Note: Do not perform the above instructions if water causes aspect loss or discoloration on the material to be treated.
Would you also like to benefit from James’ effective stain removal? Discover our full range and order your James products easily online. You’ll soon be enjoying a clean and stain-free interior again!
Frequently asked questions and myths
There are all sorts of stories circulating about how to remove these urine stains. From granny’s remedies to persistent tips from the internet – but what really works? In this section, we answer frequently asked questions and debunk a few myths. This allows you to get started with confidence.
Does vinegar help against urine odour?
Vinegar is often mentioned because it can temporarily reduce the odour. The problem is that this does not always remove all the residues from the material. On textiles, the spot may still start to smell once it becomes damp again. Vinegar is also risky on natural stone, as it can damage the surface. If you are already using something, test it first and work very locally. Usually, a product designed to loosen urine and odours works more reliably.
Is bicarbonate of soda the best solution?
Baking soda can absorb odours, but it is not a complete solution if urine has penetrated deeper into the carpet or padding. You are mainly treating the symptom, not the source. In addition, powder residues can remain in fibres and cause a haze later on. It can help as an extra step for mild odours, but the key point remains: urine and residues must be loosened and absorbed, otherwise the odour will return.
Why does the odour return even though you have cleaned?
Because there are often still salts and residues in the material. As soon as the area becomes slightly damp again, for example due to heat, humidity or cleaning water, these substances come back to life and you can smell them again. This occurs primarily with carpets with underlay and upholstery fabric with padding. The solution is to clean the area again and, above all, to absorb it thoroughly and allow it to dry completely, so that as little as possible remains.
Can I use a steam cleaner on urine?
That is usually not a good idea. Heat can actually make odours stronger and push residues deeper into the material. In addition, you make the surface very wet, causing your urine to spread further into the carpet or padding. On hard floors, steam can also seep along seams. If you want to tackle odours, it is more effective to clean the area with a little moisture and then dry it thoroughly.
Does perfume or air freshener work to solve this?
No, that only masks it. It may temporarily help with the odour, but the urine residues remain and the odour returns, often as soon as it gets warm. In addition, an air freshener can interfere with the scent, making it unpleasant. For lasting results, you need to tackle the source: loosen, absorb and thoroughly dry any residue.
Deal with any stain using the right approach from James
Urine is particularly troublesome because of the odour that can return if residues remain. By dabbing quickly, not working too wet, and then cleaning and drying the area thoroughly, you are tackling the cause rather than just the symptom. With the right James products and advice from James, you can safely remove urine from carpets, hard floors and upholstery. This will prevent permanent marks and refresh your interior.