Spring Cleaning Tips

Cleaning urine may not be the most pleasant job; however, it is an essential necessity in maintaining an stain free, odourless and hygienic home. Many people associate urine cleaning with pets, yet anyone with kids who are potty training or people who have urinary incontinence will have to clean urine.

When cleaning urine which has been caused by animals it is important not to use ammonia based products as cats in particular will return to the same spot and continue to urinate there.

Obviously the best way to clean urine is to tackle it straight away if possible; clothes or mats which are washable should be rinsed thoroughly with cold water and then placed on a hot wash using a biological detergent. If a urine stain has dried onto clothes or bedding it should be soaked in a solution of salty water prior to washing.

Cleaning urine from a carpet can be carried out by treating the area with soda water, this should help to reduce staining, when the excess urine has been soaked up the area can be washed with a solution of salt and water, rinsed and blotted dry with disposable paper towels.
Alternatively sprinkling the area with bicarbonate of soda and leaving it to soak up the urine before hoovering can help reduce odours as well as removing any staining.

Soft furniture can be a problem if the covers are not washable, the area should be treated as above and if at all possible the chair or cushion should be taken outside to dry fully.

Mattresses can also be sponged down and left to dry by providing as much natural ventilation as possible. For kids or the incontinent a mattress protection cover maybe worth considering as these are far easier to launder and keep clean.

If there is a suspicion that the urine may be infected, for example if the person or animal has a known urine infection, it is advisable to use an antibacterial spray or disinfectant to reduce the risk of contamination to others. Urine infections are generally very contagious and therefore every possible precaution should be taken to ensure that the area is washed and dried thoroughly. In cases where the infection is severe it may be advisable to discard any clothing which cannot be washed at high temperatures.

Cleaning urine from a wooden floor should be undertaken as soon as possible to reduce the risk of staining, the ammonia found in urine, if excessively strong, may take the varnish off the floor. Spills should be mopped up and the area disinfected, if the urine has dried and stained it may be necessary to sand the area and re-varnish.