How to Clean the Cat Smell Out of Carpet
Fully removing cat urine odors form carpets is the only way to deter them from using the same area again. When a cat first urinates on a carpet, it usually doesn't begin to smell until it begins to decompose. As the urine dries it crystallizes and bonds with carpeting and other surfaces, making it difficult to remove without a bit of hard work and the right tools.
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Things You'll Need
- 16 ounces baking soda
- Half-gallon white vinegar
- 4 tablespoons dish washing detergent
- 3-percent hydrogen peroxide
- Enzyme product
- Black light
- Plastic bag
- Roll of paper towels
- Water
- Wet-dry vacuum (optional)
- Heavy book
- Rubber gloves
- Toothbrush or soft cleaning brush
Instructions
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1
Sop up freshly soiled areas with a clean rag or paper towels. Carefully pat the surface to avoid pushing the urine deeper into the carpet fibers. If the urine has dried, or you are not sure where it is, skip this step and step two, and move directly to step three.
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2
Sprinkle baking soda on the area liberally and place folded paper towels, a plastic bag (to protect the book) and a heavy book on the area to help draw the remaining moisture out.
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3
Turn off the lights to darken the room, then use the black light to find soiled areas on the carpet.
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4
Mix a solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent vinegar, making sure to use enough to deeply penetrate the area, and allow the solution to nearly dry on the carpet. You can assist this process by placing paper towels on the area or using a wet-dry vacuum.
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5
Combine a quarter-cup hydrogen peroxide with a tablespoon of liquid dish washing detergent, then test the mixture for color-fastness in an inconspicuous spot on your carpet.
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6
Apply a liberal amount of baking soda onto the carpet and pour the hydrogen peroxide mixture on top. Wearing the rubber gloves, work into the carpet fibers. Allow the solution to dry, then vacuum up with the wet-dry vacuum.
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7
Mix the enzyme solution according to the manufacturer's directions and spray it liberally onto the area to dissolve any remaining urea ammonia odors. Allow this to dry completely and re-vacuum the area when completely dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Urine contains proteins and urea-ammonia; this is what causes the smell as it decomposes with bacteria. Urea-ammonia is chemically similar to real ammonia, and using it may offend the pet and cause them to want to cover the smell with fresh urine. For this reason, never use products containing ammonia or ammonia.
Many cats are prone to cystitis, kidney and bladder stones, especially those on commercial diets. The pain of the cystitis, kidney and bladder stones can cause a cat to avoid their litter box and choose a soft place to urinate. Therefore, if your pet begins urinating on the carpet, especially if the urine is dark, orange or red, take then to a vet immediately.
Feline spraying is not just territorial, it is also stress related. The instructions for removing urine can be applied to places cat spray as well. Keep a bottle of vinegar and water solution or enzyme product handy to spray the cat-sprayed areas immediately.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit cat image by petar Ishmeriev from Fotolia.com
