What should I do first when my pet pees on a bamboo or cork floor?

Teragren, a bamboo flooring maker, says: Pet urine, feces and vomit should be cleaned up immediately as they can damage the floor. For cork, Jelinek says: As on any other flooring material, surface spills on cork floors simply need to be wiped up as soon as possible.

Pet Urine on Bamboo and Cork Floors: Cleanup and Damage

Q: Can I wet mop a bamboo or cork floor?

Cali's solid bamboo guide says: Never wet (or damp) mop your floor. Standing water can damage the floor. You may periodically use a very slightly dampened (near dry) mop to spot-clean; however excessive moisture will dull the finish. For cork, Jelinek says: Clean with a damp (not wet) cloth or mop.

Q: Can I use a steam mop on bamboo or cork?

Ambient says: Please note that using a steam mop on your floors will void your warranty and may cause irreparable damage. Jelinek's cork guide says: Never use a steam mop.

Q: What cleaners should I avoid on bamboo and cork?

Cali's engineered bamboo and cork guides say: Never use any of the following products on the floor: mineral spirits, paint thinner, acetone, ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Humane World for Animals says: Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area.

Q: Does pet urine damage need refinishing or a new board?

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. Cali says: If the damage is severe enough, board replacement is typically the best option. For cork, Cali says: For deeper scratches or gouges, plank replacement is recommended.

This guide covers what to do when a dog or cat pees on a bamboo or cork floor: wiping it up fast, how much water to use, steam mops, cleaners to avoid, drying, and what floor makers say about damage that needs refinishing or a new board or tile.

First: wipe it up fast

Teragren, a bamboo flooring maker, says in its care guide: "Pet urine, feces and vomit should be cleaned up immediately as they can damage the floor." Ambient, another bamboo maker, says: "Leaving pet urine on the flooring surface for extended periods (10 or more hours) will affect almost every floor (wood, concrete, carpet, laminate, etc.), so you will want to be mindful to clean up pet urine as soon as accidents occur."

For cork, Jelinek says: "As on any other flooring material, surface spills on cork floors simply need to be wiped up as soon as possible." Cali's cork guide says: "Although Cali Cork is water resistant, it is still a best practice to avoid excess moisture on the floor. Therefore, we recommend soaking up spills immediately using a dry towel or dry mop."

The AKC, writing about hardwood rather than bamboo or cork, says: "Hardwood requires quick action to prevent absorption into the wood." Its steps start with "Press paper towels or cloths onto the puddle" and "Replace with fresh towels until the area feels dry".

Sources: Teragren, Residential Maintenance & Warranty Guide (PDF); Ambient, Bamboo Floor Cleaning & Care; Jelinek Cork, Glue-Down Installation and Maintenance Instructions (PDF); Cali, Cork Care and Maintenance Guide (PDF); AKC, How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet.

Damp, not wet: how much water to use

Cali's solid bamboo guide says: "Never wet (or damp) mop your floor. Standing water can damage the floor. You may periodically use a very slightly dampened (near dry) mop to spot-clean; however excessive moisture will dull the finish." Ambient tells you to "completely wring out all water from it leaving it only lightly damp" before mopping. Teragren says: "Spills can be cleaned up with a moistened, well wrung out soft cloth or sponge." It also warns: "When unauthorized maintenance products are used or when wet mopping occurs, the warranty becomes void."

For cork, Wicanders says to "use a damp but not soaking wet mop to clean." Jelinek says: "Clean with a damp (not wet) cloth or mop. Water alone is usually sufficient; for heavier cleaning, use a pH-neutral cleaner made for polyurethane-finished floors."

Sources: Cali, Solid Bamboo and Eucalyptus Care & Maintenance (PDF); Ambient, Bamboo Floor Cleaning & Care; Teragren, Residential Maintenance & Warranty Guide; Wicanders, FAQ; Jelinek Cork, Floating Floor Installation Instructions (PDF).

Do not use a steam mop

Cali's engineered bamboo guide says: "Never use a steam mop or wet-mop as standing water may cause permanent damage." Its cork guide adds that "the heat from the steam mop may dull the finish." Ambient says: "Please note that using a steam mop on your floors will void your warranty and may cause irreparable damage." Teragren says: "Use of steam cleaners will damage the floor and invalidate the warranty." Jelinek's cork guide says simply: "Never use a steam mop."

For wood floors in general, the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) says: "Don't use wet mops or steam mops, which will damage the finish and the wood over long periods of time."

Sources: Cali, Engineered Bamboo Care and Maintenance Guide (PDF); Cali, Cork Care and Maintenance Guide; Ambient, Bamboo Floor Cleaning & Care; Teragren, Residential Maintenance & Warranty Guide; Jelinek Cork, Floating Floor Installation Instructions; NWFA, Maintenance.

Cleaners to avoid

Cali's engineered bamboo and cork guides both say: "Never use any of the following products on the floor: mineral spirits, paint thinner, acetone, ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar." Wicanders says: "Harsh abrasives or ammonia-based cleaning products should be avoided. Use simple floor cleaning products or approved products by Wicanders." Jelinek says: "Do not use harsh detergents or any product containing vinegar, oil soap, paste, or wax."

Humane World for Animals gives a pet-related reason: "Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area."

Sources: Cali, Engineered Bamboo Care and Maintenance Guide; Cali, Cork Care and Maintenance Guide; Wicanders, FAQ; Jelinek Cork, Floating Floor Installation Instructions; Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet.

Drying the spot

Cali's engineered bamboo guide says: "The moisture from the dampened mop should evaporate off the floor very quickly." Ambient warns against "leaving puddles of liquid on the floor for more than 24 hours, as this may mark the finish." The NWFA says: "Clean spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth." No source we checked gives a separate drying method, such as fans, for urine on bamboo or cork.

Sources: Cali, Engineered Bamboo Care and Maintenance Guide; Ambient, Bamboo Floor Cleaning & Care; NWFA, Maintenance.

A smell that stays

No bamboo or cork maker we checked covers getting urine smell out of the floor. Writing about hardwood, the AKC says: "Urine can penetrate hardwood, making odor removal more challenging." It adds: "In some cases, repeated treatments may be necessary to fully eliminate the smell." If the smell returns, see pet urine smell came back after cleaning, and for spots you found late, old, dried pet urine stains. For wood floors in general, there is also Pet Cleanup Kit's hardwood floor guide.

Source: AKC, How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet.

Stains, refinishing and replacing boards or tiles

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." Cali says: "When removing stains from any wood floor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain and work toward the middle." No source we checked says whether a urine stain on bamboo or cork can be sanded out.

On refinishing bamboo, Cali says: "Major modifications are not recommended and are never a guaranteed solution; all repairs are unique. Excessive sanding is not covered under warranty." Ambient says: "Your bamboo/wood floors can be refinished (non-SPC core floors); however, keep in mind that any distressed surface finish will be smoothed to a flat grain, and any stained floor will lose its stained color."

On replacing a board, Cali says: "If the damage is severe enough, board replacement is typically the best option." Ambient cautions: "Replacing a bamboo flooring board can be very tedious and, depending on the location of the damaged board, nearly impossible, however experienced carpenters or installers using the right tools can manage this."

For cork, Cali says: "For deeper scratches or gouges, plank replacement is recommended." Jelinek describes replacing a floating panel and notes: "Note that the surrounding floor may have faded from UV exposure, so a new panel may not match exactly."

Teragren's warranty also lists exclusions: "Damage created by moisture (originating from any source), sharp objects, sand, gravel, or other abrasive material, loss of sheen, scratches, high heels, dents caused by unprotected chair/furniture legs, and pet urine, vomit, or pet claw damage is excluded from this warranty."

Sources: Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet; Cali, Solid Bamboo and Eucalyptus Care & Maintenance; Cali, Engineered Bamboo Care and Maintenance Guide; Ambient, Maintenance Guide for Bamboo & Eucalyptus Flooring (PDF); Ambient, Bamboo Floor Cleaning & Care; Cali, Cork Care and Maintenance Guide; Jelinek Cork, Floating Floor Installation Instructions; Teragren, Residential Maintenance & Warranty Guide.

Why pets go back to the same spot

The AKC says: "Lingering scent can draw your dog back to the same area, reinforcing accidents." Humane World for Animals says: "As long as your pet can smell their personal scent, they may continue to return to the "accident zone." It also says: "If your pet is having regular accidents, have them checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes."

For more, see why dogs and cats keep peeing in the same spot. If a puppy pad is leaking onto the floor, see puppy pads leaking onto the floor. For other floors, see pet urine on laminate and vinyl plank, dog pee on tile and grout and pet urine on wood furniture and cabinets.

Sources: AKC, How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet; Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet.

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 bamboo or cork floors; for those, follow the floor maker's care steps above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.