Oh no, dealing with a dog accident on the couch is never fun, but don't worry, you can get it cleaned up! It happens to even the best-trained pups sometimes. The key is to act as quickly as possible to tackle both the stain and the smell.
If the spot is still fresh, your first step is to blot, not rub! Grab some paper towels or a clean, dry cloth and press firmly on the wet area. You want to absorb as much of the urine as you can to prevent it from soaking deeper into the cushion. Keep blotting with fresh towels until you can't pull up any more moisture.
Once you've blotted the area, you'll want to use a cleaner that can break down the uric acid in the urine, which is what causes the lingering smell. The most effective solution for this is an enzymatic cleaner, which you can find at most pet stores. These cleaners use enzymes to eat away at the organic matter, completely eliminating the odor instead of just masking it. Be generous and thoroughly saturate the entire soiled area, making sure the cleaner penetrates as deeply as the urine did. Follow the instructions on the bottle, which usually involve letting it sit for a period before blotting it dry.
If you're dealing with an older, dried stain, the process is similar, but you may need to re-saturate the area a bit more to allow the cleaner to work effectively. For any lingering odors after cleaning, you can also try sprinkling a good amount of baking soda over the dry spot, letting it sit for several hours or overnight, and then vacuuming it up thoroughly.
If the stain is very large, has soaked through to the cushion core, or you're still noticing an odor, it might be a good idea to call a professional upholstery cleaner. They have specialized equipment that can deep clean the couch and fully extract any remaining residue.
