What should I do first when my pet pees on a curtain?

NMSU Extension says: Whatever the cause, remove all stains as soon as possible for best results. Blot liquids up with a soft cloth, a white facial tissue or a white paper towel.

Can I put pet urine soaked curtains in the washing machine?

Check the care label first. NMSU Extension says: For heavier soil, launder according to label or hang tag instructions. UGA Extension says: Always read the care label before trying any stain removal method. Do not use any products or procedures prohibited by the care label.

Why does my cat spray the curtains?

The ASPCA says: Urine marks are usually deposited on vertical surfaces. Marking on a vertical surface is known as spraying. For cats reacting to cats outside, it says: Close windows, blinds and doors. Prevent your indoor cat from seeing other neighborhood cats.

Pet Urine on Curtains and Drapes: How to Clean Them

Q: Should I dry the curtains right after washing?

The American Cleaning Institute says: If the stain remains, repeat the steps above. Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is removed.

Q: What if my drapes are dry clean only?

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute says: It is best that you have your drapes cleaned by a cleaner who is experienced in the cleaning of drapes and is knowledgeable in drapery problems. Its care tips add: Let your cleaner know if a spill happened so they can treat it properly.

A cat sprayed the curtain or a dog marked the hem. What to do first, how to read the care label, and when to wash or dry clean, using what university extension services, the American Cleaning Institute, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, the ASPCA and Humane World for Animals say.

First: blot it while it is fresh

New Mexico State University Extension's guide to fabric home furnishings says: "Whatever the cause, remove all stains as soon as possible for best results." For liquids it says: "Blot liquids up with a soft cloth, a white facial tissue or a white paper towel."

It also says: "When possible, work from the wrong side of the stain. This will prevent forcing the stain further into the fabric." And: "Avoid scrubbing a stained area. Excessive rubbing may stretch the fabric or damage its texture."

Source: NMSU Extension, Care for Fabric Home Furnishings (Guide G-402).

Read the care label before anything else

For curtains and draperies, NMSU says: "For heavier soil, launder according to label or hang tag instructions."

The University of Georgia Extension's urine stain page gives the same warning: "Always read the care label before trying any stain removal method. Do not use any products or procedures prohibited by the care label." It adds: "Always pretest each cleaning agent on an inconspicuous area first to determine colorfastness."

Care symbols. The University of Tennessee Extension's care symbol chart explains: "As a minimum, laundering instructions include, in order, four symbols: washing, bleaching, drying and ironing. Drycleaning instructions include one symbol." It also says: "Only one safe method of care is required to be provided by the manufacturer." UT gives an example: "For example, clothing labeled "washable" may not dry clean well."

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) explains two common terms. For "Spot Clean Only": "Only stain removal is safe. The entire garment should not be immersed or fully cleaned." For "Professionally Dryclean": "The garment requires special handling outside the normal process."

One limit: the UT and DLI pages describe the FTC Care Labeling Rule in terms of clothing. UT says: "Care labels for textile wearing apparel must provide either washing or dry cleaning instructions." None of the sources we checked says whether that rule covers curtains, and we could not load the FTC's own pages when we checked. If your curtain has no label, ask the seller or a dry cleaner before you wash it.

Sources: NMSU Extension, Care for Fabric Home Furnishings; UGA Extension, Remove Stains From Urine (Human, Animal); University of Tennessee Extension, Care Label Symbols (PDF); DLI, What the Care Symbols on Your Clothes Really Mean.

Washable curtains: rinse, wash, check before drying

For urine on washable fabrics, UGA Extension's steps begin: "Rinse with cool water. Soak in cool water with a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder in hot water." Use hot water only if your care label allows it. UGA's page goes on with further steps that use household chemicals, which we do not cover here.

The American Cleaning Institute's stain guide says: "Launder according to the fabric care instructions. Regular stains should come out in cold water but for extra dirty clothing or very tough stains, use the warmest setting safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, repeat the steps above. Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is removed."

Sun exposure matters in the wash. NMSU says: "Often curtains and draperies are weakened by long periods of exposure to strong sunlight. To avoid further damage in washable curtains, wash them using a "delicate" or "gentle" cycle. Or, wash them in a special mesh bag or pillow case."

Wash the whole panel, not just the wet patch, if it needs it. NMSU warns: "Do not treat isolated stains on an item if it needs a complete cleaning. This will cause unsightly contrasts."

Our main guide to getting pet pee smell out of clothes, bedding and towels covers washing urine out of fabric in more detail.

Sources: UGA Extension, Remove Stains From Urine; American Cleaning Institute, Stain Removal Guide; NMSU Extension, Care for Fabric Home Furnishings.

Hooks, hardware and linings

None of the university, institute or welfare pages we checked tells you how to take down curtain hooks, rings or weights before cleaning, so we do not give a method here. The maker's instructions are the place to look.

DLI lists linings and coatings among common drapery problems: "Some of the more common problems associated with draperies are damage due to light exposure; poor colorfastness; yellowing due to the deterioration of finishes or soil accumulation; water marks; shrinkage; abrasion damage; and deterioration of the coating or lining during cleaning." It adds: "Often these problems do not become evident until the item has been drycleaned or washed."

On blackout linings, DLI describes what can happen: "When the item is drycleaned, the blackout coating seeps through the outer fabric and white coating, resulting in a stained appearance."

Sources: DLI, Making Draperies Last; DLI, Discolored Drapes.

Dry clean only, large, heavy or lined drapes

For heavy or lined drapes, DLI says: "It is best that you have your drapes cleaned by a cleaner who is experienced in the cleaning of drapes and is knowledgeable in drapery problems."

Tell the cleaner what happened. DLI's care tips say: "Let your cleaner know if a spill happened so they can treat it properly." NMSU adds, for sun exposed curtains: "If they must be dry-cleaned, alert the dry-cleaner to any possibility of sun damage."

Do not wait, and do not iron the spot. DLI says: "If something spills, bring it in as soon as possible." And: "Heat sets stains. Ironing over a stain can make it permanent." Its figures: "After one week, 20% of stains may not come out completely" and "After three weeks, nearly half may be permanent".

DLI also describes how moisture can mark drapes: "Water stains appear when moisture from condensation on the window, humidity or spilled liquids causes the soils to disperse, leaving a stained area."

Sources: DLI, Making Draperies Last; DLI, Clothing Care Tips from Professional Cleaners; DLI, Caring for Household Items; NMSU Extension, Care for Fabric Home Furnishings.

What to avoid

Humane World for Animals warns, for carpet and upholstery: "Avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery. The heat will permanently set the stain and the odor by bonding the protein into any man-made fibers." It also warns: "Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area."

Source: Humane World for Animals, Get urine smell and pet stains out of carpet.

Check the floor and wall under the curtain

If urine ran down the curtain, check the wall, the baseboard and the floor or rug below. See our guides to dog pee on baseboards and walls and dog pee on an area rug. If the smell returns after cleaning, see pet urine smell came back after cleaning.

Stop the repeat marking

On cats, the ASPCA says: "Urine marks are usually deposited on vertical surfaces. Marking on a vertical surface is known as spraying." For a cat reacting to cats outside, its first tip is: "Close windows, blinds and doors. Prevent your indoor cat from seeing other neighborhood cats." It also says: "If your cat is intact, neuter him or spay her."

Humane World for Animals says: "As long as your pet can smell their personal scent, they may continue to return to the "accident zone." And: "Keep objects that could cause urine-marking behaviors, such as guests' belongings and new purchases, out of reach." It also says: "If your pet is having regular accidents, have them checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes."

For more, see dog marking indoors and why dogs and cats keep peeing in the same spot. For cats, Pet Cleanup Kit has a guide to cat spraying on walls and furniture.

Sources: ASPCA, Urine Marking in Cats; 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 curtains or drapes; for those, follow the care label and the guidance above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.