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How to Remove Pets Stains and Odors from Natural Stone

You love your pets, and you love your natural stone floors, yet sometimes they do not go together. If your pet has had an accident and urinated on your natural stain floor, you could eventually deal with staining and odor issues. Keep reading to learn what you can do if this happens, and then contact Fuller Stone Care if you need additional assistance with natural stone cleaning and restoration.

Why Urine Stains and Smells

Urine is a unique substance in that when it comes out of an animal’s body, it is an acid, yet as it dries, it becomes an alkaline crystal. These crystals can absorb odor, which means that if your pet causes urine stains, these stains can absorb moisture. If this occurs on a polished marble or limestone surface, the result can be etching by the initial acid reaction, but there could also be etching from the strong alkali content. In these cases, it might be necessary to repolish the stone.

Time is Of the Essence When Removing Urine Stains from Stone

It can be difficult to remove a urine stain from a stain, but the key is to remember that the sooner you get to it, the better your chances will be. As soon as you see the pool of urine, blot it up with paper towels. Be sure not to wipe it as this will only increase the surface of the floor that has come into contact with the urine.

Then grab a mix of dish soap and water to clean the stain. You can use a mixture of one teaspoon of mild dish soap for one gallon of warm water. Put this solution on the wet area and wait for a few minutes. Then blot it up and rinse the area with clean water. If you still have a stain, then you will need to move on to applying a poultice.

Poultices Can Remove Stains

A poultice is simply a mixture that can be applied to a stain to break it down and draw it out from the pores of the stone. You should only use a poultice made from the specific type of natural stone you have. You should never apply it without confirmation that it is safe for your particular type of flooring.

How to Remove Odors from Natural Stone

Removing the stain is just the first step if there is still a urine smell. That smell is the bacteria that is essentially eating the urine and using it as a food source. To get rid of the smell, you will need to kill the bacteria. Look for products that are used to eliminate pet odors on carpets. These can be used on stone as long as they are enzymatic. If you choose a product that is not enzymatic, then it will just mask the odor, and it will come back.