How to Remove Cat Urine Odors and Stains from Carpet? Expert Tips and Tricks

The smell of cat urine in your home is something you can't ignore - if you have cat urine in your home, you know this. Fortunately, most cats will eliminate it in the litter box, but accidents do happen occasionally.

Cat urine on carpet is particularly difficult to deal with because it seeps in and requires a lot of effort to remove. To help you, we've looked at different ways to properly clean cat urine from carpet and remove the unpleasant odor that accompanies it. Let's get started.

Before you start removing cat urine odors and stains

You may be tempted to use a carpet steam cleaner to get the job done, but cat urine is not meant to be cleaned with a steam cleaner. The heat and steam produced by these machines can bind the proteins in cat urine to the carpet fibers. Instead, you should prepare the following emergency supplies:

-Baking soda

- vinegar

- Hydrogen peroxide/green water/hydrogen peroxide

- dishcloth

- Dishwashing liquid

- Cleaning agents

- Tissue paper

- water

- Carpet cleaning machine

Steam Cleaners vs Washing Machines: Which is Better?

Unlike steam cleaners, carpet scrubbers use cold water and soap to clean the carpet and then vacuum up the excess dirty water. It scrubs between the fibers instead of using steam. Carpet scrubbers are acceptable if you wish to use them on cat urine spots. If you don't have one or can't use one, there are many other household items that can help you remove urine stains from carpet.

3 Ways to Remove Urine Odor and Stains

1. Cleaner Method

Enzyme cleaners mean that the product contains enzymes that break down and destroy urine stains and odors. These cleaners usually come in spray bottles for easy application. This is probably the easiest method to use for cat urine on carpet.

First, blot up as much of the urine stain as possible with a paper towel. Then, spray the enzyme cleaner onto the stain, covering it completely. You'll want to follow the directions on the bottle, but most cleaners need to be left on for 10-15 minutes to be most effective.

Then, use a clean cloth to blot the cleaner. Use a dry cloth if necessary and repeat until the stain is dry.

If you still notice urine stains or odor after the area is completely dry, you may need to repeat these steps.

2. Vinegar and baking soda

First, mix 1.5 cups of warm water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar. You can leave this solution in a bowl or add it to a spray bottle.

Use a clean cloth to blot the urine from the carpet. Pour or spray the vinegar solution on the urine stain and let it sit for 5 minutes. The vinegar will neutralize the odor and kill bacteria. Your carpet may smell like vinegar temporarily, but this will dissipate much faster than the cat urine odor.

Soak up the vinegar solution and then cover the area with baking soda . Let it sit overnight to absorb any remaining cat urine odor.

Vacuum the baking soda the next morning and your carpet will be stain-free.

3. Hydrogen peroxide/green water/hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing liquid and edible salt

First, use a clean cloth to absorb the urine from the carpet. Then, cover the urine stain with table salt. At the same time, mix 3/4 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide/green water/hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Make sure the dishwashing liquid does not contain bleach.

Pour the solution over the table salt and use the cloth to gently push it into the carpet. Do not scrub! Scrubbing may push the urine into a larger area, creating a larger stain. Blot up any excess liquid and allow the solution to dry overnight. The next morning, vacuum up any remaining table salt.

Repeat cleaning

If you notice that the odor is still not gone, repeat the cleaning process or try a different method. You need to make sure there are no traces of cat urine odor. This may be a signal to your cat that it is acceptable to urinate here.

If all else fails, use a carpet cleaner. If you don't have one, you can rent one. Most carpet cleaners have an option for removing pet odors, which are ingredients designed to fight urine stains. Remember not to use a steam cleaner!

When should we pay attention?

Cats don't like to urinate outside of their litter box, but sometimes they do so for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is an underlying health problem. If you notice your cat repeatedly urinating outside of the box, take them to see a veterinarian.

Your cat may be trying to alert you to a urinary tract or bladder infection. Crystals in the urine may also be the cause of this behavior.

Take your cat to the veterinarian immediately if you notice blood in their urine.

Other symptoms, such as straining when urinating or hissing, growling, or crying while urinating, indicate a problem.

For dry cat urine stains

Sometimes we don't notice stains on the carpet right away. For dried stains, it's best to use an enzyme cleaner and baking salt.

Spray the cleaner on the stain and vacuum up any excess liquid. While the stain is still wet, cover it thoroughly with baking salt. Let it stay overnight. Vacuum the baking salt off the next day.

Keep your cat's litter box clean

Cats urinate outside of their litter boxes when the inside becomes too dirty for them. If your cat is urinating outside the box, check to see if it is clean. You may need to empty the litter, clean the box, and refill it with new litter to see if this stops the problem.

If the litter box is clean, consult your veterinarian for an inspection to rule out health problems.