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Is there any thing worse than the smell of cat urine ...ewww. When a cat urinates on rugs, carpets, or furnishings it can leave a very unpleasant distinctive cat smell that is hard to get rid of. This urine odor stimulates the cat to urinate in that area again, thus perpetuating the problem. Once you remove the odor permanently the cat will no longer keep going back to the same spot to re-offend.
Below is an easy, low cost and non-toxic formula for removing cat urine smells.
Items You Will Need ...
| Water | Paper Towels (White) |
| White Vinegar | Spray Bottle (2) |
| Baking Soda | Measuring Cup & Spoons |
| Hydrogen Peroxide (3% strength only << Important) | Scrub Brush (soft) |
| Liquid Dish Soap | Rubber Gloves |
| Vacuum Cleaner |
1. If the cat has recently urinated on the carpet, first absorb as much of the cat urine as possible using paper towels or an old towel. Place clean WHITE paper towels (the ink may transfer-off of ones with prints) over the cat urine area and tread on them so as to absorb as much of the urine as possible. Blot ... do NOT rub. Repeat with dry towels until no more moisture can be absorbed.
Areas of cat urine that have dried and previously gone undetected can be found with the aid of a black light (hand held black lights are quite inexpensive, usually costing between $15 - $25). The cat urine stains will fluoresce (look for a green or yellow glow) under the ultra violet light in a darkened room. Make sure to check around baseboards and even a few inches or more off the carpeted surface on walls and other vertical surfaces, as some animals may spray urine horizontally. To save the expense of a black light you can always use your nose to detect the source of the odor. Put your nose down close to the carpet and sniff away.
3. Sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the affected area.
4. Gently mix 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide with 2-teaspoons of liquid dish soap. (not the caustic detergent that you put in a dishwasher) ... pour into a small spray bottle. Lightly spray on baking soda covered area. Gently work it in with a soft scrubbing brush or your fingers (be sure to wear rubber gloves) to dissolve the baking soda and work it down well into the carpet.
5. Allow it to dry. Once dry the baking soda will vacuum up easily taking all the odors with it.
4. Gently mix 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide with 2-teaspoons of liquid dish soap. (not the caustic detergent that you put in a dishwasher) ... pour into a small spray bottle. Lightly spray on baking soda covered area. Gently work it in with a soft scrubbing brush or your fingers (be sure to wear rubber gloves) to dissolve the baking soda and work it down well into the carpet.
5. Allow it to dry. Once dry the baking soda will vacuum up easily taking all the odors with it.
Note - if the area was heavily/frequently urinated on by the cat,
you may need to repeat steps 2-5 a few times.
~ Above method also works on dog urine. ~
you may need to repeat steps 2-5 a few times.
~ Above method also works on dog urine. ~
Caution ... it is always a good idea to test the fabric/carpet for color fastness in an inconspicuous area, before cleaning.
Also, avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery. The heat will permanently set the odor and the stain by bonding the protein into any man-made fibers.
Lastly, never use ammonia or ammonia-based products to clean-up pet accidents. One of the ingredients of urine is ammonia and your pet may well be encouraged to re-offend in the same area if it detects the smell of ammonia. Make sure to read labels ... many household cleaners contain ammonia.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
April 9, 2011 at 9:16 AM
A fun (tongue-in-cheek) topic, to be sure!
Next weekend while I'm playing on this hop, I'll also be hosting one at my blog. I'd love to have you join in to help homeless bunny friends find furever homes. Check it out http://www.allthingsdogblog.com/2011/04/easter-rabbit-adoptathon-blog-hop.html