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How To Remove The Smell of Cat Urine From Carpet

True Clean Pet Odor Removal Blog

We love our pets. They are part of the family. What we don’t like is when they eliminate in the house. Let’s be honest, you can sometimes tell when there are cats in a home as soon as you walk in the door.

Cats can mark their territory in corners of your home. After a while, this gives off an ammonia like odor that is easily recognized but hard to remove. When a cat urinates in your house, there are some things you can do right away to remove the stain and the odor.

The first step is to bring up any new cat urine in the carpet. Press a paper towel directly onto the soiled area and soak up as much wet as possible.

Second, you need to use a cleaner. You have a couple of effective options. If you like to DIY, use a mixture of white vinegar, baking soda and water. White vinegar kills bacteria, so it is good for both new and set in stains. If you prefer a product that is ready to go, use an enzyme cleaner. With this product, cultures will be released into the carpet that will clean the area and remove odors.

Once you have your cleaner ready, apply it directly to the affected area, but try not to completely saturate the carpet. Using a scrub brush, gently work the cleaner into the carpet. This will allow the product to penetrate the fibers, neutralize the ammonia in the urine and remove the odor.

Once you have worked the product into the carpet, blot the area again to absorb any excess. This will help the area dry quicker. Allow the area to dry thoroughly.

Once dry, sprinkle some more baking soda over the area. Then, make a solution of a half cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Apply to the affected area and again use the scrub brush to work the solution into the carpet without saturating it.

Once the area is completely dry, finish by vacuuming.

If the urine smell is not gone, you may need to hire a company that does professional carpet cleaning. They will know how to pre-treat the area and use solutions and techniques to ensure the stain and odors are removed permanently.

An ounce of prevention can save you a lot of hassle and frustration. There is always a reason why a cat urinates outside the litter box. Here are a few handy tips and things to watch for if you experience this issue in your home:

  • Make sure the litter box is cleaned out regularly. Cats are clean animals and don’t like to go in a dirty box.
  • If you have multiple levels in your home, consider adding a litter box to each floor, so an appropriate place to eliminate is convenient no matter where the cat may be in the home. This is especially beneficial for older cats.
  • If you have multiple cats, you will want multiple litter boxes.
  • Get your cat spayed or neutered. Intact males, especially, will spray.
  • Have your cat checked at the vet for kidney or bladder issues. Infections can cause urgency and inappropriate elimination. This may be your cat telling you he/she needs help.
  • Cats will return to the same spot. So consider making that spot unavailable by placing something there so the cat cannot get to it. Ultimately, though, you will need to get to the root of the problem to solve it.

If you need professional help, choose True Clean Carpet and Tile for professional residential carpet cleaning, Columbus, Ohio.