Home Remedy to Neutralize Ammonia Smell

Hydrogen peroxide can help remove ammonia odors.

The odor of ammonia in your home can be unpleasant. It can also be a source of temptation for pets to urinate near the source, so eliminating the smell is important.

Pet Care

A cat litter box can emit an unpleasant ammonia smell because of the high concentrations of ammonia in cat urine. Cat litter created from pine or that contains recycled fruit peels contains natural acids that will neutralize the ammonia odor, according to "Housecat."

Stains

Some urine stains can result in a strong ammonia smell. Soak up as much urine as possible, then wash the stained area with cool water. After it has dried, sprinkle baking soda over the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up. A solution of 30-percent hydrogen peroxide and 70-percent water with 1 tbsp. of baking soda added to it will also neutralize an ammonia odor.

Considerations

Before using any cleaning solution on carpet or upholstery, test it to be sure that it will not bleach the material. Removing an ammonia smell quickly is important because pets can be attracted to the odor and might urinate on it in order to cover it up with their own scent, according to "Planet Cat."

References

• "Housecat"; Christine Church; 2005
• "Planet Cat"; Sandra Choron, Harry Choron, Arden Moore; 2007