As the saying goes, “accidents happen”.  So, from time-to-time, we may end up with a urine stain that risks ruining a garment.  Besides the unsightly color of the stain, urine has a strong smell.  Hence, we want to take care of the stain as soon as possible, removing both discoloration and odor.  We’re going to walk you through the process of getting urine out of clothing, but keep in mind, we’re not talking about pet urine, as this contains different compounds from human urine.

Why are Urine Stains So Tricky?

Urine contains organic proteins, and proteins are some of the most difficult to remove from fabrics.  How come?  Well, because organic proteins are quite good at binding to the fibers of our clothing.  Meaning, the stain is deep in the garment rather than on the surface of the material.  Urine notoriously causes discoloration, and has an unmistakable appearance, so you will need to treat any urine stain to avoid ending up with a ruined piece of clothing.

Easy Steps for Removing a Urine Stain

When it comes to most types of stains, the key is to act as quickly as possible, because the longer you wait, the more likely it is that the proteins will fully bind to the material, permanently setting the stain.  Urine is no different, requiring that you work toward removing the stain immediately.

Step #1: Remove the garment once the stain is detected. 

Step #2: Then, start blotting the stain with a clean sponge or cloth to remove as much excess liquid as possible, without actually rubbing the material.

Step #3: Keep in mind that urine is light, and so after blotting, you may think that the stain is gone.  But, in reality, the discoloration can happen as time goes on.  Translation, even if the garment looks clean now, it might be discolored later on.  So, soak the garment in a bath of cold water and baking soda, as the baking soda will help break up the proteins.  Allow the garment to soak for about 30 minutes.

Step #4: Now, put the garment into your washing machine, washing it with warm water instead of hot, since hot water can set the stain, and using Grab Green’s 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Pods or  3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Powder.  If the clothing is delicate, then use our Delicate Laundry Detergent Pods.

Step #5: Before transferring the garment into the dryer, check to make sure the stain is gone, since drying it in the dryer will permanently set the stain.  If the stain is still there, repeat the process of soaking it in water and baking soda, and wash it again.

Recap: A urine stain can ruin a piece of clothing, but it can also be removed if you catch the stain soon enough and follow the proper methods as shown above.  Just make sure that you assume the worst when treating the stain, because once again, even if the urine’s almost colorless, it can still leave behind discoloration once the proteins get to work deep into the fibers of your fabric. 

Treating an Older Urine Stain

A urine stain that has been sitting around for days or weeks will definitely be trickier to remove, because the proteins in the urine have had a chance to really attach to your material’s fibers.  But, you can still follow the same steps above, and hope that luck is on your side.