Laminate gives your home the look of wood flooring at a reduced cost. The flooring provides a durable surface for pets, but you need to take care when cleaning your dog's accidents to prevent stains, warping or scratches. Dog urine contains acidic chemicals and salts that can damage laminate flooring if left unattended, as does dried faeces. Attend to your dog's accidents quickly; use laminate-friendly cleaners on the area to keep your floors clean and free of odours that attract your dog back to the area to remark it.

Absorb as much of the dog urine as you can by blotting the surface of the laminate flooring with paper towels. Blot and dab the urine away from the surface without rubbing the liquid further into the groves of the flooring, which can lead to warping of the panels.

Pick up faeces with paper towels and dispose of it in a plastic trash bag. For loose faeces, absorb it by dabbing at the faeces with paper towels; avoid rubbing it into the grooves of the laminate panels. Dampen a paper towel with water and place it over dried-on faeces to loosen it. Wipe away the remaining faeces with a damp paper towel dipped in vinegar.

  • Laminate gives your home the look of wood flooring at a reduced cost.
  • For loose faeces, absorb it by dabbing at the faeces with paper towels; avoid rubbing it into the grooves of the laminate panels.

Combine 1-cup vinegar with 1-gallon water in a bucket. Dip a mop into the solution and wring it out until the mop is damp, not soaking wet. Clean the spots on the floor where you found the urine or faeces. Repeat the mopping if any of the faeces or urine remains.

  • Combine 1-cup vinegar with 1-gallon water in a bucket.
  • Dip a mop into the solution and wring it out until the mop is damp, not soaking wet.

Spray an enzymatic cleaner over the area and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The enzymes prevent any lingering odours by breaking down the organic components of the urine or faeces and eliminating them.

Dry the floor with a chamois to prevent moisture from damaging the laminate floor and maintain the shine.

TIP

Replace panels that urine or faeces has permanently stained on your laminate flooring. You can safely use vinegar on laminate flooring, according to the Pergo website. It leaves no residue behind after cleaning, has antibacterial properties, and neutralises the odours of the urine and faeces.

WARNING

Avoid using soap-based or abrasive cleaners on laminate floors, which can dull the finish. Never soak the surface of a laminate floor as the water can seep between the grooves of the panels and warp them permanently.