Ingredients you need
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Dishwashing Detergent (Dish Soap)
Instructions for Cat Urine Removal from carpets
Step 1
If your cat just urinated on the carpet, follow these steps to clean it up:
Use paper towels to soak up as much urine as you can. Lay multiple layers of paper towels on the wet spot and step on them to absorb the urine. Keep replacing the towels with dry ones and repeat until they don’t soak up any more liquid.- If you have a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, use it to remove any remaining urine more effectively.
Areas of cat urine that have dried and previously gone undetected can be found with the aid of a black light. The cat urine stains will fluoresce under the ultra violet light in a darkened room. Hand held black lights are quite inexpensive, usually costing between $15 – $25. 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.
Step 2
Next, follow these steps for cleaning:
- Spray the area with a 50:50 solution of white vinegar and water. Ensure the solution penetrates deep into the carpet fibers.
- Dry off the carpet as much as you can. Blot with paper towels to absorb moisture.
- If you have a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, use it to remove any excess moisture.
Step 3
For the final steps, follow these guidelines:
- Apply baking soda over the affected area.
- Mix a quarter cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of liquid dish soap and pour or spray this over the baking soda. Avoid caustic detergents meant for dishwashers.
- Work the mixture into the carpet using a soft brush or your fingers (wear rubber gloves if using hands).
- Allow to dry, using a heater or fan to speed up the process.
- Vacuum up the dried baking soda. Use a hard-bristled brush if needed to loosen it up. The baking soda helps absorb the odor and urine.
Caution: Only use hydrogen peroxide up to 3% strength to avoid bleaching the carpet.
Tip: If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, substitute with a laundry stain
remover that contains ‘Oxy’, indicating it has hydrogen peroxide (e.g., Preen, Sard, OxiClean).
Read the Testimonial and Reviews for this Cat Urine Odor Recipe
See how well this recipe has worked for our readers to remove
cat urine smells from carpets, mattress, sofas and, futons.
Caution -Disclaimer
It is highly recommended that you perform a small spot test in an inconspicuous area before proceeding with the above recipe.
Do not use Hydrogen Peroxide that is higher in concentrate than 3% (or 10 vol). Bleaching may occur on some carpets with a stronger solution. Read the label on the Hydrogen Peroxide carefully. The label will state the strength.
Pet Urine may alter the chemical nature of dyes in some carpets causing
discoloration, bleaching or dye run.
The picture at right shows how pet urine can bleach colors in some carpets. This carpet has not been treated with the above recipe. The bleaching occurred as a result of pet urine.
Please be aware that the above recipe cannot reverse bleaching which has been caused by pet urine.
Reviews and Testimonials to the success of this Cat Urine Removal Recipe from the readers of CatsOfAustralia.
- OMG!!!! IT REALLY WORKED!!! Thank you SOOOOOO much for this remedy for Cat Urine Removal
- I would never say something worked unless it actually did, and I honestly can’t believe HOW well this worked! Worked like a charm for Cat Urine Odor Removal.
- I am totally amazed how well this Cat Urine Removal Recipe worked. The process was quick and easy. The smell is totally gone.
- This recipe for cleaning and removing cat urine odor was simple and effective.
- I seldom use the word awesome to describe anything unless it truly is, and your recipe for removing Cat Urine Odor is AWESOME.
- Count me in as a skeptic turned believer. Best Cat Urine Odor Removal
- I can’t thank you enough. I’ve never written a testimonial, but I feel like you deserve my time and thanks for your recipe to remove Cat Urine Odor and Stains.
- The recipe for dog and cat urine removal works incredibly well
- Thanks for the advice on getting Cat Urine out of our of carpets. I can’t believe this worked, but it did…Thanks so much. Happy cat owner.
- I have just used your cat pee cleaning/neutralizer recipe after finding that my cat had been peeing in the corner of our lounge room. I am glad to report that this is wonderful stuff as I had just spent the whole weekend washing my carpet trying to get rid of the smell. I do admit I was so cautious of bleaching my light coloured carpet that I only used the method thoroughly on the underlay and the carpet backing but it worked straight away… no smell.
- I have been a cat owner all my life and have never came across any other product or solution that has worked at all let alone this well. It is fabulous
- OMG, This recipe really worked…I no longer can smell the terrible odor of cat urine, Thank you for sharing this information.
Important considerations
When a cat pees 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.
The vinegar will neutralize the ammonia and hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer capable of killing bacteria which cause the urine smells. Baking soda is a well known deodorizer which absorbs odors. Sprinkle it on your carpet monthly then vacuum up to keep your carpet smelling fresh all the time.
Important. Never use ammonia or ammonia-based products on the carpet. One of the ingredients of urine is ammonia and your cat may well be encouraged to re-offend in the same area if it detects the smell of ammonia. Many household cleaner cleaners contain ammonia so be sure to read the label.
See also
Clean Cat Urine from a Mattress
Additional Information
If you wish to keep your cat away from certain areas that are at risk from your cat’s urination such as sofas, beds, rooms etc then I recommend a product called SSScat. It is a motion activated spray which delivers a noisy burst of air to frighten your cat away from an area. It is completely safe and harmless. Now watch this video of SSScat in action. You can usually purchase it on ebay.
Often a cat will inappropriately urinate because of a medical condition. If you have problems with a cat not using his litter box please get him checked by a vet. Examination by your vet for lower urinary tract diseases is necessary to rule out medical conditions which could be causing the inappropriate urination problem. For example a painful case of cystitis or urethral blockage may have your cat associating the pain of urination with it’s litter tray and it will therefore avoid it’s litter tray. Read more about Cystitis in Cats
Sadly, feline spraying and inappropriate urination problems are among the most common reasons for pet cats to be euthanised and surrendered to cat shelters
- House Training Kittens to use the litter box or go outside
- 10 Reasons why cats won’t use their litter box
- Urinary Tract Disorders in Cats
- Kidney Disease in Cats
The problem with cat urine soiling on carpets and other porous furnishings is that it is not always detected until it begins to smell. When the cat first urinates it has very little smell but as time goes by and the urine begins to decompose the odor becomes very unpleasant.
Cats Spraying urine is territorial and also stress related Reasons why cats spray urine, prevention and treatment
Cats are fastidious animals and don’t like dirty litter trays. Clean the cat litter trays daily.
Keep Cat Litter trays in a quiet location. How would you like to go to the toilet in a busy thoroughfare?
Diabetes in cats can cause increased urination.
Your cat may be suffering from Feline Stress. Common causes, management and diagnosis of feline stress
Cats do not like to use the toilet near to where they eat. That’s not surprising… neither do we! Move litter boxes away from feeding areas or where their water is placed.
If your cat pees in your potted plant you can deter them by placing some pine cones on top of the soil. Commercial cat repellants are also available. Here are some home remedy tips to try to Stop Cat Peeing in Potted Plants
If you catch your cat urinating on your carpet or floor, gently and quickly move him to the litter tray. Don’t punish him as this may increase his stress. Try to reinforce positive behavior. Punishment only causes more stress.
Neuter or spay kittens at an early age to reduce urine spraying problems
