How to Get Cat Pee Out of a Carpet

When a cat urinates on your carpet, you may smell it before you actually see it. Cat urine must be cleaned up quickly and thoroughly, otherwise the odor it leaves will stick around indefinitely. Commercial carpet cleaning products and even carpet-cleaning services are widely available to eliminate cat urine and its lingering odor. However, cat urine can be effectively and inexpensively removed from your carpet with a few ingredients you probably already have right in your home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper towels
• White vinegar
• Water
• Baking soda
• Measuring cup
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Dishwashing liquid
• Scrub brush
• Vacuum

1. Absorb any urine in the carpet using paper towels.

2. Make a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water, then pour this solution over the urine-stained area. Allow the solution to dry almost completely and assist it in drying by absorbing some of it in paper towels. The vinegar helps neutralize the ammonia in the urine.

3. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the area.

4. Combine 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and apply over the baking soda. Work this into the carpet using a scrub brush. Let this solution dry completely.

5. Use a vacuum to remove any leftover residue and to fluff the carpet back up.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean up urine thoroughly to prevent the cat from further urinating on that area of carpet. A handheld black light (available inexpensively online and in some pet stores) used in a darkened room can help you find other urine spots.
• Test the peroxide and vinegar on a small, hidden area of the carpet to be sure the items will not fade the color. Only use white vinegar in your solutions; other vinegars could stain your carpet. Make sure to use dishwashing liquid and not detergent formulated for a dishwasher.

References

• How to clean pet urine odors from carpet using household products