Dog and cat urine can often be left on the floor for several hours if you're not home, the incident happens overnight or you simply don't notice. If pet urine is not cleaned up promptly, it can cause permanent grout staining and damage.
Vinegar is a superior cleaning agent because it eliminates both stains and odor from your grout. For the agent to work, you need to mix it with warm water. Then apply the mixture to your area of focus then brush thoroughly and rinse with clean water.
Since grout is very porous, it is common for dirt, debris, moisture, and urine to seep into the grout and cause odors. This is why you should seal the grout in your restroom.
Since grouts are porous, they absorb any liquid, even pet urine. So, if the stain is old, the grouts most likely have absorbed them.
Though concrete, tile and grout seems to be a hard, dense material, they are actually quite porous. This being the case, they can absorb large amounts of pet urine and fecal matter that can not be washed away.
Concrete is porous. When urine lands on a concrete area, it bonds tightly to the concrete as it dries, penetrating deep within its pores. This can make odor removal particularly difficult. That terrible stench lingers long after the liquid has been absorbed, and can last months unless treated properly.
Spread baking soda thinly and evenly across the damp spot, being careful not to overdo it; about 1/4 cup or less is enough for most stains. Let the baking soda sit overnight, and then vacuum thoroughly. You may have to go over the area several times to vacuum up all the powder, until the area feels clean to the touch.
As soon as you see a puddle or wet spot on your hardwood, tile or linoleum flooring mop it up using paper towels, rags or old bath towels. Throw away used paper towels and set rags aside for washing later. For a Carpet Accident Blot or sop. Don't scrub or wipe.
Yes, really. Water is the best, and easiest, way to reduce the smell of urine in your yard. Water works by simply diluting the urine and washing it away.
However, if the grout absorbs the water, either the grout hasn't been sealed or the sealer has worn off. You can also search for signs of an old sealer. If your sealer is peeling off or is hazing, you should know that it has begun to weaken. Therefore, you will need to reseal it.
The answer is, no, grout is not waterproof. However, it is water resistant. That means it will need to be submerged in water for a very long time before the liquid starts seeping through its material. Read on to find out more about grout's characteristics in relation to water.
The only Grout that is waterproof is Epoxy Grouts these do not allow water to pass through them, they are impervious to water.
Neutralize the smell Then you're going to want to douse the spot with an enzymatic cleaner or simply make your own cleaning solution by combining (white or apple cider) vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Because the vinegar is acidic, it will neutralize the bacteria in the dog pee, offsetting its odor.
Apply a baking soda paste and then spray with vinegar.
If the grout is unsealed or needs resealing, apply just the baking soda solution and scrub carefully.
Vinegar is an effective cleaner to use in removing pet stains and urine odors from mattresses, couches, and other materials, but it is still important to treat the stain as soon as possible. The longer you let it sit, the more likely it is to set.
Although pets are an important part of millions of lives, cleaning up after them is a responsibility that should never be neglected. Over time, animal urine can cause allergy-like symptoms, strong odors, mold growth, and even structural damage to your home.
Baking Soda Option
Thanks to its pH level, it will eliminate the urine odor and neutralize the acid at the same time. To make this solution effective, use about a quarter cup of baking soda and spread it thinly but evenly over the area of your hardwood floor that is soaked in urine.
That unpleasant stench lingers long after the liquid has been absorbed, and can last months unless treated properly. To effectively remove these offending odors, you'll want to make sure you're eliminating them, not just covering up the smell (as many products do).
Bleach, ammonia, vinegar baking soda, and peroxide – You might think that bleach would be your best bet to eliminate your pet odor problem, but it will not. Bleach is great at disinfecting, but not so great on eliminating odors. You'll be left with a clean, but still smelly problem.
Mix together ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap. Spoon cleaning agents onto grout and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the grout lines with a brush.
Clean grout with a commercial grout and tile cleaner. Apply it to the dirty areas of the grout following the manufacturer's instructions. If you prefer cleaning grout with a DIY mixture, make a paste of 3/4-cup baking soda, 1/4-cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap.
Vinegar. Just like citrus, dogs cannot stand the smell of vinegar. It seems that a dog's heightened sense of smell is not keen on acidic smells, vinegar being another very acidic substance. It is worth noting that dogs are more repelled by the smell of vinegar than they are by lemons and oranges.
First, manually soak up excess moisture with a towel. Next, soak another towel with a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaner. Leave the towel and cleaner on the wet spot for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, blot and soak up the remaining moisture with a dry towel.
Products containing hydrogen peroxide can be effective on urine odors and stains. The hydrogen peroxide helps destroy the odor causing bacteria and can also help safely bleach out discolorations on hard and soft surfaces.