The joy that small children bring is sometimes overshadowed by such troubles as puddles of children's urine on the carpet or rug.
The puddle itself will dry quickly, but the smell will remain for a long time and, if the carpet is light in color, the stain will add to the smell.
Therefore, measures must be taken as quickly as possible to prevent such consequences. To learn how to remove the smell of child urine from a carpet at home, read the article.
Reasons for the pungent aroma of baby urine
The persistent, pungent smell of urine is provided by the components included in its composition:
uric acid - crystals that emit a foul odor, especially when wet again, dissolve only in alkaline compounds;- unichrome – contains a yellow pigment (bile), which provides the outline of a dark spot, can only be treated with special chemicals;
- Urea is an amplifier of the “aroma” of uric acid, soluble in ordinary water.
Each of the components reacts to different chemicals, of which uric acid is the most persistent and least amenable to treatment. When heated, the terrible aroma increases several times.
Features of removing urine odor from carpet
To effectively combat the problem, let’s analyze the nature of the phenomenon that occurred. Urine is an aggressive liquid, and removing it from the tissue base is problematic. The peculiarity is that the absence of immediate measures leads to an increase in the concentration of active substances and an increase in odor.
The reason for the stench is three components in the composition:
- Unichrome. Responsible for the yellowness on your favorite carpet. Skillfully resists water purification and does not give up without exposure to specific solvents.
- Urea. Characteristic odor substance. There are no problems with it when washing, it dissolves easily with plain water.
- Uric acid. Emits a heavy stench. Looks like colorless crystals. It is not destroyed by alcohol, water, does not withstand glycerin, alkaline compounds, sulfuric acid. To increase efficiency, increase the temperature.
Having studied the components of urine, we conclude that urea causes the greatest difficulties. Causes a specific stench that intensifies with re-wetting.
How to quickly remove a fresh stain?
The liquid instantly penetrates into the villi, so the fight against the unpleasant smell of urine from a stain on the carpet should begin immediately, then there will be a positive result.
As soon as urine hits the soft surface, it must be immediately adsorbed:
- wipe the wet area with a soft rag or paper towel until the moisture stops being absorbed;
- crush several tablets of activated carbon and cover the stain with it;
- cover with a thick cloth and leave for 1 hour.
During this time, activated carbon will dry out the moisture and absorb some of the odor.
If the stain is not detected immediately, do the following:
- remove the liquid with a napkin;
- wash the stain with warm water, changing the water several times;
- after washing, dry the wet area with napkins;
- Cover the stain with a layer of baking soda, leave for 1-2 hours, cover with a cloth.
After this, sweep away the powder from the carpet with a broom or vacuum cleaner and begin basic cleaning.
Any fleecy material absorbs and retains odors for a long time, so periodically it needs preventative cleaning.
Vinegar
Accidentally spilled vinegar is quickly absorbed into the fabric. However, there is no need to panic. It will not harm the coating, it will only slightly spoil the smell in the room. You can remove the acrid aroma of vinegar by using table salt. It is scattered on the floor, left overnight, and vacuumed up in the morning.
For greater effect, you can purchase aromatic salt. It will easily absorb everything unnecessary and give the floor a pleasant aroma.
If salt does not do its job, you can use a weak solution of ammonia. To do this, dilute two tablespoons of alcohol in one liter of water, apply the mixture to the surface, and let it dry. However, it is better to carry out such manipulation outdoors.
Let the product dry for several hours, but if time does not wait, use other drying methods.
Folk remedies
Children's urine has the least persistent odor compared to the urine of an adult or animals. You can remove it using folk remedies, without resorting to chemicals, the main thing is that the stain is not old.
How to clean with soda?
After reducing the concentration of the liquid, you can neutralize the unpleasant odor using a soda solution:
mix soda with water in a concentration of 10:3;- generously cover the stain with gruel;
- rub the solution into the soft coating with a brush;
- leave for 30-40 minutes;
- The cleaned carpet is vacuumed or thoroughly beaten.
This method will not only remove odors from the pile, but also clean the carpet of dirt. You can leave baking soda on the carpet overnight - it will absorb the smell even more.
Vinegar
If the smell becomes persistent, you need to use a stronger product. Using vinegar, you can remove aggressive odors that are not susceptible to alkali.
To prepare the solution, take ordinary table vinegar, which is sold in the store:
- mix vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:3;
- generously moisten the dirty area with the solution using a sponge;
- Leave the vinegar mixture on the carpet until completely dry.
During drying, a reaction will occur, as a result of which uric acid will decompose into its component parts, which will begin to turn into a gaseous state and evaporate.
At the end of the process, wipe the dirty area with clean water and dry.
For too old stains, repeat the procedure 2-3 times. To ensure that the smell of the bite does not remain on the pile, it is sprayed with an air freshener after the smell of urine has completely evaporated.
Hydrogen peroxide
Moisture is removed from the stain with a napkin, the area is generously covered with table salt, and rubbed into the pile. Place a napkin on top and water it well with hydrogen peroxide.
After the treated area has dried, the salt is removed with a vacuum cleaner or shaken out.
Second method: mix hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing gel and soda . Rub the mixture onto the carpet pile, then rinse with clean water and dry. You can dry the carpet with a regular household hairdryer.
Laundry soap
Dark soap contains glycerin, which breaks down urea well.
For processing you need laundry soap and warm water:
- grate laundry soap;
- dissolve soap shavings in warm water;
- moisten the lip in a soapy solution and rub it on the dirty stain.
After washing the stain with a soap mixture, wipe it dry. Then, in the same way, rinse with clean water and dry the carpet. To do this, take it out into the sun or remove moisture from the surface with napkins.
Citric acid
The fastest and easiest way to remove baby urine odor. A big plus of citric acid is that it does not have the same odor as vinegar, while retaining the ability to dissolve urea crystals.
Dissolve 5 tablespoons of citric acid in a liter of warm water and rub the stain , avoiding getting the large area around the stain wet. Leave until completely dry, then rinse with clean water and dry.
Lemon juice gives good results. To do this, cut a lemon, squeeze the juice onto the stain, and leave until completely dry.
Potassium permangantsovka
A mixture of potassium permanganate and iodine will help to break down the child’s uric acid salts and other chemical elements into water-soluble compounds. Manganese is a strong oxidizing agent that kills bacteria that cause odor.
Solution composition:
- water – 1000 ml;
- iodine – 10-15 drops;
- manganese – 2-3 grains.
Dissolve iodine and manganese in water, and apply a small amount of the solution to an inconspicuous area on the carpet for testing.
If the pattern on the surface has not changed, you can treat the dirty stain:
- Apply the product to the stain with a sponge;
- remove excess moisture with a clean rag;
- repeat the steps several times.
This method is only suitable for dark colored carpets . After treatment, wash the stain with a carpet cleaning solution or any detergent that does not contain chlorine.
Borax
Sodium tetraborate (borax) is included in many detergents as a disinfectant and is suitable for removing urine odors from soft surfaces.
Before processing, remove excess liquid:
- borax powder is poured onto the surface to be treated;
- rub the powder into the carpet pile with a brush;
- leave until completely dry;
- the powder is removed with a vacuum cleaner.
Borax is a safe and non-toxic product, but it dries out the skin. Therefore, processing is carried out using rubber gloves .
If the carpet is irradiated on both sides using a quartz lamp, the microorganisms that cause the unpleasant odor will disappear.
Causes of odor and why it is difficult to remove at home
Eliminating urine odor is a matter that requires a responsible approach. The biological fluid of a person or pet, after drying, turns into a crystalline precipitate with an ammonia odor. It flows into hard-to-reach places, for example:
- seams between tiles;
- gaps between wooden floorboards;
- surfaces of fleecy, porous type.
The stains are easy to remove, but the smell is not. It can eat deeply into the surface of the coating, spoiling its attractiveness and functionality.
Urgent measures are considered to be the use of chemicals. The pungent odor is caused by the presence of components in the urine such as:
- uchrome;
- uric acid;
- urea.
The toxicity and sharpness of the aroma depend on the concentration of uric acid. In infants, the fluid does not have any characteristic features. It's easy to remove. With age, the concentration of components will increase. And puddles that are not wiped up on the floor will bring consequences.
Often the acrid smell of urinary deposits is formed in a room that is not ventilated, provided that there is a seriously ill or elderly person there. So all the objects located there, clothes, furniture, carpets will become saturated with an unpleasant aroma. In order not to think about how to remove the smell of human urine in a room, you need to create favorable conditions. Try to remove dirt as it appears and keep the necessary products on hand.
Industrial compounds
Removing the smell of baby urine with chemicals will take less time than with traditional methods, but they can cause allergies and unwanted body reactions in household members. Therefore, before choosing industrial products, carefully study the instructions .
Industrial products have antibacterial properties, neutralize odors at the molecular level, and do not require the additional use of air fresheners.
To preserve the appearance and freshness of carpets, manufacturers produce effective and safe preparations:
- “Vanish” is a concentrated preparation against dirt and unpleasant “odors”, price 200-250 rubles;
- “Udalix ultra” - actively removes stains, defeats the fetid, heavy spirit, price 200 rubles;
- “Odorgon” is an effective odor neutralizer, price 300-2000 rubles;
- “Trixie” – spray for eliminating urine odor and removing stubborn stains, price 240 rubles;
- “Ecolife” is an ecological product in the form of a powder, it perfectly removes stench, price 200 rubles.
Professional approach
If folk remedies do not help solve the problem, you can use ready-made special solutions and gels. But treatment should be carried out only with complete isolation of children and animals.
"Dezosan" from Zoo Clean
A Russian-made drug that can effectively remove urine odor. The main advantage of the product is that it leaves behind a very pleasant aroma.
Zoosan
Thanks to the components contained in the gel, it is able to neutralize all unpleasant odors that remain from pets.
Professional odor removers
White
You can clean well and remove unpleasant odors using bleach-based solutions. To avoid the strong smell of chlorine, you can add any flavoring to the solution.
Odor kill
You can get rid of and prevent the proliferation of bacteria using Odor kill. This is a concentrate that is diluted with water.
"Vanish"
You can easily clean the carpet and eliminate the smell using Vanish. The product can be purchased in gel, powder and liquid form.
Important! After treatment with chemicals, you need to ventilate the room. Simple methods will help you quickly clean carpets, rugs, furniture and get rid of unpleasant odors
With their help, you can ensure that the apartment is clean throughout the entire period while the puppy gets used to the street.
Simple methods will help you quickly clean carpets, rugs, furniture and get rid of unpleasant odors. With their help, you can ensure that the apartment is clean throughout the entire period while the puppy gets used to the street.
What is needed for cleaning?
Before processing the coating, prepare the necessary items:
latex gloves;- mask for working with chlorine-containing liquids;
- container for preparing the solution;
- measuring cup;
- sponge, napkins, rags;
- a brush with stiff bristles;
- a spray bottle for spraying the solution onto the carpet.
Carpets made from natural wool are processed using the dry cleaning method, without using cleaning solutions, or sent to dry cleaning.
Precautions and Recommendations
In order to properly and quickly remove traces and the smell of urine in the apartment, you need to take into account several features of such washing. Whatever method of removal is chosen, it will require effort and preparation for the procedure. It should be remembered that the sooner you get down to business, the easier it will be to clean the carpet.
Fresh stains are best washed off, but dried stains will have to be washed several times. It is important to remember personal protection. When using any cleaning products, wear rubber gloves and a mask to protect your respiratory system from unpleasant fumes. Ventilation must be provided during or after cleaning the apartment.
A dense and thick rug should dry well after cleaning. If it is possible to wash outside, it is better to do it in the yard and there.
Dry cleaning
The most unpleasant and persistent odors of a child’s urine cannot always be removed at home.
Sometimes the stain is too old, with an ingrained odor that cannot be removed with either home or industrial means. Or the stain is too large, so it is impossible to dry the carpet well after treatment. In such cases, processing is entrusted to specialists.
Carpet cleaning takes place in the following format:
- on-site – for carpet products that cannot be transported;
- in the dry cleaning shop – high-quality cleaning of the product using equipment;
- at a car wash - washing the carpet at a minimal price, but without a guarantee of 100% removal of odors.
The dry cleaner will select detergents and cleaning methods that are suitable for the carpet. The workers will come, take away the carpet themselves and return it clean, fresh and dry.
Dry cleaning workers are responsible for the safety of the product and the quality of the services provided.
Tobacco smoke
Smoking tobacco causes great harm to the smoker, his family, and even his apartment. The smell of tobacco quickly settles on all surfaces. It's quite difficult to get it out. This is especially problematic when people have been smoking in the room with the carpet for more than one year in a row.
If such a smell occurs, you should immediately wash all the curtains, blankets, and bedspreads you have at home.
In this case, it is unlikely that it will be possible to cope with improvised means. It is most effective to take the carpet to the dry cleaner, or wash it yourself using special shampoos.
When you turn to a dry cleaner for help, they will choose the right cleaning method for you.
After washing, it is recommended to additionally treat the surface with an anti-tobacco odor spray.
The spray neutralizes all odor left after dry cleaning.
Hints
When all cleaning methods have been tried to no avail, there remains one more ruthless method that will remove the most corrosive “aroma”.
A multi-level method for removing the old, especially caustic odor of a child’s urine on the carpet:
The stain is moistened generously with vodka or alcohol and dried with a rag.- Pour in undiluted vinegar, let the fabric absorb it well, and wipe dry.
- Dilute 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water, pour the mixture onto the stain, and leave until dry.
- Sprinkle generously with soda.
- Mix hydrogen peroxide and water in half and add dishwashing gel.
- Pour the solution over the layer of soda.
When the fabric is well saturated with the product, rub it into the pile with a stiff clothes brush.
During the chemical reaction, ammonium salts decompose into carbon dioxide and ammonia . These compounds quickly evaporate, taking with them the unpleasant odor of urine. The last stage is to clean the carpet with a vacuum cleaner or thoroughly dust it.
Frequent cases
Unpleasant sofa odors are mainly caused by urine, spilled beer, tobacco or human sweat. It is also possible that a bad “aroma” may appear due to the fact that the furniture is new.
Urine smell
Urine is the most common cause of bad odor.
Children's
Children's urine produces a less pungent and unpleasant odor, which can be removed with a bar of laundry soap. After treating with this product, the sofa is left for 20 minutes and then washed again with a mixture of table vinegar and water, taken in a ratio of 1:5.
Adult
To remove urine stains from an elderly person, you will need to treat the problem area with ammonia or vodka. The sofa is kept in this form for half an hour and then washed with water.
Pets
A mixture of 450 milliliters of water and 150 milliliters of vinegar helps remove pet urine stains. This composition treats problem areas. Then you need to mix 150 milliliters of water and the same amount of hydrogen peroxide, add 2 teaspoons of dish soap. The resulting solution should be applied to the stain and left for 2 hours. After this period, the problem area is rubbed with soda.
Obsolete
A soap solution with the addition of a tablespoon of vinegar essence helps remove old urine stains.
Cat excrement
If a cat feces stain stinks, it is recommended to use the same mixture that is used to remove traces of urine.
New furniture
Furniture in stores is treated with chemical compounds that emit an unpleasant odor. To cope with this “aroma”, pine needles and fresh pine sawdust help, which you need to put in a bag and hide in the sofa.
Tobacco
If the sofa smells unpleasant due to tobacco, you need to cover the furniture with a damp, soft towel. The procedure should be repeated until the bad “aroma” disappears.
Sweat stains are easily removed with baking soda, which must be applied to problem areas and left for 12 hours.
Types of stains and dirt
To decide on the choice of option and know how to clean a carpet at home, you should know the nature of the stain or contamination. If you have a child, there may be several types of contamination, which means you need to use a universal cleaning method. There are plenty of options for cleaning dust and excess odors, but you need to choose the right and effective one.
Determine the type of contamination to choose the optimal cleaning method
Therefore, we first need to get acquainted with the types of stains:
View | Where does it come from? | What can be done |
dust | The most common type of pollution. It is brought in from the street along with shoes, clothes, and also through a window open for ventilation. | There are several options besides a vacuum cleaner, which is not capable of removing all the dust from the rug. Winter method: take it outside into the snow, trample it a little and beat it out with a broom or stick. Do the same with the other side. For all seasons: pour in table salt, spread gently over the entire carpet, let stand for a few minutes and vacuum up. |
oil | Cosmetics, food, heating oil for household appliances, lubricant of locks and other household items | Removing such stains immediately is much easier if you use dishwashing detergent diluted with water. This method will work over time, but the substance must be left for at least an hour. Starch is also used. |
ink and felt-tip pen | A common occurrence in families with small children. Ballpoint pens can always leak and leave marks on carpets | To get rid of this kind of pollution, use a vinegar set. Water and citric acid are added to this liquid. |
alcohol | Any feast or romantic evening, watching a match or program with friends | Immediately apply a damp sponge rubbed with laundry soap. Additionally, treat with a weak vinegar solution. |
Coffee and tea | Use ammonia solution. You can also clean it with milk and soap (powder, soap, detergent) | |
blood | Accidental cut, wound on the body of an animal or person | The reaction must be very fast. After providing emergency assistance to the victim, we immediately deal with the stains on the carpet. Only cold water and powder (laundry soap). Old stain: make a mixture of salt, ammonia and powder. |
But this is not all types of possible pollution. This also includes unpleasant odors from urine, mold, and plasticine.