Urin Stain in Sofa

Updated on February 12, 2010
G.B. asks from Olathe, KS
12 answers

My almost 6 year old niece stayed the night over the weekend and had an accident while sleeping on our sofa. My brother-in-law's wife did not clean it up even though my husband told her all she needed to do is wipe it with a damp cloth (we have something like a scotch guard on the fabric). The smell is awful, I have NEVER smelled urine like this before, and it will not come out. I tried wiping it down and my whole basement ended up stinking. The fabric protection people (Guardsman brand) are suppose to call to set up a cleaning, so I can't try anything else for now, but the bad thing is that she also wet our spare bed and did this in a pair of my son's sweatpants she borrowed. I have tried washing the pants and the smell is still there. The bad thing is that our washing machine was broken for a couple of days so I couldn't get the clothes or sheets from the bed washed immediately. Any ideas on how to get rid of the smell? Maybe it's a lost cause and I should just get rid it all and buy new sheets? I'm actually think my niece needs to be taken to a doctor because she was also feverish, pale and having side pains over the weekend, but my brother-in-law's wife does not have a good relationship with anyone in the family, so I have no way to suggest it or follow up with her.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

You (or anyone else in the family) do not need a good relationship with 'mom' to suggest anything! The bottom line is this- that child comes first. The fact that she peed all over your house (not to mention 'mom' or bil didn't offer to clean it up (how rude!)) is enough for you to say "Look, you take her in and get her checked out or she doesn't come or stay over anymore! That's it- end of story! I have a very irresponsible brother in law (and his soon to be ex wife) as well and sometimes getting upset with them and making them take their children to the hospital is the only way to do it

Stand up for this child, you may be the only one who does, and do it soon! My neice ended up with a UTI that ran up her kidney's to the point she was puking and my MIL had to force her parents to take her to the doctor.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.V.

answers from Kansas City on

I am not sure if this was suggested to you or not. But there is the stuff called, Odo-Ban. It is wonderful. It smells great and takes any odor or smell out of anything. Plus it is a sanitizer. It is not sold everywhere. But I know it is great!!! I wish I could get it where I am.
Also, in washing things I would try baking soda for one thing or even put the Odo-Ban in the wash. Or you could use Lysol, the liquid stuff in a bottle that looks kind of yellow I think. It has been awhile since I have had to deal with this. I hope this was helpful and not redundent. My best to you!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.J.

answers from St. Louis on

Try putting it in the wash with vinegar and soap. Vinegar works wonders!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.W.

answers from Wichita on

Distilled white vinegar usually does a great job neutralizing urine odors. I always use it for puppy accidents.
Add a cup to the laundry wash cycle to wash the clothes & linens. To deodorize the carpet and upholstery, just dilute vinegar half/half with water, dunk a rag in the solution, wring it out & scrub the area, re-saturating & wringing out the rag often.
Grandma D.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

For the laundry, soak in vinegar water in the washing machine overnight, then spin out and wash like usual. That really should do the trick. If it doesn't, keep those pieces in the laundry room and add to every load that passes through the washer for a few more times. Washing soda, made by arm&hammer, also pulls out a lot of stink (this is from a cloth diapering mom).

For the couch, there is a fantastic trick for cat urine at tipnut:
1 16-oz. bottle Hydrogen Peroxide
1 TBS Baking Soda
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

* Mix ingredients into an old plastic container and stir well with a plastic or wooden spoon (do not use metal utensils or metal dishes).
* Once powder is dissolved, pour liquid into a plastic squirt bottle and squirt on urine spot, completely saturate the stain and surrounding area. Do not scrub or touch the spot, leave the cleaner to set and air dry for at least one hour.
* After it’s completely dry, vacuum the spot–there may be baking soda residue. You can wipe with a clean rag if needed.

And more info about pulling out the yuckies:
http://tipnut.com/how-to-clean-bedwetting-stains-from-mat...

I have had great luck with the corn starch on normal human pee, but the cat urine trick worked great with the really awful stuff.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.V.

answers from Kansas City on

For the clothes/sheets, try putting about a cup of baking soda in the washing machine along with your regular detergent, and add about 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. That should take care of it. The vinegar acts as a disinfectant also. And it won't smell like vinegar...I promise. I put baking soda & vinegar in every load I wash and my laundry comes out soft and stain free!!
I hope your niece is feeling well!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Columbia on

G.-
You have a lot of good answers. I can sympathize with you, my stepson did something similar. He slept on our pullout couch and peed, then folded up the couch (with the blankets inside) and didn't tell me. I noticed later when I went to get the blankets. By then it had been in the mattress and on the blankets for many hours not to mention warmed by being folded into the couch. PEW!

You have gotten a lot of good suggestions most of which should at least help. What I used was the ODO-BAN that someone else suggested. It can be purchased at Sam's Club. I laid out the mattress and sprayed it heavily with the odo-ban and then set it outside in the sun. With all the clouds right now, setting it in the sun probably isn't possible but it needs to be set somewhere there is alot of air flow. I did this a couple of times and now you can't tell there was a problem.

You can also use it in the laundry. The bottle has the dilution instructions on it. What I have found is that the clothes that have been peed on come clean/smelling better if I wash them in warm water (if the clothes can take it). I put the odo-ban in the fabric softener holder and most of the time they come out smelling fine, if not, they do after one more wash. Another thing is to make sure the smell is gone BEFORE you put them in the dryer. The heat of the dryer will usually set the smell and/or stain that didn't come out in the washer.

Hope your clothes and sheets have come clean! Good Luck
L.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

F.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I used the same thing in my laundry I do on my couch...simple green. Usually you have to get it in the automotive department of walmart/target, but it gives the dilutions for laundry on the back (PS I've never diluted it and I use it on everything from my best sweaters to my husbands white work shirts). I pour a little on the spots on the clothes then either rub the fabric together or scrub with my laundry brush. For the sofa, spray or pour lightly onto the spot and let it sit for ~15-30 mins, then scrub the surface with warm water....it should help get the smell out (it will work for pet urine on the carpet too, thanks to my sister-in-laws dog she brought to my house for thanksgiving)!! Good luck (PS I've used this as much as a week and a half later and not had a problem. You may also want to treat the spot on the mattress...to make sure you don't have problems later).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Gosh I"d be more worried about the girl... not saying you aren't, but her Mom should be.
With pee like that and side pains and fever, and paleness... I'd really take her in the to ER.
And the Mom doesn't even clean up the pee on the couch?
That is sorta irresponsible.

You said that your BIL's wife does not have a good relationship with the family... but her daughter (your niece) was the one staying at your house? So, what about just telling your BIL? Your niece seems not well...

About the urine... you could try vinegar and baking soda. And just soak it for awhile in a bucket. OR, try going to your pet store, and there are many pet stain & odor removers as well, which works just fine with kids as well.

All the best,
Susan

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

I would definately talk to the BIL about this. Urine should not smell like that. The child sounds dehydrated and very ill.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

If she went to the bathroom that often, is feverish, and has side pain, she could possibly have a kidney infection. She should be seen.

As for the clothes, and sheets, try some OxyClean or Totally Toddler (Babies R Us). On furniture, I like to use a product called Nature's Miracle (Petsmart).

M.

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Guardsman should do the sofa if you don't mess with it first. Did you have the mattress covered with anything, like a mattress cover? I know once it gets in the mattress it's very hard to ever get it out but maybe using the solutions suggested here it will at least help.
I do hope you strongly encourage the mother to get this child to the doctor. Could be something she needs seen for quickly.
I would think Tide would get the sheets smelling okay. I never have a problem with anything using that. If it was spring you could hang the sheets outside too and that helps with smell to have sunshine on them. BUT.....it's winter.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions