The combination of wicker furniture and a family pet can be a disaster waiting to happen. It is easy for even the best-trained dogs and cats to have accidents. Wicker furniture owners may fear that their furniture might be ruined by such an accident. However, this should not be the case. You can save fabulous wicker furniture that has been damaged by a beloved pet. Read below for some simple and easy ways to save your wicker furniture from one of the inevitable hazards of pet ownership.
Materials are important
The treatment for getting urine out of wicker furniture differs depending on if the wicker is made from paper fiber or rattan.
If your wicker furniture is made out of paper fiber, follow one of the procedures below.
Painting
- Paint it with a wood primer that does not bleed, cover the entire piece of furniture completely.
- Apply two coats of oil-based paint.
Shellacking
Another option is to coat the entire piece of furniture with clear shellac, which should cover and mask the urine odor.
If your wicker furniture is made from rattan, you have some additional choices:
Professional cleaning
- A simple option for removing pet urine from wicker furniture is to have the furniture professionally cleaned. A professional furniture cleaner that specializes in treating smoke-damaged furniture will be able to place the wicker furniture into a carbon chamber that will remove the offensive odor. You will need to do some research to see if there are any businesses of this nature in your local area.
Pre-mixed enzymatic cleaners
- If you can find a pre-mixed enzymatic cleaner, it is another good choice for urine removal from your wicker furniture. This cleaner is the same type that has been known to remove skunk odors from dogs, so it is both potent and effective.
Use a stain/odor fighting primer
- Treat the wicker furniture with a coat or two of stain and odor resistant primer. Then, add an oil-based clear coat finish.
- Finally, completely paint the entire piece of furniture.
These processes should help to block out any remaining odors lingering on the furniture.
Hydrogen Peroxide solution
Tried and true remedies are often shunned but are usually helpful. The following method has worked time and again for urine stain and odor removal.
- Create a solution by combining vinegar and water.
- Saturate the furniture and then let it dry completely. This process will neutralize the stain.
- Create another solution one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of grease-fighting dishwashing liquid, and ¼ cup baking soda
- Wearing a pair of rubber gloves, apply the solution to the affected areas of the wicker furniture.
- Let the solution set until it dries.
- Remove the baking soda residue with a vacuum attachment.
- Repeat the entire process once or twice more if necessary.
Water and vinegar solution
- Wash your wicker with a solution made of equal parts water and white vinegar.
- Sprinkle wet areas with baking soda to neutralize the odor.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Remove baking soda with a vacuum before using the furniture.
Another home remedy for removing urine stains and odors from wicker furniture can be found below.
Tools
- Bristle brush
- ¼ cup chlorine bleach
- 2 gallons of warm water
- Additional water for rinsing
- 1 plastic bucket
Process
- Place furniture outside over newspaper, a tarp, or other protective fabric.
- Mix ¼ cup chlorine bleach and 2 gallons of water in a large plastic bucket
- Coat furniture completely with the water and bleach mixture using the bristle brush. Make sure to get into the crevices and in between the woven pieces.
- Rinse completely with clean water to remove the bleach
- Let the furniture dry in the sun. Keep an eye on it, and do not let it sit out too long, as it may start to fade.
- Repeat steps three through five until the odor is gone.
Pet lovers who are also lovers of wicker (or wicker lovers who are also lovers of pets) must always stay on their toes when it comes to keeping their two loves apart. But, sometimes accidents do happen. At those times, it is good to have a few problem-solving techniques at the ready. If you love your pet and your wicker furniture, you owe it to yourself to make every effort to save your wicker furniture from a pet accident.
At Design Furnishings, we are experts when it comes to wicker furniture so if you need more information about cleaning your wicker furniture, please contact us today! We will be happy to assist you.