We know how important your furniture is. Real wood furniture, in particular, can last a very long time – provided it’s not damaged by cat scratching or dog chewing! Read our top tips on how to protect furniture from pets, including dog hair and cat pee, and ensure your furniture stands the test of time no matter what furry friends you have in the house.

Skip to:
Cat scratching
Cat pee
Puppy chewing
Pet hair

Protect furniture from cat scratching

Cats need to scratch and unfortunately will often use your furniture to do so! Scratching helps to stretch out a cat’s back, from her front paws all the way down to her hind legs. It also helps to keep her claws sharp and healthy, which is why scratching is so instinctive for any cat. However, there are plenty of ways to protect furniture from cat scratching.

Buy a scratching post

Because cats need to scratch, it’s important that they have an alternative to your furniture. Sometimes cats will use natural scratching posts outside, like a tree, but cats that spend a lot of time inside will need an indoor alternative.

A scratching post provides your cat with somewhere she is allowed to scratch that isn’t your furniture. Ensure it has a heavy base that doesn’t wobble, as this might put your cat off, and that it’s tall enough that she can stretch satisfactorily.

Be sure to praise her (or him!) when she uses the scratching post as this will help her to understand that scratching this post is allowed while scratching the furniture is not!

If your cat’s already in the habit of using the furniture, this might not solve the problem entirely but is the best place to start.

Positioning the scratching post

To help your cat transition to scratching the post instead of the furniture, you’ll need to place the post in the right spot.

Try it in a place where your cat likes to relax, or next to the furniture that they’ve been scratching previously. Most cats like to scratch when they’ve just woken up from a nap so this will encourage her to choose the scratching post over the furniture.

Creating interest

It might take some time for your cat to show any interest in the new scratching post, especially when she’s got furniture that’s always worked before!

Try scenting the new post with catnip or honeysuckle – two scents that cats find very appealing.

If your cat investigates it, praise her gently or give her a treat.

Helping your cat ‘discover’ the scratching post for herself is an extremely effective way to make her want to come back to it. Use a wand toy, or another toy, to play with your cat and encourage her to chase near the post. Waggle the toy behind it or swipe it across the post so she interacts with it. Once she’s discovered it, and how scratchable the material is, she’s very likely to come back to it herself.

Cleaning the furniture

Another reason a cat might interact with the furniture over the scratching post is because it smells like them. As their scent fades from it, they’ll instinctively want to top it up to ensure it stays marked.

To protect furniture from pets, clean the scratched furniture to remove the scent of the cat – remember that you won’t be able to smell it yourself as cats’ noses are much more sensitive than ours!

When you clean the furniture, you want to ensure you’re not going to damage the material. For fabric furniture, use a mild, non-toxic detergent that is unlikely to stain. If you’re worried, test it on a small part of the furniture that’s not easily seen before cleaning the whole area.

Wooden furniture won’t hold the cat’s scent in the same way as fabric furniture, but if it’s a problem, try wiping it down. You don’t want to get wood furniture wet, so be sure that the cloth is only just damp and that you dry any moisture off it afterwards.

Most cats have a particular aversion to citrus smells. Choosing a citrus-scented detergent can be an effective way to deter your cat from the furniture.

Be sure to keep your cat away from the furniture until it’s dried.

Many people choose to also cover up their furniture for a short time until their cat has got used to using the new scratching post. This can help deter her away from old habits and protect your furniture from cat scratching. You could tuck a sheet around the item, for example.

Boredom Scratching

If a cat is bored it might scratch the furniture as something to do. Make sure your cat has got toys that it can engage with to keep it physically and mentally active!

Protect From Cat Pee

The majority of cats learn quite quickly to use their litter box as they’ll be taught to do so by their mothers. However, some cats take longer to learn than others or have other issues that cause them to act out. For example, it’s more common for rescue cats to pee on furniture as they adjust to a new home.

It’s important to stop a cat from peeing on your furniture as soon as possible. Not just for the sake of your furniture, but also because the longer they do it, the harder it is to stop them.

Trip to the Vets

Cats sometimes start peeing around the home because they’re unwell or have an infection. Take the cat to the vets to check that she’s okay. The vet might also suggest a solution that will help you to prevent her from peeing on the furniture.

Litter boxes

Firstly, ensure your cat has got plenty of access to litter boxes. It can be worth having multiple boxes in the house. If she is used to being an outdoors cat, provide her with a cat flap or make sure you let her outside regularly as she might prefer to go outside rather than in.

It’s also important to keep the litter box clean. A cat might start to pee on the furniture if she doesn’t like the litter box, which can happen if it’s not cleaned regularly enough.

Cats can also be fussy about the type of litter in their box. The best choice is usually unscented clay litter, but try some different types and see if she prefers one over another.

Sometimes cats don’t like where a litter box is placed. If it’s in a busy area or next to where she eats, try moving it to another place. Be sure to show her where it is though!

Close the door

If there’s one item of furniture that your cat pees on, make sure she can’t get into that room when you’re not there. Close the door whenever you leave and make sure she comes with you. If you can break the habit of peeing on it, then she might not do it again.

Attention

Cats sometimes pee on furniture for attention or out of frustration – if she’s bored, for example. Try playing with her every day and ensuring she has toys to occupy her. If you’ve rescued her recently, find out if she was an outdoors cat. It might be that she’s frustrated by not being able to explore as she used to. Give her plenty of stimulation and see if that solves the problem.

Deterrent

Deter your cat from the furniture by making it smell unpleasant to her. Cats particularly don’t like citrus smells and will avoid them. You can also make it unpleasant to be on by placing tin foil on the furniture.

It’s important that you remove the smell of the urine as much as possible. If she can smell herself there, she will want to continue scenting it as the smell starts to fade.

Stop A Puppy Chewing Wood Furniture

Naturally, puppies love to chew! It helps them to develop a strong jaw and teeth, relieves frustration and is lots of fun. However, some pups take a particular liking to chewing on wood, which isn’t great news for your furniture.

Provide other chews

Puppies need to chew something. If they don’t have anything they’re allowed to chew on, then they’ll munch on things they aren’t! Provide a few different kinds of chew toys as dogs usually like variety, even if they have a favourite.

Some dogs will prefer one texture over another. If your pup is really keen on wood furniture, find a chew that mimics this texture more, or let him chew up branches in the garden.

However, even if he has plenty of choice, he might still go for the furniture so there are other options to try…

Make it taste bad

No puppy is going to chew on something that tastes bad. There are lots of products on the market that are designed to be applied to furniture (or other items) to put a dog off when they chew it.

When you’re applying something to your wood furniture, check first that it’s not going to stain or damage the furniture. Remember that moisture is bad for wood. It’s a good idea to test the substance on part of the furniture that’s out of sight first, like the underside. Leave it for a few hours to check that it doesn’t cause any discolouring.

You can create a home remedy too. Dogs usually dislike bitter tastes so a mixture that includes lemon or vinegar can be effective. Be sure to only ever mix ingredients that are safe for dogs to ingest and always test a very small amount of solution on the underside or an out-of-sight part of the furniture first. Don’t use it if it causes discolouration or damage.

Prevent boredom and anxiety

Puppies, or even older dogs, will chew more if they’re bored or anxious. Solving these problems will reduce the amount of chewing.

Boredom

Dogs need to have mental stimulation in order to thrive. If they become bored, they’re more likely to show destructive or otherwise naughty behaviour, like chewing furniture. Some breeds of dogs will need more stimulation than others – often dogs originally bred for working, such as border collies, jack russells and poodles.

Be sure you take your dog out on lots of walks, ideally going to different places so he can smell different things and have different experiences. Teaching him tricks will help to engage him or try setting up tests and games, like hiding things under cups so he has to smell them out.

Be sure to give any dog plenty of attention and playtime to help stave off boredom.

Anxiety

Chewing can be a sign of anxiety. Dogs can become anxious for a range of reasons. Separation anxiety is very common, wherein the dog doesn’t like being alone, but it can also be due to the dog’s history if it’s been rescued, anxiety about a particular smell or object, or fear about a sound. For example, a lot of dogs become very anxious on New Years’ due to fireworks.

It depends on the cause of the anxiety as to how best to resolve it. You can look online for further advice for helping dogs with separation anxiety. It might involve leaving them with an item of your clothing so they can still smell you, or leaving them for short periods to help them adjust more slowly.

If you know your dog is anxious, always try to behave as calmly as possible yourself. Talk in a calm and steady voice to help reassure him that there’s nothing to be scared of. If you think your dog’s anxiety is severe, or you’re otherwise worried, you should talk to your vet.

Consistently say ‘no’

When your dog, whether a puppy or an adult, chews the furniture, it’s important to help him understand that this is unwanted behaviour.

You don’t need to shout, but be firm and consistent. Using a deeper voice signals that you’re not happy with their behaviour. It’s important to say it every time you notice him chewing, and as soon as you notice. If you let him get away with it, it makes it harder for him to understand what’s good and bad.

Pet Hair

Pet hair can be one of the more infuriating parts of having a pet! Protecting furniture from pet hair can be difficult, but there are a few different options to try.

Groom your pet regularly

The better groomed your dog or cat, the less hair they will shed around the house. If you have a long haired dog, you could take them to the groomers to have a haircut every now and again. This will minimise shedding.

You should also brush your dog or cat regularly – sometimes once a day as seasons change and they lose their winter coat. This can be easier said than done, depending on how much your pet likes being brushed! It does help to remove all the loose hairs though so you can throw them away in one go rather than finding them all over the house and your furniture.

While this doesn’t help with pet hair, clipping your dog’s claws can minimise scratches on the furniture too. Some dogs will naturally keep their claws short by walking on concrete or other hard surfaces, but others might need them clipping. It can be a good idea to get this done by a professional.

Keep them off the furniture

One way to prevent pet hair on the furniture is to keep your dog or cat off the furniture. Dogs are often easier to train than cats, but both can be taught that the sofa is off limits. It’s a good idea to provide alternatives though, such as a cushion on the floor so your pet can still be in the same room with you.

If you love cuddling up with your pet on the sofa, however, you might not want to do this. You could try instead only allowing your pet on one armchair or sofa, so there’s always a pet-hair-free space for any visitors.

Alternatively, you could try some of the below options…

Use a pet blanket

You can train a dog or cat to only sit on the sofa, bed or other item of furniture if their blanket is covering it. This can help to protect the furniture from pet hair and the blanket can be removed when you don’t want the pet on the sofa – or when it needs washing!

It’s good to choose a specific blanket or sheet that you don’t mind getting hairy! Having a specific one will help your pet to recognise it and will make training easier.

Use a sofa cover

If you don’t want the hassle of a specific blanket, you could invest in a sofa cover. These can be semi-permanently left on the sofa to protect the furniture from pet hair and then removed to be washed or when you have guests coming over.

Wood Furniture Store sell a massive range of beautiful real wood furniture from dining room tables through to bed frames and mango wood coffee tables. Explore our website for more!

Learn how to remove heat marks from wood with this guide from Wood Furniture Store, experts in real wood furniture. Removing heat stains isn’t too hard with the right technique and materials. The real trick is doing it without damaging the furniture’s surface! Read our top tricks and step-by-step instructions.

 

Heat Stains

Heat marks happen. From placing a coffee mug on a wood table to putting down a hot pizza box, heat can damage the surface of your wooden furniture, making it unsightly and damaging the material. 

Skip to how to remove heat marks from wood, or continue reading for information on causes and prevention.

 

What Causes Heat Marks On Wood?

Heat marks on wood are caused through a combination of heat and moisture. When a hot item comes in contact with real wood, the heat opens up the pores in the material and water enters the wood’s surface. As it cools, the pores close, trapping the moisture.

The moisture alters the appearance of the wood, changing its colour and leaving behind a stain. 

Heat marks are white. If the mark is black, then it’s likely to have been caused by charring, rot or a process of oxidation — this is most common in older furniture. It will require different techniques to remove those kinds of stains.

 

Prevention

The best thing to do is to prevent heat marks. This is easier than removing them!

To prevent heat marks, protect the surface of your wooden furniture with coasters, heat mats or similar. Keep hot items from directly interacting with your table or other surface by placing something between them.

Coasters and heat mats are inexpensive, but if you’re in a fix you can always use a book or something similar as an emergency coaster!

Removing Heat Marks

There are various methods you can use to remove heat marks from your wooden surface. Mostly, the idea is that you need to open up the pores and remove the moisture, but there are various techniques and materials that can help you to do this.

 

1. Toothpaste

Toothpaste can be a great way to lift stains because it’s an alkaline and can react with stains to remove them. Toothpaste commonly contains baking soda, but we suggest mixing it with more baking soda to ensure it has the best possible effect.

Be sure to use ‘white’ or non-gel toothpaste. Gel toothpastes don’t contain the same ingredients and therefore won’t work!

 

 

1. Clean the wood

Use a dry or damp cloth to clean the wood surface. Make sure it’s completely dry before continuing.

2. Mix toothpaste with baking soda

Mix toothpaste and baking soda together in a small dish to create a paste. You might need to add a very small amount of water if you’re struggling to get it into a paste, but try without first.

3. Apply the paste

Apply your toothpaste/baking soda paste onto the stain. Wait 10 minutes as this gives the solution time to interact with the moisture in the wood.

4. Remove

Gently remove the paste with a clean cloth. Be careful not to press down too hard.

 

If the toothpaste method doesn’t work, try one of the other techniques.

 

2. Using an Iron

Applying heat will reopen the pores, allowing the moisture to come out. It might seem counter-intuitive to use more heat, but this will help reverse the staining and remove the mark.

 

1. Clean the table (or surface)

Make sure the table, or the surface in question, has been cleaned properly. You can use a dry or damp cloth to wipe it down — just ensure that the surface is completely dry afterwards.

2. Heat your iron

Set your iron onto low, dry heat — as opposed to steam — and allow it to warm up.

3. Apply the heat

Use an old towel and cover the stain, then apply the iron over it. It’s a good idea to keep the iron moving so the heat isn’t too intense. Some older wood furniture items might warp if in contact with too much heat for too long, so use caution.

4. Use Steam

If you have a particularly tough stain, perhaps one that has been there for a long time, it might require the use of steam to remove it. We recommend not trying steam until you’re sure that the stain can’t be lifted without.

When using steam, still do so on top of a towel to protect the table from direct heat and moisture. Only apply steam in small amounts and not for prolonged periods.

5. Check

Check if the heat has completely removed the stain by lifting the towel and inspecting the surface. Once the stain has been removed, stop applying the heat.

6. Apply a Finish

Once the stains have all been removed, apply a wood finish to protect the table, or other surface, from further damage — and be sure to invest in some heat mats and coasters!

 

3. Lemon oil

Some people recommend using lemon oil to remove heat stains.

1. Apply lemon oil to a clean cloth.
2. Rub the cloth over the stain until the stain is removed.

 

4. Wood Restoration

Sometimes heat stains are too deep and old to remove with the above methods. When this happens, it’s still possible to restore your wood furniture, but it requires more work.

You have to sand down the surface of your table or other wood furniture until the stain is removed.

It’s essential that you then resurface the table with an oil or lacquer to protect it and finish it once the stain is removed.

 

How To Remove Heat Marks From Wood

White heat marks can be removed from wood with a little patience and getting the right technique. Remember that the older the stain, the more work it is likely to take to remove it. We recommend that you always test a solution on a very small area of your wood table or other item before using it on a larger scale.

If you’re unsure, always consult an expert!

If you want any more advice and tips on how to remove heat marks from wood, then talk to us at Wood Furniture Store. We have a showroom in Grimsby, or you can drop us an email. We’re experts in wood furniture and have a huge collection of quality furniture items available online and in store.