Getting Rid of Cat Urine Odors is Easier Than You Think
How to get rid of cat urine smell is a question that has plagued cat owners for years. As much as we might love our cats, the sharp, ammonia tinged smell of their urine is not nearly as pleasant to live with.
Some people say the only way to really get rid of the smell is to get rid of the cat and throw away everything the cat peed on. Not true. We know firsthand there are other solutions.
It can be a nuisance to get rid of but there are some safe, natural methods you can try that have proven particularly effective.
Most Effective Way to Get Rid of Odors
An oxygen bleach product (we use Molly's Suds Oxygen Whitener) is a great natural, eco-friendly product to remove the urine and even fecal odors from an area. Molly's Suds Oxygen Whitener is made with Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Carbonate which is safe for most fabrics.
As with all cleaning products, a test spot in an unnoticeable area is recommended.
First, blot up (don’t scrub) as much of the urine as possible. Remember that furniture cushions and carpet padding tend to absorb a lot of the urine, so you will need to apply pressure. Then mix one scoop of the Molly's Suds Oxygen Whitener with about 1 gallon of hot water. Water needs to be hot to dissolve and activate oxygen bleach.
Saturate the area and let is sit 10 minutes to allow the product to penetrate the problem area. Vacuum or blot up the excess liquid until no more moisture can be extracted. Just to be sure, follow up by saturating the areas again with a second treatment.
Once again vacuum or blot up the excess liquid until no more moisture can be extracted.
Let the area or item completely dry then sprinkle some Zeolite Carpet Powder and let that sit for about 8 hours. Then vacuum it up.
If you can still detect and order you will want to do the process again. This is particularly important because the odor of urine will draw a cat back, encouraging it to keep urinating in the same place.
In order to break this habit, you need to eliminate any and all signs of the ammonia smell the urine leaves behind.
Our Story
Several years ago our daughter and her cat moved back home for a while. Our cats decided they need to mark everything one way or another. What a mess.
There was one spot I just knew we were going to have to replace the tile grout. The cats decided that was their spot and all 3 kept peeing on it.
We mixed Molly's Suds with hot water and poured it on the grout and let it soak in for about 1/2 hour. We did that 4 times. Then after it was rinsed and dried, we sprinkled the Zeolite powder on the spot and let it sit for a couple of days.
After we vacuumed that up, we sprayed it with ODRX Odor Control Spray. The odor was finally gone. We put a big potted plant on top of the spot to keep the cats away.
DIY Options
One of the simplest and easiest is a solution of two parts water to one-part white vinegar. After blotting up as much of the urine as possible, saturate the spot with the water and vinegar solution and let it sit until it dries.
You will need to repeat the process as many times (sometimes 8 or 9 times) as necessary until the odor is eliminated.
Baking soda also works sometimes. Simply blot the urine, sprinkle on baking soda and let it sit overnight. Then vacuum it up the next day. You can also use this method after applying the water and vinegar mixture for thorough odor removing.
Worst Case
For areas that have been repeatedly exposed to urine and feces over a long period of time, the cleanup will need to be more extreme, such as removal of carpet/padding, replacement of hardwood floor, grout, etc.
Yes, sometimes you must throw everything away and start over.
Everyday Pet Odor Control
Personally, when it comes to naturally eliminating cat urine odor, we have found one of the most effective weapons is Zeolite odor control products. Zeolite is a form of volcanic mineral that is naturally designed to trap odor-causing ions, literally removing the odor from the air permanently.
Not only is it effective, but it is also perfectly safe for you, your family and pets.
We carry products that contain Zeolite in powder or rock form, both of which can be equally effective depending on the situation. Everything from carpets and rugs to litter boxes can be rendered odor free with the use of safe, all-natural Zeolite.
We keep a 2lb bag of the Zeolite rocks in the laundry room where we keep the cat's litter box.
Not only does Zeolite answer the question of how to get rid of cat urine smell, but it can also be very cost-effective as well.
The Zeolite rocks naturally recharge, allowing you to use the rock product for years at a time. Once the odor has been completely absorbed, just set the Zeolite out in the sun for six hours and it will be ready to use again, as simple as that.
No matter how much you love your cats, no one loves the harsh smell of their urine. Don’t continue to suffer in silence, try one of these completely natural methods to remove the odor from your home and make living with your four-legged friends a much nicer experience for everyone.
Wishing you the best of health