Pet urine can smell bad. Whether you are dealing with your dog or cat, it is always the case. Hence, tackling these stains on time is a must. This article explains how you can get old cat pee smell out of your carpet.
What Causes Cat Pee to Smell?
The higher concentration of urine may be a cause, but it is not the major issue. Your feline friend’s pee smells bad because of the presence of urea in the urine. While some claim that ammonia is the primary cause, it is not directly so.
Here’s how the breakdown process works to create a smelly cat pee:
- Cat urine typically contains different kinds of electrolytes, such as urobilin/urobilinogen, sodium, urea, and uric acid. It also comprises bacteria, creatinine, and pheromones.
- The urea is broken down to release ammonia, which leads to the decomposition of the urine.
- It is then the scent coming from the ammonia that is said to be the cause of smelly cat pee.
Read How to get fresh cat urine out of carpet fast
Your Guide to Eliminating Cat Pee Smell
Haven ascertained how the smell came about; eradicating it from the carpet was the next step. While it is common to propose a white vinegar solution for neutralizing the alkalinity of the pee; we would also want you to explore other options.
Below, we share different methods for getting the old cat pee smell out of your cherished carpet.
1. Explore the Water Solution
While the stain might have dried onto the carpet, melting and lifting it from the floor might also be possible. You need clean water for this to work.
You need a couple of paper towels (or a clean, dry towel) and a bowl of clean water.
a. Wet the Area/Cloth
Add a few drops of water to the clean, dry cloth to get it damp. You can also dip the paper towels into the bowl if that is what you are using.
b. Blot the Cat Pee Smell
Use either a damp cloth or wet paper towels to dab at the floor, lifting the urine along.
Note: The process to use is dabbing/blotting and not rubbing – because the latter only forces the stains back into the carpet.
c. Dry the Carpet
Repeat the previous steps as much as possible, until the cat pee stains are entirely removed. Then, get a clean, dry towel to wipe the area dry.
2. Method #2: Prepare a Vinegar Solution
White vinegar or apple cider vinegar are effective for the removal of pet urine. To make this home remedy, here are the steps to follow:
a. Protect Your Hands
Things can get messier, hence, protecting your hands is important. Wear a pair of gloves on each hand and get ready for the next step.
b. Blot the Carpet
You may be lucky to get some of the cat pee smell out if you blot. Grab a clean, dry towel, dip it inside a bowl of water, wring out excess water, and apply it to the affected area. With constant dabbing from the carpet’s outer edge to the center; you’d be able to soak up much of the liquid.
c. Prepare the Cleaning Solution
For this exercise, we need equal portions of white vinegar and water. Mix the two in a small bowl, before pouring into a spray bottle.
This is how to apply the mixture:
- Spritz or spray the smelly part of the carpet with the solution.
- Allow the mixture to sit on the surface for some time. You may also cover it with a laundry basket, to prevent someone or even your feline friend from visiting the spot.
d. Dry the Area
If you went over the spraying process correctly, the vinegar solution should have absorbed the cat pee urine and the associated smell.
Use either a clean cloth or a couple of paper towels to blot the area. While at it, inspect the carpet to see if the stains are still there.
3. Combine Club Soda and Baking Soda
There will be no “clash of sodas” when you combine baking soda with club soda. Mixing the two can be significant in the efforts to tackle and get rid of the old cat pee smell from your carpet.
This is the direction to use:
- Prep the smelly part of the carpet, by pouring club soda to cover the stain.
- Get a bristle-free or soft-bristled brush for scrubbing the soda along the smelly parts.
- Pack the soda residues to one side.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on those smelly parts.
- Allow to sit on the area for several minutes, before vacuuming out of the carpet.
- Wipe the area with a damp, microfiber cloth/towel.
4. Use Only Baking Soda
Baking soda works on a standalone basis too and helps to tackle the cat pee smell on a carpet. Besides, you will love using it for these reasons:
- It is a cleaning solution you can readily make at home (DIY).
- Besides the carpet, baking soda mixture can also be used on clothing.
- The preparation method is simple.
- The absorbent properties enable baking soda to soak away the lingering cat pee odor in less time.
Here are the directions for use:
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the smelly part of the carpet.
- Make sure the area is fully covered. Then, allow the soda to sit for about 30 minutes. Within this time, it should have soaked a lot of the stains – if not all.
- Sweep or vacuum the soda if you are sure that it has absorbed all the stains on the carpet’s fibers.
- Wipe the surface with a damp towel to clear the residues.
5. How Can Listerine Help with Cat Urine Smell Removal?
If there is one cleaning solution that doesn’t readily come to mind for tackling cat pee smell, it has to be Listerine. Reason? It is primarily used to kill germs.
On the brighter side, when used with water, Listerine can help:
- Get rid of the cat pee smell from your carpet.
- Kill any germs left on the surface and;
- Tackling the unpleasant smells caused by cat urine.
If you are convinced of the capabilities, here are the directions for use:
a. Prepare the Listerine Solution
All you need are two (2) parts of water and a part of Listerine. Combine the two in a small bowl.
b. Apply the Solution
You can either blot or spray the Listerine solution on the smelly carpet. For blotting, you will dip a clean towel, and wring out excess water before using it in an upside-down motion on the carpet.
Otherwise, pour the mixture into a spray bottle, shake to mix, and spritz the affected area.
c. Blot the Area
No rinsing is required. All you have to do is blot the area with a clean, microfiber cloth. Inspect the surface continually to satisfy yourself that the carpet is clean.
6. How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Cleaning Cat Urine
Hydrogen peroxide is an all-purpose cleaning solution – that helps you tackle and get rid of cat urine smells from a carpet.
The benefits include:
- You can combine hydrogen peroxide with other homemade carpet cleaners.
- It is easy to use.
- It is an effective solution for removing cat pee smells and treating the carpet, all thanks to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
- The cleaner doesn’t discolor your carpet, as it is colorless and odorless.
This is the method of preparation:
- Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stained part of the carpet.
- Allow it to stay on the surface between 5 and 10 minutes before getting to the next part.
- Blot the area dry with a clean towel.
Note: Instead of pouring the hydrogen peroxide onto the stains, you could also pour it into a spray bottle and spritz the area. Leave it to sit for 20 minutes before blotting with a clean cloth.
7. Hydrogen & Water Mixture
Although water is optional, you can use it alongside hydrogen peroxide. Baking soda can also be used here.
- Mix ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide with water.
- Add baking soda and make a paste out of the mixture.
- Allow the paste to dry before vacuuming the area.
- Scrub the area with a damp cloth to remove the residues.
8. Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda & Dish Soap
You can also use hydrogen peroxide with a wide range of other cleaning solutions, such as liquid dishwashing soap and baking soda. Follow these directions:
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stained carpet.
- Pour 250 ml of hydrogen peroxide into a small bowl.
- Add a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap to the bowl
- Stir to mix.
- Drop the mixture onto the stained part of the carpet.
- That is not all – you need to work the solution into the stained area. To do this, get a soft-bristled brush or a nail brush. Use any of those brushes to scrub the area and work the solution from the carpet’s outer edges into the center.
- Allow the solution to sit on the surface for a couple of minutes.
- After it has dried, vacuum the debris from the surface.
- You can complete it by wiping it with a damp towel or cloth.
9. How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Removing Cat Urine Smells
Apple cider vinegar, just like white vinegar, can be used to get rid of the cat pee smell on a carpet. Note that the process might not be complete if you don’t follow the guidelines set out in this section.
As a rule of thumb, the procedure for applying the white vinegar differs from the apple cider vinegar. While you need equal parts white vinegar and water, what you need here is a cup of apple cider vinegar and two (2) parts/cups of warm water.
Prepare the solution by:
- Mixing one part of apple cider vinegar with two parts of warm water. Do this inside a small bowl or a bucket.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle if you intend to spray. Otherwise, leave it in the bucket and dip a microfiber mop inside.
- Spritz the solution on the affected areas of the carpet, or wring out excess water from the mop and use it for the same purpose.
- Blot up any excess liquid from the carpet, with the aid of a clean towel.
- Finally, go over the surface again with a clean cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
10. Utilize the Enzyme Cleaner Remedy
As the name suggests, these cleaning products are specially formulated to tackle enzymes and or germs left on the carpet, as a result of cat pee smell. They also help in these ways:
- Neutralizing the ammoniacal odor the cat left behind.
- Breaking down and aiding the removal of the foul smell from the carpet.
a. Choosing Your Enzyme Cleaning Spray
The options include commercial enzyme cleaners and homemade variants. If you cannot afford the former at this time, then consider the DIY approach to making an enzyme-based carpet cleaner.
The ingredients include:
- Two and a half cups of orange and lemon peels.
- Four cups of water and;
- 7/8 cup of light brown or dark sugar.
Here is how to mix:
- Pour all the aforementioned ingredients into a 2-liter soda bottle.
- Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Allow the mixture to ferment before diluting about ¼ of the bottle’s cap into a bowl of water.
- Use a towel to transfer the mixture to the carpet.
- After several minutes of being there, get a clean, dry microfiber cloth to blot up the excess moisture out of the area.
b. Precautionary Moves for Cat Pee Smell
To some extent, if you do certain things, the chances that your cat will urinate frequently on one part of the carpet and leave smells behind will be slim.
Do these to prevent that from happening:
- Make sure that both the litter box and the tray are bigger. This helps prevent urine from escaping from the box to the carpet.
- Position the litter box in a secluded part of the home.
- Clean the litter box regularly, because the smells might just be originating from there.
Treat Old Cat Pee Smells with Ease
Regardless of the method we shared here that you opt for; rest assured that it will provide valuable results. If the methods don’t work, consult a veterinarian for professional solutions.