7 Best Ways to Get Rid of the Cat Pee Smell

The scent of cat urine is one of the most pervasive and unpleasant odors imaginable. This issue becomes particularly noticeable when you introduce a new cat into your home, with male cats often being the main culprits. Even if the cat ceases marking its territory and begins to use a litter box, the foul odor can still permeate your entire living space. Thankfully, there are several effective solutions to this problem, and I'm going to share with you the seven top strategies for eliminating the smell of cat urine.

Ways to Remove Cat Urine Smell

Always start with removing the odor by urgently cleaning the urine with cold water and paper towels since it becomes worse over time. The next step is to get rid of the smell. Let's do it.

1 White vinegar

White vinegar is a proven, natural, and entirely non-toxic solution against foul odors. Mix half a cup of vinegar with the same amount of water, and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Then, spray the affected surface.

You can consider using pure vinegar for a highly unpleasant odor. Rinse the area with cold water and dry it with a cloth or paper towels. Avoid using this method on the wooden floor to prevent peeling off the protective finish.

2 Baking soda

Baking soda is well-known as an excellent and efficient home remedy and natural deodorizer, so you can use it to get rid of cat urine smell. It's up to you to choose pure powder or mix it with another cleaner to speed up the cleaning process.

Sprinkle baking soda over the urine spot and let it sit overnight. Then, take a vacuum cleaner to pick up the remains. It is also an ideal solution for cleaning the shoes after your cat used it as a toilet.

I like multi-effects, so I combine one teaspoon of ground cloves, cinnamon, and baking soda with one cup crushed dried lavender or rosemary. Sprinkle the powder over your carpet and vacuum it after 15 to 20 minutes.

3 Hydrogen peroxide

You can use hydrogen peroxide instead of vinegar if you can't stand its smell. It is also an excellent disinfectant, but you shouldn't apply it over your carpet to prevent discoloration.

You will need four cups of hydrogen peroxide, one tablespoon of dish soap, and a quarter cup of baking soda. Mix the ingredients, pour the mix directly onto the urine spot, and let it sit overnight. Rinse the surface with cold water in the morning.

4 Enzyme cleaners

Enzyme cleaners will make magic with your carpet smelling on cat urine. They are safe, eco-friendly, and harmless to your pets.  Buy one of them in a local store or make your own solution if you prefer DIY projects.

Clean the area with paper towels and spray the cleaner over the urine spot. Let it sit for approximately half an hour and soak up excess moisture with a clean, dry cloth.

5 Steam cleaners

Steam cleaners are the right thing when it comes to sanitizing your rug and getting rid of cat urine smell. This device uses high-temperatures to destroy bacteria that cause bad odor. You will get the best results when combining it with an enzymatic cleaner.

I like homemade recipes, and I will give you one of my favorites. Put seven tablespoons of brown sugar and 1.5 cups of citrus peels into four cups of water. Pour the solution into your steam cleaner instead of water, and clean dirty spots.

6 Wet Vac

A wet vac is an excellent option when you have an issue with a cat urine smell. It will work like a regular vacuum cleaner, but it uses water with a cleaning solution for removing odor.

You can make a DIY carpet cleaning solution on your own by mixing:

• 2.5 cups boiling water
• 0.5 cups of rubbing alcohol
• 1 tsp rosemary essential oil
• A bar Castile soap

Put the Castile soap into the boiling water and stir until they form a paste. Add essential oil and rubbing alcohol before adding the solution into the wet vac. Then, clean the area.

7 Washing Machine

Put clothes smelling of cat urine into your washing machine after applying baking soda or white vinegar over the stain. Wash your clothes with powerful laundry detergent to get the best result.

Ways to Remove Cat Pee from Your Home

You should use different solutions to get rid of the cat pee smell, depending on the surface type.

Carpet - To clean undesired odor from your carpet, you should use an enzyme-based cleaner, baking soda, or a carpet machine for in-depth cleaning.

Furniture - Rinse the stain with cold water and then apply a high-quality enzyme cleaner. After about 15 minutes, wipe the excess with a paper towel or cloth. The best option is to leave it outside to dry if possible. Unfortunately, you will need to repeat the process until removing the cat pee smell entirely.

Upholstery - Take the cushion covers to the dry cleaner or wash the removable ones in the washing machine.

Wood - You will need a wooden floor cleaner specially designed for the urine odors and paper towels to clean your sealed wooden floor. If you have an unsealed floor, you can use white vinegar to clean the area. Always avoid harsh chemicals that can harm the wood surface.

Ceramic tiles - Wipe up the urine with a paper towel and use a tile cleaner to remove the unpleasant smell. When the grout is affected, the best solution is to make a thick paste of baking soda and water and rub it over the smelly area.

Conclusion

Even though you can find excellent cleaners on the market or make one on your own, the best way to keep your home odorless is to prevent accidents. So, teach your cat to use a litter box.