How to Remove Cat Urine Smell For Free

Cat urine is one of the toughest scents to remove from flooring, furniture, and even concrete. Cats also tend to be repeat offenders, returning to the same spot to pee, so once they urinate in a certain place, they will keep doing so until their scent is removed.

You can remove cat urine using a variety of cleaners on the market. However, if you want to save money, you can create your own cleaner with products you probably already have at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Paper towels
• Black light (optional)

1. Absorb as much of the cat urine from the floor or furniture as possible using paper towels. The smell of cat urine penetrates any surface it touches, and is tough to get rid of, so use disposable towels instead of reusable ones.

2. Use a black light to locate dried cat urine. Turn out all the lights and use a hand-held black light to find areas of dried cat urine. Mark the areas with a chalk outline or other removable marker. The black light picks up proteins in the urine that would otherwise not be seen by the naked eye.

3. Mix a solution of half vinegar and half water. Pour or spray this solution on the affected area and allow it to nearly dry. Use enough solution to fully penetrate the area. The vinegar will eliminate the ammonia odor found in cat urine.

4. Dry the area using paper towels or a wet-dry vacuum. Use a blotting motion with the paper towels to soak up the excess liquid. This will help keep the paper towels from tearing up and leaving lint on the floor or furniture.

5. Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area. Mix a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of dish soap. Pour the liquid mixture over the baking soda and scrub the paste into the carpet or furniture. Baking soda works as a deodorizer to neutralize the smell, and hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the area, killing the odor-causing bacteria. Allow the area to dry, then vacuum the excess baking soda mixture.

Tips & Warnings

• Check an inconspicuous area of the carpet or furniture with the cleaning solution for colorfastness. Hydrogen peroxide may discolor certain materials.
• Don't use any cleaning products that are harmful or toxic to pets. Many pet odor cleaners on the market are pet-safe, so make sure you read the details of the product before using it.
• Don't use cleaners containing ammonia. One of the major ingredients in cat urine is ammonia, so cleaning with a product containing additional ammonia may encourage your cat to keep urinating in that same spot.

References

• Ways to Get Rid of Cat Urine Odor
• Cat Urine Smell Remover