Cleaning pee-stained wood tips?

[omnicat]

We've taken longer than we should have to figure out one or more of the animals running around in here has been repeatedly been using a few sections of the living room carpet for a pee-place.

On the upside, it has kicked our butts to remove the wall-to-wall carpet that we'd been planning on doing, but had been procrastinating. As we suspected/hoped, there's pretty nice wood underneath. But the places that were repeatedly abused are stained dark.

Any tips for cleaning these spots?

Thanks.

[davel745]

I am not sure but I think that the only way is to sand the floor and then reseal it. The problem is usually you have to do the whole floor to get a nice looking job Another problem is that the walls an baseboards and usually stained too and if they are drywall walls then you can cut out a piece big enough to completely remove the stain and the base board needs to be replaced. That is the only way I know of repairing the damage.

Note you can rent a large square type of sander and do the work yourself, and save a lot.

[Harry Chickpea]

Remove and replace. If it has stained the wood, it has seeped into the fibers of it and can never be completely removed. Sometimes it can be sealed and painted, but I know of no good fix other than removing it.

[beccachow]

I suggest you all start using the toilets instead.

That dead guy that sold stuff like OxyClean has a product called Orange Glo that reportedly restores and cleans wood. I'd give that a shot.

[nc_mtn]

Orange Glo won't do it... It's basically a cleaner with finish in it. I've repaired TONS of floors from people that use these products and ruin the floor.
You could sand it but the buffer type sanders most rent is what I use for my final sanding. I'm all about saving money and doing it myself but Wood floor sanding is one of those things that it's worth paying someone. It's faster and cleaner...

As to the stain, if it's probably going to not sand out. Sometimes it makes look not as dark but very few times will it go away. Sometimes bleach will help make it blend better (when down to raw wood) but you have to be very careful, that stuff kills the fibers of the wood and can do more damage than good.
I'd get someone to sand and then stain the floor. This won't fix the problem but it helps hide the stains. I just finished a floor today with the same issues....

[Bat Farm]

Try hydrogen peroxide. It will lighten the stain without damaging the wood fibers. If your wood is a light color you may be able to lighten the stains enough to 'match'. If they are dark at least you can remove the stain so you can sand and re-finish the smaller area without having to re-do the whole floor.

Start with some dabs on the least noticeable spot to see how long to you need to leave it on.

[omnicat]

Dang. No ancient chinese secret, eh? Thanks for all the tips, I'll try some and see how it goes. I don't think replacing will work, since I don't know how I'd match it.

On the upside, just since pulling up the carpet and padding in that area, the spots have been lighting a bit all on their own. Perhaps a scrubbing and re-sealing will be good enough. The wood has enough shade variation within it that it may be easily dealt with.

Thanks again, and wish me luck.

[Ardie/WI]

A few years ago, our church had to renovate the parsonage after the occupants
were removed. The carpeting was saturated with dog urine and when that was removed it was discovered that the moisture went all the way through to the studs. No amount of cleaning or sanding would save the floor.

It was completely redone because of the staining but the ODOR too.

[omnicat]

Mine must not be too bad. I just put my nose right up against it, and I'm not smelling pee. (certainly had been when the carpet was still in place)

I'm hopeful that a cleaning-to-lighten followed by sealing will be good enough.