What to do about urine on a sofa or bed

The steps in order

1. Remove blankets and bedding Lift the seat cushions, throw or bedding so the liquid does not spread further. Wash the bedding separately.
2. Blot Use a clean, absorbent cloth, paper towels or a towel to blot gently, without rubbing, and change the cloth until it stops getting wet.
3. Cool water, very little Gently blot the stained spot with a cloth dampened in cool or lukewarm water, then with a dry one. Do not soak it: the liquid can reach the upholstery.
4. Air, not heat Open a window if the weather allows and keep the air moving. A fan speeds up drying. There is no need for a hairdryer, iron or heater.
5. Send a photo While everything is still clear, take a photo of the spot and the label. Tell us what happened and how much liquid there was.

The most common mistakes

The last point surprises many people. New Mexico State University materials advise against taking furniture cushion covers off for separate washing, even if they have a zip. After washing, a cover may no longer fit or may differ in colour from the rest of the sofa.

Sofas and beds are different

In a sofa, liquid passes from the fabric into the foam, and the piece cannot be turned over or washed. If the seat cushions are not attached, you can lift them so that air reaches them from underneath.

A bed often has several layers: bedding, mattress protector, mattress topper, mattress. Check each one separately and say on the form which one got soaked. Wash a cover only if the label allows it. Mattresses are sensitive to moisture: in foam it can stay in the core, and in springs it can cause rust. More detail: urine smell in a mattress.

If the stain has already dried

Do not pour water on it. Blotting no longer helps a dried stain, and a lot of water can carry the liquid further into the upholstery. Take a photo of the spot and tell us how long ago it happened.

Old urine is harder to deal with than fresh, and the smell may stay. More detail: what comes out and what may stay.

What happened: an adult, a child or a pet

• A child: child urine on a mattress.
• A cat: cat urine smell in furniture. If the cat does it repeatedly, consult a vet first.
• A dog: dog urine smell in furniture.
• Someone ill or in care: mattress cleaning after illness.

The other steps are the same in every case. The only differences are how often it happens and whether the cause also has to be dealt with elsewhere.

What to write on the form

• What happened and how much liquid there was.
• Where exactly: seat, cushion, middle of the mattress, edge.
• How long ago it happened and whether the spot has dried.
• What has already been done: water, a product, heat.
• The material: fabric, leather, faux leather, the type of mattress if you know it.

These five lines let a specialist give you a price and judge whether any urine may stay behind.

What you can expect from cleaning

You can order cleaning at your home on the basis of a photo: a specialist will tell you the price and what to expect, and we agree the price before the work. The services: urine sofa cleaning and urine mattress cleaning.

Two-seater sofa from €35, three-seater from €45. Single mattress from €30, double from €45 (one side). Smell treatment extra from €15. The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside Riga; further out it is from €10.