When you have a pet, accidents happen. And one of the most common places for pet accidents is on the wall. So if your furry friend has an accident and pees on your drywall, don’t worry – there are ways to remove the urine and fix the damage. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps how to remove urine from drywall, as well as patch up any damage that’s been done. So read on for all the information you need to know about getting rid of pet pee from your walls!
Removing urine from drywall is usually more of a concern for the owners than for the pet. Cats and some smaller dogs can get in and out of places like screen doors and windows reasonably quickly, but medium to large-sized dogs will typically need some help.
Things You’ll Need
- Enzymatic Cleaner
- Paper towel
- Sope
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Black Light
- Essential Oil
- Gloves
A Step by Step Guide on How to Remove Urine From Drywall
Step 1: Determine
To remove urine from the drywall, you’ll first need to determine if the entire section of drywall needs to be replaced or if you can repaint it. If your wall is not structurally sound–meaning that there are holes and cracks in the walls or ceilings, then this step does not apply.
However, if there are no visible signs of damage on the surface, use a stud finder and measure the length and width of each wall. These measurements will tell you how much drywall you’ll need to replace for everything to match up properly with the surrounding areas.
Wear gloves when removing urine from drywall. Also, the best time to remove urine from drywall is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are more relaxed and less humid outside. This will help dry out any water that the wall may have absorbed.
Step 2: Clean With Paper Towel and Soap
Use a paper towel and household cleaner or soap to wipe down the area of your drywall where urine is present. Wipe as much as you can by hand, but if there is too much urine for this step alone to take care of, you can use a spray bottle filled with soap and water. After cleaning the wall as much as possible by hand, pour some vinegar on another dry paper towel and rub it into the affected area.
This works well because it will help neutralize any foul odors present in the wall. If needed, you can also try using lemon peels and boiling them in water until the liquid thickens and has a pleasant scent when cooled. Use this instead of vinegar for extra deodorizing power.
Step 3: Use Enzymatic Cleaner
After you’ve cleaned away as much urine from the drywall as you can, it’s time to use enzymes. Enzymatic cleaners work like a catalyst and help break down any remnants of urine or stains left on your wall. This is the most crucial step in removing urine from drywall. If there are still chemicals present after applying the enzymatic solution, they may cause a foul odor when mixed with baking soda, which we’ll get into later in this article.
Soak a paper towel in enzymatic cleaner and rub it over the affected area on your drywall. Allow this to sit for at least fifteen minutes before wiping away with a clean wet paper towel or rag. Be sure to rinse off all enzyme cleaner from the wall to prevent it from reacting with any other cleaning products or odors. If you don’t see improvement after your first application, you can repeat this step as often as necessary until urine is removed from the drywall.
Step 4: Apply Sope and Water
Sope is a powdery substance that comes from a particular type of clay. When mixed with water, sope forms a clay-like paste to soak up any excess moisture in the area where urine is present. Apply water to the drywall and spread some sope over the affected area. Make sure to use enough sope to completely cover all nearby areas of the wall to absorb extra moisture.
Allow this paste to sit for about ten minutes or until it no longer feels wet or sticky, then remove with a clean paper towel or rag using warm water. Place a clean rag over the affected area to completely cover the wall and leave it to dry.
Step 5: Mix Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Water
Mix one cup of white vinegar, one-half cup baking soda, and two cups of warm water in a bucket or 5-gallon plastic paint container. The amount will depend on how big your walls are. Be sure to stir until all ingredients have been successfully combined into a paste-like consistency. If you’d like, you can also substitute lemon peels for vinegar to remove urine from drywall, as mentioned earlier.
Apply your paste mixture to your drywall using a paintbrush or roller, depending on how big of an area is affected. If you are dealing with more than one wall or an extensive section of the drywall, consider cutting what you’ve made in half with water before applying it. Allow this mixture to sit for about 20 minutes so that it completely dries within 24 hours of application. Once dry, use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a crevice tool attachment to suck up all remaining paste residue.
This paste has been proven effective at removing ammonia-scented urine from walls without any need to repaint. Next, wipe the wall lightly with a clean cloth and apply latex paint if you want to conceal any discoloration, then allow to dry for 24 hours before re-hanging your drywall. This is a crucial step in how to remove urine from drywall.
Step 6: Essential Oil Spray
Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with two teaspoons of liquid dish soap in a container to make your cleaner. Add 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oil – lavender or tea tree oil are both very effective at treating stains and odors that may be left behind by urine on drywall. Place the lid on your container and shake until everything is mixed together well.
Spritz this mixture over the affected area using a spray bottle, then allow it to sit for about 20 minutes before wiping away with paper towels or washcloths soiled with warm water. If there are any remaining discolorations, you can apply latex paint to conceal them once you’ve wiped up all residue. Allow the paint to dry before re-hanging drywall completely.
Step 7: Use a Black Light to Detect Hiding Spots
Even after you’ve removed all of the urine from your drywall, you need to check for any spots that have been missed by using a black light to see if they are emitting any glow. If necessary, you can buy these at most hardware stores or rent one from a rental store. If you notice areas where any urine-like glow is present, this means there are still traces of it left behind, and you’ll need to clean the area again with Steps 3 through 5.
Step 8: Clean Up After Yourself
It would help if you cleaned up any excess paste mixture when complete and any rags used to apply it. If left on any surfaces, this mixture could stain them and will emit a strong smell in the room for several days to follow. For best results and to prevent discoloration or staining of surfaces around where drywall was applied, consider wearing gloves when using and removing the paste. These steps will help you in how to remove urine from drywall.
Precautions
- Wear goggles to protect the eyes from drywall dust.
- Remove any animals from the space before beginning. Animals can carry microorganisms that may cause illness when exposed to humans.
- Wash hands thoroughly after cleaning drywall contaminated with urine or animal waste.
- Avoid breathing in dust particles by wearing a mask and working in a well-ventilated area.
- Wear protective clothing to prevent skin exposure to drywall dust.
- Eliminate all sources of ignition when using chemicals in the space.
- Never mix chemicals unless specifically directed to do so by a drywall manufacturer. Combining different chemicals can create toxic fumes, fires, and explosions.
- Avoid spilling drywall chemicals on skin, clothing, or other surfaces.
- Dispose of rags and sponges used to apply drywall chemicals in a sealed plastic bag. They can contain hazardous substances that can contaminate soil if not disposed of properly.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best way to remove urine from drywall, your search is finally over. We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks in this article on how to remove urine from drywall that will help you get rid of any lingering smell or stains left behind by accident in your home.
