How To Remove Black Urine Stains From Hardwood Floors

Black urine stains are usually formed by either dog or cat urine, and if you want to learn how to remove black urine stains from hardwood floors then you have come to the right place.

Our favorite method to try at first is to use dish soap and scrub it in thoroughly, but you can also try a solution of white vinegar and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide or a generic wood floor cleaning solution.

Let’s jump straight into 4 methods that are sure to have your floor looking in top shape in no time.

Removing Black Urine Stains From Hardwood: 4 Easy Methods

It’s worth trying the dish soap method first, but if this doesn’t work you can work your way through the other three options until you find one that works for your floor.

With all of these methods, you need to spot test the cleaning solution first on a small area of the floor to check for any damage before you jump straight into cleaning. We also highly recommend wearing a mask with an HPA filter, as well as plastic gloves in case of mold.

Dish Soap and Scrubber

Dish soap can work really well for removing black urine stains when combined with a non-abrasive scrubber. Some options for the type of scrubber include non-abrasive scrub sponges and non-abrasive scouring pads.

For this method, you will need some dish soap – any brand will do – as well as two small container of water, a clean dishcloth and your scrubber.

  • When spot testing for this method, you need to try the scrubber as well to make sure it doesn’t cause any surface damage.
  • Start by dipping the scrubber in the water to make it damp, and then apply a generous amount of dish soap directly to the scrubber (around 1-2 tbsp should be fine).
  • Scrub the stain thoroughly. If you are creating a thick foam on the surface then you are doing this correctly.
  • Rinse the scrubber with water and continue scrubbing, applying more dish soap as necessary.
  • After a while, you will notice the foam will turn black in color and the stain will have lifted. Carefully rinse the area with a clean cloth and rinse out in the second water.
  • If the stain is still present then repeat the scrubbing and rinsing steps until it has lifted.
  • Allow the area to fully dry and use a rag to absorb any moisture that is left behind.

If the stain hasn’t been removed after repeating this process then you can try one of the other methods listed below.

White Vinegar And Baking Soda

White vinegar and baking soda is a well-known cleaning solution that can work wonders on lots of different surfaces, and it’s a great option for tackling black urine stains as well.

To use white vinegar and baking soda simply follow the steps below.

  • Mix one part baking soda with two parts white vinegar as required.
  • Apply the solution using a clean dishcloth or non-abrasive scrubber as in the dish soap method.
  • Rinse the cloth or scrubber regularly using clean water and continue tackling the stain until it has been removed.
  • Allow the area to dry and use a rag to soak up any excess moisture.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is yet another option for tackling black urine stains on hardwood floors. When handling hydrogen peroxide it is crucial to wear gloves and a mark.

To use hydrogen peroxide, you will need a 3% solution in a spray bottle, as well as a clean dishcloth. Apply a generous amount of the solution on to the urine stain and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes, and then wipe away afterwards using the dishcloth.

A more in-depth version of this method can be found in our guide here.

Wood Floor Cleaning Solution

Last but certainly not least is using a branded wood floor cleaning solution. Any brand will do, but we generally advise using Bona in most cases, which is available at just about any general store.

Whilst this will be the most expensive option on the list, it is always worth trying this as a last resort. If you happen to have some at home, you could even try this method at first.

Simply follow the instructions on the label to tackle the black urine stain and you should hopefully be able to remove it with ease.

How To Prevent Black Urine Stains On Hardwood Floors

It’s one thing knowing how to remove black urine stains from hardwood floors, but if you can prevent them in the first place you will save yourself a lot of time and wasted energy.

Below we’ve rounded up some of our favorite tips and tricks for keeping your hardwood floors stain free.

House Train Your Pets

It’s much harder in practice to house train your pets than it is to simply advise it, but it’s the best way to prevent urine stains in the future.

The younger you start, the more success you will have, but you should be able to house train at any age regardless.

Use Animal Nappies For Older Dogs

In some circumstances, older dogs may lose control over where they urinate.

Whilst this can be frustrating, it’s important to remember that it isn’t their fault and that there are things you can do to stop it from happening. The best idea is to use nappies which will soak up the urine before it has a chance to soak into the floor and cause black stains.

Use Litter Trays In Areas Where Urinating Is More Common

If you have cats that stay indoors they can be prone to urinating in areas where they aren’t supposed to, especially if they find a nice and quiet area where they are less likely to be disturbed while doing their business.

Increasing the number of litter trays, or changing their location, can be a great way to combat this. Simply find the areas where they are urinating and place a litter tray in those places.

Clean Up Any Urine As Soon As Possible

Black urine stains form when the urine is left for an extended period of time and is usually a result of bacteria and mold that forms.

If you can clean up the urine in a quick amount of time after it ends up on the floor you can lower the chances of any black stains forming significantly. This also lowers the chance of other problems that urine can cause, such as mold and cupping.

Make Sure Your Floor Is Sealed

Something that is often overlooked is the seal of the floor.

If your hardwood floor is sealed properly, then no urine should be able to soak into the wood and get under the floorboards. This is of course assuming that there are no gaps in between floorboards or between the baseboard and floor.

Problems Urine Can Cause

Learning how to remove black urine stains from hardwood floors is only one piece of the puzzle, as urine can cause a host of other problems for hardwood floors that you probably haven’t considered.

Mold/Subfloor Damage

In cases where the urine is allowed to sit for extended periods of time – usually, when it has made its way into the subfloor – it will start to form mold.

This is no different to urine on carpets and can lead to subfloor damage as well due to the growth of mold. Mold can also cause health issues, and will begin to smell worse over time as the bacteria develops.

The solution for this is to make sure your floor is sealed properly with no structural damage such as gaps.

Cupping

If your floor absorbs moisture from the urine this can cause cupping.

Cupping occurs when excessive moisture causes individual floorboards to expand, resulting in a u-shape. Minor cases of cupping can be reversed, but it can be difficult to get right and almost impossible in bad cases. To avoid cupping make sure that your floor is sealed properly and has no signs of gaps.

Rotting Wood

Another problem that urine can cause is rotting wood.

Due to the bacteria found within the urine, if it soaks into the floorboards it can make the wood start to rot over time. If the wood rots there is no option but to get the affected panels replaced as it is impossible to repair. The solution is again to make sure your floors are sealed properly with no gaps.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have learnt how to remove black urine stains from hardwood floors by reading this article.

Remember that the sooner you clean up the urine, the less chance there is for black stains to form. It also pays dividends to make sure that your floor is properly sealed in the first place, as well as being structurally sound.