We all know that the smell of dog urine on your couch is the last thing that you want guests to notice when they come over to watch the big game – but getting rid of it can be so darn hard.
That said, what if you could turn back time and remove the stain and its scent from existence altogether?
That’s exactly what we’ll cover in this guide.
We’ll explain how to get dog urine out of the couch, then look at why the problem occurs in the first place and what you can do to prevent this from happening again.
Let’s get right into it!
What You Need to Know
Before we go into the process of cleaning your couch and getting rid of that annoying pee stain, let’s talk about why urine is so bothersome in the first place.
If your dog’s urine is dark in color or intense in scent, then that may actually be a sign that they’re dehydrated.
More water?
We know that it’s counterintuitive to give a dog who pees on your couch more water, but it can reduce the severity of the problem by mellowing out the smell and hue of their urine in general.
What your dog eats can also affect how their urine smells.
Certain foods, such as fish and veggies, can contribute to the strong scent, so cutting these items out of your furry friend’s diet may be wise.
Of course, if you notice your dog’s urine is smelling fishy and also having an accident, other health issues may be at play.
It’s a good idea to monitor these signals and get help if it doesn’t improve.
Three Stages to a Cleaner Couch
If urine stains self-destruct like Mission Impossible messages, we will live in a better world.
Let me be clear; this isn’t going to be a quick ordeal, but doing things right the first time around will yield the best outcome and ensure that the problem doesn’t return with a vengeance.
The three key stages are gearing up, actual cleaning, and proactive prevention.
1. Gearing Up
You should never go into a battle without the right gear, so before even thinking about removing that stain, start by arming yourself.
First, put on some dishwashing gloves so you don’t get any urine on you.
You should also have a large supply of paper towels at the ready. Any brand will do; look for thick and absorbent varieties.
Now here’s the key:
Perhaps the most important part of the preparation phase is finding the right dog urine remover.
There are countless household options available to get you going, such as vinegar or dish soap, but there is only one product that I can personally recommend based on my own experience.
The best urine stain remover for couches is the Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator.
It’s not hard to imagine why the product has over 90,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, as it uses enzymatic bacteria to remove every last trace of urine on your couch.
Furthermore, it’s chlorine-free and color-safe, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your chic couch during the cleaning process.
The 32oz sprayer only costs around $20, but I’d recommend going for the gallon instead since it’s four times the volume at a reasonable price of about $50.
I say reasonable because think of what a professional cleaner would charge!
There’s also a satisfaction guarantee where you can get a full refund if you’re unhappy with the product.
This product has a seal of approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute (yes, that’s a thing), which is a good sign of its effectiveness.
2. The Actual Cleaning
Due to the preparation that you’ve done, the cleaning process is pretty easy from here.
Start by covering the stain with the paper towels you’ve gathered during your prep phase.
Whenever they get too soggy, swap them out with a new set.
You’ll need to repeat this process a few times until there’s no urine left to absorb. It will take some time, but seeing your couch in such a clean state will make all the effort worth it in the end.
Has the dog pee already dried?
That’s ok – Rocco & Roxie is here for the rescue!
If you got the gallon version of Rocco & Roxie, then pour the product into a spray bottle for easy application.
Spray every last inch of the stain with your R&R to ensure that there won’t be anything left to stink the place up after all your hard work.
I’m sorry to say that after you’re done spraying, you’ll need to repeat the paper towel soaking process once more until they come up dry.
The manufacturer suggests that you let the product sit for 5-10 minutes before soaking it up so that it can do its thing without disturbance.
Can you go longer?
Ooooh yeah. In fact, the longer the enzymes have to penetrate and do their thing, the better.
If you can, cover up your couch with some plastic to really let the cleaner soak in and reduce evaporation.
Do this for a couple of hours or even overnight. Then you can start your pat-drying with the towels.
The good news is that once the R&R dries up, your living room couch will be good as new.
Thanks to the meticulous soaking-up process and top-notch cleaning product, it will look like there was never a stain in the first place.
Seeing as leather doesn’t soak up urine, and it’s far easier to clean than fabric. Instead of soaking, you need to wipe and treat.
3. Proactive Prevention
Now that you’ve gone through the trouble of cleaning your couch, you’re probably wondering:
“How do I ensure that my dog doesn’t just pee on it again tomorrow?”
You’ll be glad to know that there are actually a few things that you can proactively do to prevent a recurrence of the issue.
Obviously, the simplest path to preventing this type of behavior is through verbal correction.
Keep a close eye on your dog so that you can resound a firm No whenever they’re about to taint your sofa with their bodily fluids.
Verbal correction is time-consuming and won’t work immediately, but once your dog picks up on the lesson, it’ll be the most reliable method for preventing future urine stain problems.
Keeping your dog physically and mentally healthy can also ward off such issues.
Dogs who get enough exercise and attention throughout the day are less likely to develop destructive behaviors.
Ensure they get outdoors often, understanding that dogs can also only go so long without peeing.
Another option to consider is neutering your dog.
Clearly something you’d want to avoid if you have breeding plans, but if that’s not in the cards for Fido, then neutering can actually be a great way to reduce urine marking — or even stop it completely.
After all, why would a dog bother marking their territory if they no longer have the capacity to reproduce?
This forms a sort of psychological barrier that keeps your couch — as well as other household items like wood furniture — free of pee.
You should put careful thought into the decision before moving forward with it since the procedure is irreversible, meaning your dog will never be able to make puppies after it’s completed.
You’ll also need to wait until your dog (or cat, for that matter) is at least eight weeks of age based on guidelines laid out by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions that people have when using the cleaning process described:
Does R&R stain remover deter future marking?
Yes, any spot that you spray with R&R likely won’t be peed on by your dog anytime soon.
Will it damage wood?
Seeing as R&R is chlorine-free, nothing in it would damage wooden floors or furniture.
Just err on the side of caution, and don’t let it sit for too long.
What about blacklights?
The enzymatic bacteria in R&R eat up every last molecule of the urine, meaning that even the most powerful blacklight won’t detect any remaining stains.
Summary
As you can see, urine stains on your couch need not be a perpetual issue.
With proper cleaning, proactive prevention, and some lifestyle changes for Fido, the intense ammonia smell of pee in your living room will become a thing of the past.
If you found our guide on getting dog urine out of the couch helpful, then be sure to share it with a friend or two so that they can also experience an unstained life.
