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Have you ever sat down on your couch to relax after a long, hard day and been hit with a whiff of pee smell? Not only has your moment of relaxation been interrupted, but now you’re left with the task of locating the pee spot and cleaning it up to rid your couch and entire living room of the stench.
You may love your pets to the moon and back, but the smell left behind after they have urinated on your leather furniture is overpowering. For more information on how to get a dog or cat pee out of a leather couch, keep reading—we know the struggle, and we’re here to help you out!
Before You Start
There are several ways to get the pee smell out of leather furniture, but most start the same way. Here are a few easy steps to start you off on the process:
- Step 1: Locate the area where your pet urinated on your leather couch.
- Step 2: Pat down the area with a paper towel to absorb the urine. Don’t wipe the area, as this action will spread the urine.
- Step 3: Before trying any product or solution on your leather couch, test it on a small, hidden section to see if any discoloration occurs. If it does, do not use the product on your couch and try something else.
- Step 4: Take your leather cushions off the couch and clean them all over. Leave them off until the couch and cushions are dry. If your cushions aren’t removable, turn your leather couch onto its back, remove the dust cover, and pat down any affected areas inside. Clean the inside and leave it to dry.
- Step 5: Try a different tip if the pee smell doesn’t go away completely. Otherwise, repeat the process until the smell is gone.
- Step 6: Finally, use a leather conditioner or olive oil. Pour some of the conditioner onto a cloth and wipe it over your leather couch, focusing on where the urine mark was. This will leave your couch hydrated and smelling fresh.
The 7 Ways to Get Pee Smells Out of a Leather Couch
1. Enzyme Cleaners
These cleaners are created to lift tough set-in stains and odors with active enzymes. They break down the potent compounds of urine that can often resurface after an initial clean. Hepper Advance Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain Eliminator Spray is our favorite since it is all-natural, pet-firnedly and can be used on a multitude of surfaces in your home.
2. Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar
Another way you could use your baking soda to get the pee smell out is by pouring it over the urine stain. Leave it on your couch for a couple of hours or overnight and clean it up in the morning. Wipe a warm cloth mixed with apple cider vinegar over the area. Repeat this process until the smell is completely gone.
If your couch’s cushions are smelling, take the inner out, toss the covers in the washer, and gently pour a cup of apple cider vinegar in the load. However, make sure to read your leather couch’s washing instructions first to make sure it’s safe to do so.
3. Baking Soda, Dish Soap, and Hydrogen Peroxide
If any of those other home remedies didn’t work, give this one a go. First, mix baking soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide into a container or spray bottle. Make sure the container isn’t metal as the hydrogen peroxide may damage it.
Remember that over-mixing and vigorous shaking may cause the mixture to overflow, so handle this solution with care.
Spray the mixture onto the stinky area of your couch and wait for it to dry.
4. Deodorize the Area
After you have tried cleaning the affected area, you may still notice a slight stench around your room. You may need to try to deodorize the area to ensure all the smell gets absorbed.
You can use activated charcoal for this step, or you can run to your kitchen and grab some fresh coffee grounds. Place either into a bowl and leave it near your couch for the evening. In the morning, the pee smell should be gone, and you may be left with the fragrance of coffee instead.
5. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Before going out to buy an expensive cleaner, use the products you have at home first. If you have vinegar, water, and baking soda, you’re good to go!
Both vinegar and baking soda have properties in them that neutralize smells and kill bacteria. They’re both pet-friendly and an affordable, healthier option than using products with harmful chemicals in them.
All you’ll need is 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of water, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and a clean spray bottle. Mix it all, spray it over your leather couch, and allow it to dry.
Final Thoughts
Always look at household items first when looking for solutions to eliminate the pee smell from your leather couch. This will save you time and money. If those don’t work, you may need something a bit stronger, and that is where dedicated products come in handy.
Once you eliminate the smell, it’s important to train your animal not to pee on your furniture. Prevention is the best path forward, and it will stop you from needing to scramble to clean a mess before it sits for too long.
If your concerned your dogs accidents might be related to a health issue, contact a vet.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Related Reads:
- How to Get Rid of Dog Poop Smell Outside – Possible Ways
- How To Get Urine Smell Out of Dog Fur – Possible Ways
Featured Image Credit: Daleen Loest, Shutterstock
