Question: “How do I remove mice urine stains from clothing? I had been gone for awhile and we live in the country. When I got home they had gotten into my closet that has my best clothes. Please Help!”
Whether you’re training your pet or your toddler, seeing a piece of clothing ruined by urine stains can be frustrating. Fresh urine stains can usually be removed with normal laundering. If the stain has dried, it will take a bit more effort. Fortunately, there are some easy fixes that will remove that spot for good.
Removing Urine Stains with Vinegar
You Will Need:
- Large bowl or bucket (large enough to fit the clothing piece)
- Distilled white vinegar
- Hot water (cold water for delicate fabrics)
The Cleaning Process:
Whenever you are using a new cleaning solution, it is important to test a small, hidden area of the piece first to make sure that it does not damage the material or change the colorings.
- Fill the container with two parts hot/cold water, depending on the durability of the fabric, and one part vinegar.
- Place the stained piece into the solution and allow it to soak for up to 45 minutes.
- Remove and rinse thoroughly.
- Wash as usual.
- Allow the fabric to air dry until you are sure the stain is gone as the heat from the dryer will set the stain and make it virtually impossible to remove.
- If the stain persists, repeat the above steps.
Removing Urine Stains with Ammonia
You Will Need:
- Large bowl or bucket (large enough to fit the clothing piece)
- Ammonia
- Cold water
The Cleaning Process:
Whenever you are using a new cleaning solution, it is important to test a small, hidden area of the piece first to make sure that it does not damage the material or change the colorings.
- To create the mixture for this treatment, you will add 1 teaspoon of ammonia for each half cup of water.
- Place the stained piece into the solution and allow it to soak for up to 45 minutes.
- Remove and rinse thoroughly.
- Wash as usual.
- Allow the fabric to air dry until you are sure the stain is gone as the heat from the dryer will set the stain and make it virtually impossible to remove.
- If the stain persists, repeat the above steps.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If the stain is light, you may be able to add a half-cup of apple cider vinegar to the wash cycle and launder as usual.
- There are cleaners available that are designed specifically for pet urine. These can be found online, or at your local pet store.
Mary says
I only have bleach and soap.
Melanie says
Mary,
If your garment is bleach-safe, then you can use bleach. If you can’t tell from the tag, conduct a small test by mixing a teaspoon of bleach in a 1/4-cup of water and placing a drop on a hidden area of the garment (inner seam, etc.).
If you have a stain-fighting laundry detergent, such as OxyClean, that might also work.
You could also try rubbing alcohol. (Dilute the rubbing alcohol if the garment is acrylic or modacrylic fabric.)
Also, Windex contains ammonia.
Source: Clorox – Urine
Source: Clorox – Bleach and Colored Clothing
Source: OxiClean – Pet on Non-Wool Carpet
Source: HowStuffWorks – How to Remove Urine Stains
Source: The Modern Housewives – How to Use Windex on Carpet Stains
Sally in Chicago says
Hello everybody, hoping you can help me. I think there is a pee stain in my white fabric purse – not sure, it could be discoloration. Anywho–the color has a yellowish look, like urine. It has dried and I’ve tried everything to remove it – from Clorox to Shout. If you have a solution, let me know.