It’s a fact that small children sometimes have accidents in the bedroom, including the bed, furniture, and carpets.
But if you are attempting to remove urine from leather furniture, you may be in a spot of bother as urine is one of the hardest stains to remove from leather. However, with a bit of perseverance, you can make short work of this task, and it won’t cost you much either.
Here Are Ways To Remove Urine From Leather:
Urine is a tough substance to get rid of, because of it’s smell and the type of liquid it is. The four best ways are to use Baking Soda Method, The Vinegar Method, Dawns Soap and finally the the Durable Cleaning Eraser. All these methods work well at removing stains. These great ways will be explained step by step to remove the marks from your leather.
If you read further below we will give you the exact methods to do this, plus some extra ways to deodorize, and get rid of that nasty smell that lingers on the leather.
Cleaning Methods To Remove Urine From Leather
Baking Soda Method
The most popular method for removing old and new stains is baking soda. This method works because baking soda is a natural deodorizer that neutralizes the smell of urine.
In addition, it will absorb any excess liquid from the leather. Here are steps to remove urine from leather by using baking soda.
• Mix 1 cup of warm water and 1/4 cup of baking soda in a small bowl. Stir the mixture so that it is well blended.
• Dip a soft cloth in the baking soda solution, wring out the cloth, and then gently wipe the urine stain with the baking soda-soaked cloth. You want to use gentle strokes with the fabric to avoid damaging the leather as you remove the urine stain.
• Continue wiping up and down and side to side on the leather until all of the urine has been removed from it. You may have to repeat this process several times if there is a lot of urine on the leather or if it has been on there for a long time and has had time to soak into it.
• Once you have removed all of the urine from the leather, dip another soft cloth into clean water, wring it out so that it is damp, and then wipe off any residual baking soda from the leather surface with this wet cloth. This will help prevent any residue left behind on your leather furniture or clothing after cleaning it with baking soda.
The problem with using baking soda to remove liquid stains from leather is that, if not done carefully, it can cause dryness in your leather goods. And we can’t stress enough how important it is to maintain the moisture in your leather goods so they remain solid and durable.
The Vinegar Method
If the urine has dried, try using white vinegar before attempting other methods. Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent for removing stains and odors from leather.
It will also help disinfect the leather and prevent mold or mildew from growing. Vinegar is not harmful to leather, but be sure to test it in an inconspicuous spot first, such as a seam inside the couch cushion, before using it on larger areas of the couch. Here are steps to follow:
• Rinse the area with warm water to remove as much urine as possible.
• Dampen a clean cloth in warm water and white vinegar solution and wipe the urine stain with it.
• Use another clean cloth dampened with plain warm water to remove any remaining vinegar solution.
• Let the leather dry in a natural way, then vacuum the area thoroughly to lift and restore its texture.
The vinegar method is often the easiest and most effective. Just apply enough vinegar to cover the stain without letting it soak into the leather. Let the liquid dry on its own, come back after it has dried, and gently brush off any excess residue. Then, apply a leather-specific cleaner to buff out any remaining residue.
Dawns Soap
If you have a leather couch that has been used by someone (or some pet) who is incontinent, you may need to remove urine stains from the leather.
Whether it’s human or pet urine stains on your leather furniture, there are many ways to get rid of the unwanted urine smell and eliminate the stains. You can remove the stain and odor by using Dawn dish detergent.
You will need to use Dawn dish detergent that is blue and does not contain any scents or additives. You will also need to blot the stain with water and Dawn dish detergent. Here are steps to follow when cleaning with dawns sop method:
• Blot up as much of the urine as possible with clean rags or paper towels.
• Dampen paper towels or rags in distilled water, and dab at the spot until no more urine comes up.
• Soak a clean rag in distilled water and rub Dawn dish soap into it until the soap suds out well.
• Using the sudsy rag, scrub the stain with gentle circular motions to work the soap into the leather.
• Rinse out another cloth in distilled water, squeeze it out well and wipe away any remaining soap residue from the couch. The object here is to remove all traces of soap; if you don’t get all of it off, you risk damaging the leather finish when applying the conditioner later on.
A leather couch is an expensive investment, so you want to do everything you can to protect it. Kids play hard, and sometimes accidents happen, including the occasional juice box spill or wet-pants accident.
Urine on a leather couch is especially problematic because of the strong odor and because urine contains ammonia. If not cleaned up properly, urine can leave a permanent discoloration on your couch.
Amazon Basics Extra Durable Cleaning Eraser
You may be wondering how to get rid of the smell of urine in leather. The answer is not much different from cleaning the material’s surface. However, unlike the surface, you cannot use water or any other liquid-based cleaner on the inside. Instead, you will want to stick to dry methods.
One product that we highly recommend is the Amazon Basics Extra Durable Cleaning Eraser. This is a sponge-like material that can be used on virtually any leather to remove stains and odors. If you have already cleaned the surface and are worrying about a smell that won’t go away, this product may be precisely what you need.
You should take one of these sponges and lightly rub it on affected areas inside your sofa. You don’t have to scrub hard; in fact, cleaning hard will only cause more damage to your couch by removing some of the colorings. Simply wiping down the area will do more than enough to remove stains and odors.
Deodorising Methods To Rid Smell From Leather:
Many leather good owners want to know How to deodorise leather as it is a high maintenance product. Especially in the summer months, it can get smelly and unpleasant, especially if you wear them regularly. The good news is that the following methods will help deodorise your leather.
Lemon Water Method
Many are not aware, but an efficient deodorising method exists that is cheap and easy to use. It is the Lemon Water Method. This deodorising process works on different oils, fats, and gels.
Some have been decades in the making and require a more extended period to be effective. Here are the steps to follow in the lemon water method:
• Mix two warm water with one part lemon juice until well combined in a bowl. Soak your leather in this mixture for 1-2 hours before throwing them in the laundry machine to ensure that all stains are removed.
• If your leather has stains that are particularly difficult to remove, lay them flat first and sprinkle them with salt before soaking them in lemon water overnight. Then, wash your leather in cold water to remove any remaining stain or smell.
Hydrogen Peroxide Method
The hydrogen peroxide method is the most effective way to remove any strong odor from a leather jacket, shoes, or sofas.
It is important to note that the process should only be used on white or light-colored leather to bleaching darker colors. Here are steps to follow when using the hydrogen peroxide method deodorise.
Step 1: Mix one part of hydrogen peroxide with two pieces of water and shake well to mix. Using a spray bottle, spray the solution on the surface of your leather item.
Step 2: Leave it dry for about an hour or longer if necessary before wiping it off with a damp cloth. After this, leave your leather item out in the sun to air dry. It takes a few days for the smell to go away completely, but you will notice that it has reduced significantly by then.
Essential Oil Method
The smell is the most difficult to remove from leather because it has seeped into the pores of the leather and is absorbed by the fibers. It will take time to clean and deodorize your leather, but you can use a few methods to get rid of the smell. Here are steps to follow when using the essential oil method.
Step 1: Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol instead of water. The alcohol will help break up the smell, making it easier to remove.
Step 2: Add several drops of essential oil such as lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus to the spray bottle. The smell should be more potent than what you are trying to remove, so if you have a lighter scent such as vanilla, add more drops than recommended. The smell of the essential oil should overpower that of the offensive odor. Shake the bottle well after adding the essential oil.
Step 3: Spray your leather item with the mixture using large sweeping motions from top to bottom until completely covered in mist. Avoid drenching your leather in alcohol, which can cause it to dry out too much and lead to cracks and tears in the leather over time.
How to Maintain Leather in the Future to Help Protect Against Urine:
If you are not currently dealing with urine stains, you can take steps to help protect against them in the future. Several leather conditioners can be purchased to help protect your leather furniture from future damage.
You need to ensure that you have cleaned the leather with a leather cleaner (you can find these at any automotive store). Next, you will want to apply a coat of leather conditioner.
Many brands are on the market, but I prefer Fiebing’s Aussie Leather Conditioner. You rub it into the leather and let it dry for about 10-15 minutes. Wipe off the excess conditioner and buff with a soft cloth. This step should be repeated from time to time to keep your leather safe and Maintain leather in the Future to Help Protect Against Urine.