This article was co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH. Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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When a pet or loved one has an accident on your leather couch, it can be a particularly inconvenient mess to clean up. Luckily, this mess doesn’t have to turn into a permanent stain. All you need to do is act fast and invest in the right cleansers to restore your leather surface back to its initial appearance.
Steps
Prepping the Leather for Cleaning
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1Soak up any excess urine. Discovering the urine while it is still wet is the ideal time to clean up the mess. Use paper towels to soak up any urine that might be pooled on the leather surface. Do not rub the paper towels over the urine; that will simply spread out the stain. Instead, blot or dab at the urine puddle.[1]
- This step may require use of a multiple paper towels.
- If you don’t have paper towels handy, you can use a clean cloth or rag. However, take care not to use a cloth that is colored with a strong dye, since dye can easily transfer to leather and stain it.
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2Remove the stuffing. If the urine stain was made on a leather couch cushion, remove the stuffing from the affected cushion. Usually there is a zipper on one of the back or bottom edges of the cushion from which the stuffing can be removed.[2] Put the stuffing somewhere off to the side to clean later with an enzymatic cleanser.[3]
- It is important to remove the stuffing because even if you catch the stain soon after it was made, the urine could still soak into the cushion stuffing. If the urine soaks into the stuffing, it can cause the urine smell to linger on the couch even after you clean the leather surface.
- If you’re unable to remove the stuffing, you may have to consult a professional furniture company to see if they could assist you.
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3Perform a cleanser spot test. It’s highly recommended to use specialized leather cleaners to wipe down the surface of the urine stained leather. These cleaners can be found at pet stores, drug stores, or bigger retail chains. However, before you use the cleanser on the entire stained area, it’s a good idea to test it out on an inconspicuous part of your couch.
- A successful urine stain cleanser is “Nature’s Miracle,” which can be found in most pet stores.
- Consider testing the cleaner on small areas near the rear or bottom of your couch. If the cleanser reacts negatively on the leather, you will have saved yourself from ruining the entire visible area of the urine stain.
Cleaning the Leather
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1Clean the leather surface. Use a cloth lightly dampened with your chosen cleanser to wipe the stained area. Drag the dampened cloth over the area gently; you do not want to scrub the leather. Be sure to wipe the entire surface of the stained area from edge to edge, seam to seam.[4]
- It’s important to clean the entire surface, since you could leave a new stain on the leather if you just clean a specific area. It’s better to dampen and clean the entire section of the leather cushion, rather than only treat the stained area.
- If you want to make your own cleaning solution, mix together 1 US quart (0.95 L) of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup (58 g) of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of liquid dish soap. Gently combine these ingredients together in a bowl. Dip your cloth into the solution and wring it out.
- You can also use white vinegar as a natural alternative to hydrogen peroxide. Vinegar can help disinfect and deodorize the stained surface.
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2Wash the stuffing. Since the stuffing may be saturated with urine, you need to use an enzymatic cleaner to remove the urine and dispel the urine’s potent, chemical odor. Wash the stuffing as you would wash any kind of clothing by hand, in a large sink or tub. Apply the enzymatic cleanser to the stuffing and use your hands to work the cleaning solution into the urine-saturated area. Squeeze the stuffing and rinse it with clean, running water. Do this many times to be sure you completely rinse out and neutralize the urine stain and odor.
- Allow the stuffing to dry naturally outside. If the stuffing can dry outside in sunlight, that may help get rid of the urine smell even more.
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3Reinsert the stuffing. Insert the stuffing back into the leather cushion once the stuffing and cushion are both completely dry. Do your best to reposition the stuffing how it was in the cushion originally, and zip the cushion shut again.[5]
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4Condition the leather. After the leather has fully dried, apply a leather conditioner to the leather surface.[6] Apply a small amount of conditioner to a soft rag, and use the rag to wipe the entire surface of the leather. Be sure to coat all sides of the leather cushion.
- A leather conditioner will ensure that your leather stays soft and supple, replenishing any of the natural oils that the cleaning solution may have removed from the surface.[7]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs saddle soap an option for conditioning leather furniture? Thanks for the info.
Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsYes, saddle soap can be used as a leather conditioner. It is generally used on leather to soften it and prevent it from drying out.
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QuestionWhat is an enzyme cleaner?Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsThese are cleaners made of biological compounds that speed up chemical reactions, which make them very powerful for cleaning stains.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionCan I use vinegar? If so, how much?
Community AnswerYes, you can use vinegar, but not straight vinegar -- you have to mix vinegar and water together. Put the mixture in a spray bottle. You can use about 4-5 squirts on the area you're targeting.
References
- ↑ https://www.professorshouse.com/how-do-you-clean-a-leather-sofa/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh1ll8wulxY
- ↑ http://catcentric.org/care-and-health/removing-cat-urine/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zlvV1tOEGo
- ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-cat-urine-from-leather-furniture/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-leather-conditioner/
About This Article
You can easily remove a urine stain from your leather couch with household items. Start by soaking up any excess urine with paper towels. Blot or dab the stain, since rubbing it will only spread the urine. If your couch cushion has a zipper, remove the stuffing so you can wash it separately. To make your own cleaner, mix 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Gently wipe your leather cover with the mixture. If nothing else works, try using a commercial leather cleaner. Then, wash the stuffing in the sink with a stain remover. You might need to squeeze it out and wash it a few times to get rid of the odor. Let the stuffing dry completely in the sun before you put it back in the cushion. For more tips from our Cleaning co-author, including how to condition your leather after cleaning it, read on!
