What should I avoid on painted walls?

Never use glass cleaner or a heavy-duty household spray cleaner on a painted wall. They contain strong solvents that can damage the finish.

How to Clean Dog Pee Off Baseboards and Walls

This guide covers dog urine on painted baseboards, trim, doors and walls, including drywall, painted plaster and wallpaper: wiping it up fast, finding drips and splash, cleaning painted surfaces the way paint makers advise, wallpaper, the floor below, urine that has soaked in, and stopping repeat marking. It uses what Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Humane World for Animals say.

Wipe it up fast

The AKC's urine cleanup guide says:

"Regardless of what your dog has peed on, your best course of action is to act fast. The sooner you get to it, the more likely you'll be able to remove all traces of urine odor. Lingering scent can draw your dog back to the same area, reinforcing accidents."

Blot the wet urine off the wall or baseboard with paper towels or a soft cloth before you wash anything, then check the floor below it.

Source: AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells.

Find the drips and splash

The AKC's marking article says: "Typically, when a dog is marking it is a small amount of urine in several places." On dried spots, Humane World for Animals says:

"In some cases, old messes will have dried invisibly and be hard to locate."

"Use your nose to sniff out soiled areas. Examine the suspect area closely to catch hard-to-find soiling. If you have a black light, use it to identify soiled areas and lightly outline the areas with chalk."

The AKC adds that "oftentimes, you'll be able to smell it, even if you don't see it." On urine detectors, it says: "Most use LED UV light to detect urine stains on different surfaces, allowing you to clean more efficiently."

Check door frames, the corners of furniture near the wall, and the lower part of the wall on both sides of each spot you find. For a room by room search, see Why Does My House Smell Like Dog Pee? Finding the Source.

Sources: AKC, Curbing the Issue of Dog Marking; Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors; AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells.

Cleaning painted walls, baseboards, trim and doors

Sherwin-Williams warns: "Using harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing can damage your walls with scratches or even dull the finish." On the cleaner itself, it says the best one for painted walls is "mild soap and warm water", and adds:

"We recommend using a soft cloth or sponge to scrub the walls in circular motions. Finish by lightly rinsing the walls with a wet rag to remove any remaining cleaning solution."

It also cautions that "too much water can hurt the paint." Before you wash the whole mark, test first. Sherwin-Williams says:

"It's always a good idea to test your cleaning solution and technique to make sure it doesn't damage your paint finish. Pick an inconspicuous spot on your wall to perform your test."

Benjamin Moore's guide to cleaning painted walls gives these points:

Sheen matters: "Lower sheens like flat, matte, and eggshell require a gentler touch."
Protect the floor: "Place towels or rags along the floors and baseboards to catch excess dirt, dust, and water."
What to avoid: "Never use glass cleaner or a heavy-duty household spray cleaner on a painted wall. They contain strong solvents that can damage the finish."
Direction: "begin washing at the bottom of the wall and work your way up so the cleaning solution doesn't run down the wall and cause streaks that may be difficult to remove."
Drying: "Once your walls are clean, make sure they are nice and dry to prevent moisture damage or mildew."

Its care page for freshly painted walls says: "Use a gentle touch, as scrubbing can remove paint." If the paint is new, Sherwin-Williams says: "For freshly painted walls, wait at least two weeks before cleaning with soap and water to ensure the finish has fully cured."

The ACI's surface guide lists ceilings, walls and woodwork under painted surfaces and says: "Test the washability of the surface by first washing an inconspicuous area. Use a nonabrasive, all-purpose cleaner or a wood cleaner."

Wallpaper needs extra care

Find out whether your wallpaper is washable before you wet it. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension says: "Day-to-day dirt, dust buildup, or dirty finger marks can be removed from washable coverings with lukewarm water and mild soap." It also says: "Abrasives should not be used on any type of wall covering." For the rest:

"The best way to clean nonwashable wall coverings, particularly flocks or those made of fabric or grasscloth, is to use the soft-brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner from time to time to remove dust and surface dirt."

For washable wallpaper, the ACI says: "Test the washability of the surface by first washing an inconspicuous area. Use a special liquid wallpaper cleaner or a nonabrasive, all-purpose cleaner." If you are unsure what your wallpaper is, check with its maker before wetting it.

Sources: University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, Selecting Wall Coverings; American Cleaning Institute, Cleaning Hard Surfaces.

Clean the floor below and the baseboard gap

Check the floor in front of the mark and the line where the baseboard meets the floor, and clean them as well. Use the guide that matches your floor:

Laminate and vinyl plank: How to Clean Pet Urine From Laminate and Vinyl Plank Floors.
Tile and grout: How to Clean Dog Pee From Tile and Grout.

For finished wood, the ACI warns: "Any substance, even water, used on unfinished or improperly finished wood can damage the surface."

Source: American Cleaning Institute, Cleaning Hard Surfaces.

When urine has soaked in or marked the paint

On painted and wooden surfaces, Humane World for Animals says:

"If the wood on your furniture, walls, baseboard or floor is discolored, the varnish or paint has reacted to the acid in the urine. You may need to remove and replace the layer of varnish or paint."

The AKC's cleanup guide answers why a house still smells after cleaning: "Urine may have soaked into padding, upholstery, or wood. Repeated treatments or professional cleaning may be necessary." If you repaint, follow the paint maker's directions for the product you use. If the smell keeps returning, see Pet Urine Smell Came Back After Cleaning: Why and What to Do.

Sources: Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors; AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells.

Stop the repeat marking

Humane World for Animals says:

"Make previously soiled areas inaccessible or unattractive. If this isn't possible, try to change the significance of those areas to your pet. Feed, treat and play with your pet in the areas where they mark."

It also says: "Before doing anything else, take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out any medical causes for the behavior."

For the full plan, see Dog Marking Indoors: Cleanup That Discourages Repeat Marking and Why Do Dogs and Cats Keep Peeing in the Same Spot? Dealing with a cat instead? See this guide for cats.

If your dog also marks furniture, see our guide to how to clean pet urine from wood furniture legs and cabinets.

Source: Humane World for Animals, How to stop your dog from peeing in the house.

Accident on the carpet or couch too?

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more." It is not described for painted walls, drywall or wood trim; for those, follow the paint maker's cleaning guidance above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.