Here's How to Protect Your Wood Floors from Dog Urine

How to protect wood floors from dog urine

Our furry friends are like our family members. They offer protection, comfort, and joy when we need it the most. However, they can cause damage to your home when you least expect it.

Even the most well-behaved dog can have an accident. Maybe you were stuck in traffic, and they couldn’t hold their urine in. Or maybe the Fourth of July fireworks scared them into releasing their bladder.

If you have area rugs over hardwood flooring, it can be easy to miss when an accident has occurred. Untreated accidents lead to urine stains, discoloration, and odors that are extremely difficult to remove.

Urine can permanently damage your hardwood floors’ polyurethane coating and lead to expensive repairs for homeowners and loss of pet deposits for renters.

You must take steps to prevent pet urine from damaging your wood floors and area rugs. The best way to do this is to use a waterproof rug pad underneath your area rugs to prevent dog accidents from seeping down onto your wood floors.

Why you need a rug pad to protect wood floors from dog urine

Dog owners know just how messy their canines can be. They spill water as they drink, dribble urine when excited, and run around with muddy paws after a rainy day walk.

Uncovered wood flooring could spell disaster and experience excessive wear and tear from your pet. It’s a good idea to invest in area rugs to place in high-traffic areas of your home to prevent pet damage.

There are several reasons why having area rugs in your living space are beneficial for your pets.

• Soundproofing: Dogs with the “zoomies” make a lot of noise. A carpet can muffle the sounds of their running while offering traction to prevent injuries.
• Keeps Wood Floors Cleaner: Muddy paws after a long walk can leave smudges and dirt behind. A runner rug in your entryway helps protect your wood floors and gives your pooch a place to wipe their paws.
• Extra Protection: Pet nails and toys can scratch your wood floors. These scratches allow urine to absorb quickly in the porous material, leading to intense odors that permeate down to the subfloor. An area rug with a waterproof rug pad will prevent accidents from coming in contact with your hardwood floors.
• Warmth And Comfort: Just like area rugs provide comfort underfoot; they give your dog a cozy place to lay and be close to their beloved family.

When placing a carpet on wood flooring, you need to pair it with the right rug pad for your area rug. Even if there is already carpeting over your wood floors, a waterproof rug pad beneath your area rug will offer traction and protection from unwanted pet odor and pet stains.

What to know before you buy

As you search for the best rug pad for the high traffic areas your pet frequents, you’ll need to ensure it has certain qualities for maximum performance.

• Waterproof
• Strong Grip
• Comfortable Cushioning
• Safe For Your Floor Finish

Always look for a rug pad made from materials that won’t break down over time. Cheap, synthetic rug pads release toxic chemicals into the air over time, making them unsafe for pet owners.

It’s also essential to thoroughly clean pet accidents as soon as they happen to prevent permanent damage. Here is how to remove old and new pet stains from an area rug.

Removing “new” pet stains

1. use paper towels on top of and below the rug to soak up as much pet urine as possible.
2. scrub the area with a mild detergent.
3. rinse the spot with cool water.
4. allow it to dry.
5. place soiled paper towels in the pet's bathroom area to prevent future accidents.

Removing pet stains that have set

1. check to see if urine has soaked through the carpet pad and onto the wooden floors.
2. clean the spot with a carpet cleaner.
3. apply a high-quality enzymatic cleaner to the area.
4. use a carpet stain remover if the accident is still visible.
5. avoid steam cleaning, ammonia, and vinegar to prevent pets from resoiling the area.

Once you’ve cleaned the affected area, you’ll be ready to lay your new waterproof rug pad to protect your hardwood flooring from future pet accidents.

These are the best rug pads to protect your floors against dog urine

Waterproof rug pads are your best line of defense against pet urine on area rugs. They provide a strong barrier that will prevent your dog’s accident from seeping into your hardwood floors.

This prevents the need for time-consuming refinishing required to remove pet stains from wooden flooring. Here are the best waterproof rug pads for pet owners.

Anchor Grip

If you’re looking for a product that will prevent pet urine from soaking your hardwood floors in high-traffic areas, Anchor Grip is the rug pad for you. It provides a comfortable level of cushioning that won’t interfere with door clearance or pose a tripping hazard.

Anchor Grip is made with an EVA backing designed to offer a solid surface area that prevents liquids from seeping through. It also provides the highest level of grip and durability possible, meaning your rugs in high-traffic areas won’t budge no matter what.

This rug pad is non-slip and waterproof. Anchor Grip is safe for all flooring finishes, even polyurethane, luxury vinyl plank, and radiant heat floors.

Cloud Comfort Memory Foam 7/16

If you want to provide your pet with a comfortable place to lay while still ensuring your floors are protected, choose Cloud Comfort Memory Foam 7/16 to apply beneath your area rugs.

Made from 100% viscoelastic memory foam, Cloud Comfort is odor-free, soundproof, and waterproof. It’s topped with a proprietary moisture barrier that fully blocks pet accidents and spills from reaching your wooden floors.

Known as Rug Pad USA’s most comfortable rug pad, Cloud Comfort is safe for all flooring types and is ideal for adding cushioning and waterproofing to larger area rugs that do not require heavy-duty grip.

Other things you want to know

While a waterproof rug pad is a great way to protect your wood floors underneath an area rug, there are other steps you can take to protect hardwood flooring from dog urine.

• Apply Harwood Sealants: Add an appropriate floor sealer over your hardwood flooring to create a nonporous, defensive barrier that will protect the wood.
• Supervise Your Dog: You can’t have eyes on your pet at all times. Make it a family effort to watch for the tell-tale signs that your pet needs to go potty. These include squatting, walking in circles, or sniffing around.
• Use Penetrating Oil: If you don’t like the appearance of polyurethane sealants on your wooden floors, consider applying penetrating oil. It seeps through your wood floor’s grain and strengthens the wood while giving it a natural look.
• Clip Those Doggie Nails: Trimming your dog’s nails is essential in maintaining your wood floors. Long nails not only scratch and dent hardwood flooring, but they impact your dog’s mobility and traction.
  

Here are some more things you need to know about protecting your hardwood flooring.

What cleaning products are best for removing dog and cat urine?

When cleaning up pet urine, you’ll need cleaning products that will neutralize the urine and rejuvenate your carpet and flooring.

Enzymatic cleaners, like Resolve Urine Destroyer, will break down the enzymes found in pet urine. Look for cleaning products that address both odors and staining.

If you are looking for a more natural approach, sprinkle baking soda on the area and spray with a one-to-one solution of water and white vinegar to attach the urine enzymes.

Always clean up accidents as quickly as possible to prevent urine stains from setting into your wooden floor.

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean hardwood flooring?

Yes, you can. Hydrogen peroxide works well to sanitize and clean wooden floors. It has many uses.

• Removes Surface Dirt
• Sanitizes Hard Surfaces
• Lifts Stubborn Stains
• Remove Pet Stains And Odors
• Lighten Darkened Spots.

Always be cautious when applying hydrogen peroxide to your hardwood floors. Test a small, inconspicuous spot to make sure the cleaning agent will work properly.

What are some examples of pet-friendly flooring?

Hardwood flooring is elegant, but it requires quite a bit of upkeep, especially if you are a pet owner.

While some varieties are more resistant to scratching and denting than others, you will find yourself wanting to strip and refinish your wood floors after years of pet wear and tear.

Here are some examples of pet-friendly flooring materials that can stand up to pet nails, urine, and muddy paw prints.

• Luxury Vinyl Planks: This flooring is scratch-proof, waterproof, and potentially sound dampening.
• Stone Flooring: Stone is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. It’s an elegant alternative to luxury vinyl.
• Laminate: An affordable alternative, laminate can stand up to everything your pet throws at it.

Even if you have waterproof flooring, pet urine can leave behind stains and odors. Area rugs with waterproof rug pads give your pets a soft place to lay and protect your floors.

How do you get rid of the dog smell in my house?

Even the biggest dog lover doesn’t want their home smelling like a pack of canines. Here are some tips for removing the dog smell from your living space.

• Open Your Windows To Air Out The House.
• Regularly Clean Dog Bedding.
• Invest In An Air Purifier.
• Use A Blacklight To Find Overlooked Accidents.
• Change Your Air Filters.
• Use Fresh-Smelling Air Fresheners

Remember to regularly vacuum and bathe your pooch to prevent the dog smell from overtaking your home.