Look at these guys. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to stay mad at them?
Nevertheless, the occasional (or, well…more than occasional when it comes to Virgil – we’re still in housebreaking mode) “accident” makes me nuts. When it comes to housekeeping, I think there’s absolutely nothing more important than having a fresh-smelling home; even if it looks like a mess, it should always smell lovely. And Virgil’s little mishaps smell anything but.
The problem with dog urine and hardwood floors is that adding moisture to the area just basically “re-activates” the smell…so mopping often makes things worse. A couple of days ago, I decided to deal with the problem once and for all…using nothing more than a $1.59 bottle of white vinegar. So much cheaper than those pricey removers you get at the pet store, and totally, totally effective.
Here’s what you do:
1. Saturate the area with diluted white vinegar (I just bought a large bottle of already-diluted stuff, but you can also buy it pure and mix it in a 50/50 solution with water).
2. Let sit for at least 10 minutes, and then use a dry mop to remove the excess vinegar.
3. Wait another half hour or so, then mop the area with very hot water. Repeat if necessary over a couple of successive days. I’ve done this for two days in a row now, and our apartment is back to smelling like people live here instead of a horde of wild animals. Yeah, it smells like vinegar for a bit, but that goes away within a few hours (a day at most).
4. If the smell is really persistent, try sprinkling baking soda over the area before pouring on the vinegar (this may cause damage to your floors, so spot-test first in an inconspicuous area).
In order to stop the problem going forward, try this neat little trick: use a black light (can be purchased at lots of hardware stores) to find the areas where your dogs seem to “prefer,” and then lay down double-sided sticky tape all over the area for a couple of days. Your dogs won’t like the feel of the tape on their paws, and will find somewhere else to go – hopefully, outside.
For some tips on how to make your home smell fresh in a pinch, go HERE.
Sources: Thriftyfun.com, ASPCA.com.
