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How To Get Pet Pee Smell Out of a Leather Couch: 7 Possible Ways

Written by: Keri-Beth Clur

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Keri-Beth Clur

How To Get Pet Pee Smell Out of a Leather Couch: 7 Possible Ways

Have you ever sat down on your couch to relax after a long, hard day and been hit with a whiff of pee smell? Not only has your moment of relaxation been interrupted, but now you’re left with the task of locating the pee spot and cleaning it up to rid your couch and entire living room of the stench.

You may love your pets to the moon and back, but the smell left behind after they have urinated on your leather furniture is overpowering. For more information on how to get a dog or cat pee out of a leather couch, keep reading—we know the struggle, and we’re here to help you out!

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Before You Start

There are several ways to get pee smell out of leather furniture, but most start the same way. Here are a few easy steps to start you off on the process:

Step 1: Locate the area where your pet urinated on your leather couch.

Step 2: Pat down the area with a paper towel to absorb the urine. Don’t wipe the area, as this action will spread the urine.

Step 3: Before trying any product or solution on your leather couch, test it on a small, hidden section to see if any discoloration occurs. If it does, do not use the product on your couch and try something else.

Step 4: Take your leather cushions off the couch and clean them all over. Leave them off until the couch and cushions are dry. If your cushions aren’t removable, turn your leather couch onto its back, remove the dust cover, and pat down any affected areas inside. Clean the inside and leave it to dry.

Step 5: Try a different tip if the pee smell doesn’t go away completely. Otherwise, repeat the process until the smell is gone.

Step 6: Finally, use a leather conditioner or olive oil. Pour some of the conditioner onto a cloth and wipe it over your leather couch, focusing on where the urine mark was. This will leave your couch hydrated and smelling fresh.

The 7 Ways to Get Pee Smells Out of a Leather Couch

1. Vinegar and Baking Soda

Vinegar and Baking Soda
Image By: JPC-PROD, Shutterstock

Before going out to buy an expensive cleaner, use the products you have at home first. If you have vinegar, water, and baking soda, you’re good to go!

Both vinegar and baking soda have properties in them that neutralize smells and kill bacteria. They’re both pet-friendly and an affordable, healthier option than using products with harmful chemicals in them.

All you’ll need is 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of water, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and a clean spray bottle. Mix it all together, spray it over your leather couch, and allow it to dry.


2. Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

apple cider vinegar
Image By: focal point, Shutterstock

Another way you could use your baking soda to get the pee smell out is by pouring it over the urine stain. Leave it on your couch for a couple of hours or overnight and clean it up in the morning. Wipe a warm cloth mixed with apple cider vinegar over the area. Repeat this process until the smell is completely gone.

If your couch’s cushions are smelling, take the inner out, toss the covers in the washer, and gently pour a cup of apple cider vinegar in the load. However, make sure to read your leather couch’s washing instructions first.


3. Baking Soda, Dish Soap, and Hydrogen Peroxide

If any of those other home remedies didn’t work, give this one a go. First, mix baking soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide into a container or spray bottle. Make sure the container isn’t metal as the hydrogen peroxide may damage it.

Remember that over-mixing and vigorous shaking may cause the mixture to overflow, so handle this solution with care.

Spray the mixture onto the stinky area of your couch and wait for it to dry.


4. Deodorize the Area

spraying leather couch with deodorizer
Image By: Lion Day, Shutterstock

After you’ve tried cleaning the affected area, you may still notice a slight stench around your room. You may need to try to deodorize the area to ensure all the smell gets absorbed.

You can use activated charcoal for this step, or you can run to your kitchen and grab some fresh coffee grounds. Place either into a bowl and leave it near your couch for the evening. In the morning, the pee smell should be gone, and you may be left with the fragrance of coffee instead.


5. Hepper Advanced Bi0-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray

If you're trying to find an enzyme cleaner that does it all, we highly recommend our favorite cleaner, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.

Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
  • ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
  • FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
  • FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...

It permanently removes the very worst stains and smells you can imagine and makes clean up a breeze. There's even a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle today.

At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!


6. Biokleen Bac-Out Stain+Odor Remover

Biokleen Bac-Out Pet Stain & Odor Remover Foaming Spray

Not only does Biokleen Bac-Out Pet Stain & Odor Remover Foaming Spray remove wine spills and grit from drains, but it removes urine stains and odors from your leather couch too!

Once it gets to work on those sticky spots, your living area will smell like lime & lavender. You don’t need to dilute it and can use it right out of the spray bottle. Target those affected areas and leave them to dry.


7. Skunk-Off

Thornell Skunk-Off Liquid Premise Spray

Little stinks more than the stench a skunk gives off. Thornell Skunk-Off, however, is one of those incredible non-toxic sprays that can remove odors as tough as a skunk’s spray. If this doesn’t remove the pee smell from your leather couch, little else will.

Make sure you spray the affected area thoroughly with Skunk-Off after you’ve tested it on a small area. If you don’t get all the smell out the first time, don’t be shy and try again!

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Final Thoughts

Always look at household items first when looking for solutions to eliminate the pee smell from your leather couch. This will save you time and money. If those don’t work, you may need something a bit stronger, and that’s where dedicated products come in handy.

Once you eliminate the smell, it’s important to train your animal not to pee on your furniture. Prevention is the best path forward, and it will stop you from needing to scramble to clean a mess before it sits for too long.

See also:


Featured Image Credit: Daleen Loest, Shutterstock

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