Even the best-trained pets can have accidents on your floor, and it doesn’t take long for that to cause permanent damage.
Dog pee has a pH between 5 and 6, making it an acid as it’s wet. When it dries, the pH shifts between 10 and 12. This alkaline structure is more difficult to remove, and it requires a unique approach for efficient cleaning.
In this guide, we explain how you should tackle pet messes on your floor, including what to do first and two different cleaning solutions (depending on your preference).
Table of Contents
What to Do First When a Pet Pees on Vinyl Plank Flooring
It is important to clean up pet urine from vinyl plank flooring as soon as you notice it. The longer it sits, the more damage it can (and will) cause.
Soak up the urine using paper towels or a rag, then clean the area immediately using one of the methods listed below. Keep in mind that, while soaking up the urine is a crucial step, it’s not enough to counteract the harm it can cause.
If you notice pet urine on your vinyl plank flooring but aren’t sure how long it has been sitting there, it’s a good idea to lift up the affected planks to assess the damage. While the top may clear off just fine, there’s a good chance that the urine soaked through into the subflooring.
The sooner and more comprehensively you respond to the issue, the better you can clean the area. This also prevents your pet from revisiting the area and marking it as their indoor potty spot.
Cleaning Pet Urine from Vinyl Plank Flooring With Commercial Cleaners
If you’re comfortable using commercial cleaners in your home, this can be one of the easiest and fastest ways to clean pet urine off your vinyl floors.
You need:
- A commercial cleaner formulated for pet urine (enzyme-based cleaners work best)
- Rubber gloves
- A broom
- Paper towels, rags, or other cleaning cloths
- A vacuum
We recommended enzyme cleaners like Hepper Advanced or Nature’s Miracle Advanced. These contain complex molecules that break down and consume the bacteria in pet urine, getting rid of it completely. They are the most effective in removing stains and odors from vinyl floors.
Without an enzymatic cleaner, you will have a hard time undoing the bond between uric acid and the surface your pet peed on. If you try another cleaner or cleaning method and your pet returns to this spot, consider using one of these cleaners in the area.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure it’s suitable for use on vinyl flooring. If it’s your first time using the product, test it in an inconspicuous area (i.e. in a corner behind the door or in a closer corner).
Prep Work
Before you can really get to cleaning, you want to remove as much of the surface mess and dirt as possible. Don your rubber gloves, then use a paper towel or rag to soak up any liquid in the area. If your pet also pooped, remove the feces using a litter scoop or a plastic bag.
Once all traces of excrement are gone, use your broom to sweep up dirt from the area. It may not seem like much, but grains of sand, dust, and other small messes can inhibit the true power of your cleaner.
Deep Cleaning
Once you’ve prepped the area, it’s time to get to work.
Many cleaners have different methods, especially enzymatic cleaners, and it’s important to follow the steps listed on your bottle. This allows you to unlock the full efficacy of the product, but it also keeps you safe while using commercial cleaners in your home.
- For most products, start with a dry surface, then spray the cleaner directly on the spot your pet peed. It’s a good idea to branch out a bit to make sure you don’t miss any spots on the border.
- Let the cleaner sit for the recommended time, and clean it up as soon as that time is over. If you have a recommended range and it’s your first time using it, try the shortest time possible and work up from there to minimize damage to your vinyl floor.
- Once the cleaner has had enough time to neutralize the mess, clean it up as explained on the packaging. While some cleaners do not require rinsing, many recommend it to protect your flooring and your health.
- Vacuum the area after everything is dry to pick up as much leftover mess as possible, and then monitor the area for repeat accidents. You may need to use the cleaner a few times to get rid of the urine completely, even if you don’t see or smell anything.
Cleaning Pet Urine from Vinyl Plank Flooring With a DIY Mix
If you would feel more comfortable with a homemade mix or you don’t have any cleaner on hand, you can make your own using:
- Dishwashing detergent
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
This cleaning method is easy to change depending on your preferences and needs, but most mix equal parts water with white vinegar in a spray bottle or bucket and add a few drops of soap.
In addition to these items, you will need gloves, paper towels or rags, a broom, and your vacuum. A soft bristle brush may help scrub the solution into your floor, but avoid coarse tools like an abrasive sponge. In most cases, a rag works fine.
Prep Work
Clean the area as mentioned in previous sections to minimize the mess and debris as much as possible. This includes:
- Soaking up any pee or other liquids
- Removing feces
- Sweeping up dust and dirt
Prep work is especially important here because it limits the mess for your soap to bind to. Soap works by trapping dirt and germs, and the more you have left behind the less soap you have to work with your pet’s mess.
Deep Cleaning
- Once the area is clean, spray the spot with your solution and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Like commercial cleaners, we recommend testing this in an inconspicuous area first to make sure letting it sit won’t affect the appearance of your clean vinyl plank floors.
- Wipe the area clean with a dry rag, then rinse it with warm water or a water and vinegar mixture. This prevents leftover soap from attracting dirt to that area.
- Once it’s dry, sprinkle enough baking powder to cover the spot and let it sit for 10 minutes. This acts as an odor remover by neutralizing any lingering smells.
- Clean the baking soda up with a broom and dustpan or a vacuum (make sure baking soda doesn’t void your warranty), and then monitor the area for any repeat offenses.
How to Tackle Pet Urine Stains on Vinyl Plank Flooring
If you notice a lingering cat or dog urine smell or your pet continues to have accidents in the same spot, the area probably wasn’t cleaned well enough.
Use a UV light to verify how far the damage goes, and prepare to remove your vinyl planks to evaluate the subfloor. You likely need to remove the existing underlayment and replace it before you can reinstall these planks.
At this point, we recommend moving forward with an enzyme cleaner, especially if you haven’t before. If you have, you may need to use a higher concentration or a stronger brand.
What to Remember When Cleaning Pet Urine from Vinyl
While cleaning pet urine from your floor is pretty straight forward, there are a few tips to keep in mind that can make the job easier.
If this is the only thing you remember, make sure you clean up the mess as soon as you notice it. Wiping it up with a clean cloth or even dirty laundry is better than letting it sit for a few minutes while you gather up your cleaning arsenal, and it can make a world of difference in the future of your vinyl tile or other flooring.
Make sure any cleaner you use is approved for vinyl. Your flooring manufacturer can point you in the direction of tried and true cleaners, or you can test your own before committing to them.
You should also have a backup plan in case the cleaner (or the urine) causes visible damage to your floor. Even rubbing alcohol or a cup of vinegar can diminish the shine from no-wax floors, so you might want to have extra planks on hand or a rug with a waterproof rug pad you can cover the spot with.
Conclusion
Hopefully, your issue is resolved with some quick cleaning, but if the issue persists despite your deep cleaning you need to look to your pet. Rule out any health issues, then double down on house and litter training.
Once you find a cleaning method that works well for you, take note of it. Hopefully, you won’t need it in the future, but pets can be unpredictable, and it’s good to have a plan in place for accidents.
Let us know if these methods work for pet urine on your vinyl flooring, or comment with any issues you are still having so we can help!