Cats have very strong, concentrated urine that can make certain areas of your household such as flooring, furniture, and linen smell bad, even after cleaning. After a while, bacteria in the urine decomposed and gives off an ammoniacal odor characteristic of stale old urine. This smell is quite potent and difficult to remove. We have compiled a list of the best home remedies and other solutions to remove old cat urine odors from clothes, flooring, furniture, carpets, and walls with solutions that are simple to create at home. Not only can the ingredients for many of these odor-neutralizing solutions be found in your home, but they are guaranteed to work!
How To Get Rid Of Old Cat Urine Odor:
- Enzyme Cleaning Sprays The easiest way to get rid of old cat pee smells is to use a good enzyme cleaner. These products are specifically designed to quickly remove cat odors and stains using enzymes. If you’re trying to find an enzyme cleaner that does it all, we highly recommend our favorite cleaner, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.
It permanently removes the very worst stains and smells you can imagine and makes clean up a breeze. There’s even a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle today. At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
- White Vinegar and Water Cleanser Image Credit: focal point, Shutterstock
Ingredients: Vinegar and water
Saturation time: 30 minutes
Target cleaning area: Carpet and upholstered furniture
Make a solution with 50% white vinegar and 50% water into a spray bottle. The acidity of the vinegar will neutralize the ammonia in cat urine. Saturate all the areas that smell of old cat urine with this solution and let it sit for 30 minutes to fully neutralize the odors. After you have let the solution sit in the solution, soak up the excess moisture with a paper towel. If any trace of the old cat urine remains, respray the area and let it air dry overnight. Pros
Neutralizes ammonia in urine
Does not lift or stain furniture
Can be reapplied
Cons
Leaves a vinegary smell for a few days
- Baking Soda Rinse Image Credit: Monfocus, Pixabay
Ingredients: Bicarbonate of soda
Saturation time: Overnight
Target cleaning area: Carpet, furniture, clothes
Sprinkle a scoop of baking soda over the affected area or add a heaped scoop of baking soda to any linen and clothing that you are washing that has an old cat urine smell. For stubborn, old cat urine smells, you can mist water over the baking soda to allow it to soak up the odor on furniture and carpets. Sodium bicarbonate (the main component of baking soda) is excellent at neutralizing and absorbing potent cat urine odors. Pros
Can be added to water or used dry
Absorbs cat urine odors
Can be added to the washing machine for linen and clothes
Cons
Must be vacuumed up afterward
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Wash Image Credit: focal point, Shutterstock
Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar and baking soda
Saturation time: 30 minute cold wash or on affected areas for 15 minutes
Target cleaning area: Linen, clothing, carpets, flooring, walls, furniture
Apple cider vinegar is great at removing odors of cat urine from linen and clothes once it has been added into the washing machine with an enzyme-based detergent. Apple cider vinegar is a gentle form of cleaner that can be found in the baking section of most grocery stores. It does not leave a potent vinegar smell as white vinegar does, and it can be combined with baking soda to effectively neutralize stubborn old cat urine odors. You can also spray a solution of baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and water over affected areas. It is gentle enough to be used on walls and furniture without bleaching fabric or damaging paint. Pros
Can be used in a cold wash
Can be used in a spray solution over affected areas
Gentle enough to be used on walls and wooden floors
Cons
The combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda can bleach fabrics
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Water Image Credit: sulit.photos, Shutterstock
Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and water
Saturation time: 20 minutes
Target cleaning area: Floors, furniture, clothing, linen
Hydrogen peroxide and water work to eliminate cat urine odor on hardwood flooring, furniture without delicate fabrics, linen, and clothing. If you choose to use this solution on hardwood flooring, a concentration of 5% hydrogen peroxide to a cup of water can be sprayed on the flooring and left to saturate for 20 minutes. A less concentrated amount of hydrogen peroxide and water should be used on furniture, linen, and clothing to prevent damage to the fabrics. You can also add one teaspoon of baking soda to the solution to make it more effective. Pros
Short saturation time
Effective at removing stubborn cat urine smells
Baking soda can be added to the solution
Cons
Highly concentrated solutions may bleach fabrics
See Also: Why Does My Cat Pee on My Couch: 8 Potential Causes
- Mouthwash and Water Image By: Olichel, Pixabay
Ingredients: Alcohol-based mouthwash and water
Saturation time: 1-2 hours
Target cleaning area: Furniture, flooring, carpets, walls
Any alcohol-based mouthwash will work for this method. Use a discarded spray bottle and add two parts of water combined with one part mouthwash (such as Listerine), apply a few spritzes to the affected area, and let it sit for an hour or two maximum. Not only will this method remove stubborn old cat urine odors, but it also leaves a refreshing smell. You can also combine the solution with two teaspoons of baking soda to thoroughly remove any odors. Pros
Leaves a refreshing smell
Works to remove stubborn urine smells and stains
Absorbs cat urine odors
Cons
Colorful mouthwashes may stain fabrics
See Also: How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots
Conclusion When we think about cleaning old cat urine, we may initially reach for bleach and ammonia products. However, these are not the types of cleaning agents you should be using when ridding your home of old cat urine odors. Instead of using ammonia-based cleaning agents that will provoke the opposite of removing cat urine smell and instead entice your cat to urinate in the area again, you’ll want to use enzyme-based cleaners (homemade or store-bought) for the removal of old cat urine odors. These solutions are easy to make and can be stored and used again if you find that the odor has returned. Related Read:
How to Find Hidden Cat Pee and Get Rid of the Smell (Step-By-Step Guide) Why Does My Cat Pee On My Clothes? How to Get Cat Pee Out of a Comforter in 5 Steps Why Is My Cat Peeing in the Sink? 3 Possible Causes and Solutions!
Featured Image Credit: Yongyut Hemsa, Shutterstock
Cats have very strong, concentrated urine that can make certain areas of your household such as flooring, furniture, and linen smell bad, even after cleaning. After a while, bacteria in the urine decomposed and gives off an ammoniacal odor characteristic of stale old urine. This smell is quite potent and difficult to remove.
We have compiled a list of the best home remedies and other solutions to remove old cat urine odors from clothes, flooring, furniture, carpets, and walls with solutions that are simple to create at home. Not only can the ingredients for many of these odor-neutralizing solutions be found in your home, but they are guaranteed to work!
How To Get Rid Of Old Cat Urine Odor:
1. Enzyme Cleaning Sprays
The easiest way to get rid of old cat pee smells is to use a good enzyme cleaner. These products are specifically designed to quickly remove cat odors and stains using enzymes.
If you’re trying to find an enzyme cleaner that does it all, we highly recommend our favorite cleaner, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.
It permanently removes the very worst stains and smells you can imagine and makes clean up a breeze. There’s even a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle today.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
2. White Vinegar and Water Cleanser
Ingredients: Vinegar and water
Saturation time: 30 minutes
Target cleaning area: Carpet and upholstered furniture
Make a solution with 50% white vinegar and 50% water into a spray bottle. The acidity of the vinegar will neutralize the ammonia in cat urine. Saturate all the areas that smell of old cat urine with this solution and let it sit for 30 minutes to fully neutralize the odors. After you have let the solution sit in the solution, soak up the excess moisture with a paper towel. If any trace of the old cat urine remains, respray the area and let it air dry overnight.
Pros
Neutralizes ammonia in urine
Does not lift or stain furniture
Can be reapplied
Cons
Leaves a vinegary smell for a few days
3. Baking Soda Rinse
Ingredients: Bicarbonate of soda
Saturation time: Overnight
Target cleaning area: Carpet, furniture, clothes
Sprinkle a scoop of baking soda over the affected area or add a heaped scoop of baking soda to any linen and clothing that you are washing that has an old cat urine smell. For stubborn, old cat urine smells, you can mist water over the baking soda to allow it to soak up the odor on furniture and carpets. Sodium bicarbonate (the main component of baking soda) is excellent at neutralizing and absorbing potent cat urine odors.
Neutralizes ammonia in urine
Does not lift or stain furniture
Can be reapplied
- Neutralizes ammonia in urine
- Does not lift or stain furniture
- Can be reapplied
Leaves a vinegary smell for a few days
- Leaves a vinegary smell for a few days
Pros
Can be added to water or used dry
Absorbs cat urine odors
Can be added to the washing machine for linen and clothes
Cons
Must be vacuumed up afterward
4. Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Wash
Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar and baking soda
Saturation time: 30 minute cold wash or on affected areas for 15 minutes
Target cleaning area: Linen, clothing, carpets, flooring, walls, furniture
Apple cider vinegar is great at removing odors of cat urine from linen and clothes once it has been added into the washing machine with an enzyme-based detergent. Apple cider vinegar is a gentle form of cleaner that can be found in the baking section of most grocery stores. It does not leave a potent vinegar smell as white vinegar does, and it can be combined with baking soda to effectively neutralize stubborn old cat urine odors. You can also spray a solution of baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and water over affected areas. It is gentle enough to be used on walls and furniture without bleaching fabric or damaging paint.
Can be added to water or used dry
Absorbs cat urine odors
Can be added to the washing machine for linen and clothes
- Can be added to water or used dry
- Absorbs cat urine odors
- Can be added to the washing machine for linen and clothes
Must be vacuumed up afterward
- Must be vacuumed up afterward
Pros
Can be used in a cold wash
Can be used in a spray solution over affected areas
Gentle enough to be used on walls and wooden floors
Cons
The combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda can bleach fabrics
5. Hydrogen Peroxide and Water
Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide and water
Saturation time: 20 minutes
Target cleaning area: Floors, furniture, clothing, linen
Hydrogen peroxide and water work to eliminate cat urine odor on hardwood flooring, furniture without delicate fabrics, linen, and clothing. If you choose to use this solution on hardwood flooring, a concentration of 5% hydrogen peroxide to a cup of water can be sprayed on the flooring and left to saturate for 20 minutes. A less concentrated amount of hydrogen peroxide and water should be used on furniture, linen, and clothing to prevent damage to the fabrics. You can also add one teaspoon of baking soda to the solution to make it more effective.
Can be used in a cold wash
Can be used in a spray solution over affected areas
Gentle enough to be used on walls and wooden floors
- Can be used in a cold wash
- Can be used in a spray solution over affected areas
- Gentle enough to be used on walls and wooden floors
The combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda can bleach fabrics
- The combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda can bleach fabrics
Pros
Short saturation time
Effective at removing stubborn cat urine smells
Baking soda can be added to the solution
Cons
Highly concentrated solutions may bleach fabrics
- See Also: Why Does My Cat Pee on My Couch: 8 Potential Causes
6. Mouthwash and Water
Ingredients: Alcohol-based mouthwash and water
Saturation time: 1-2 hours
Target cleaning area: Furniture, flooring, carpets, walls
Any alcohol-based mouthwash will work for this method. Use a discarded spray bottle and add two parts of water combined with one part mouthwash (such as Listerine), apply a few spritzes to the affected area, and let it sit for an hour or two maximum. Not only will this method remove stubborn old cat urine odors, but it also leaves a refreshing smell. You can also combine the solution with two teaspoons of baking soda to thoroughly remove any odors.
Short saturation time
Effective at removing stubborn cat urine smells
Baking soda can be added to the solution
- Short saturation time
- Effective at removing stubborn cat urine smells
- Baking soda can be added to the solution
Highly concentrated solutions may bleach fabrics
- Highly concentrated solutions may bleach fabrics
Pros
Leaves a refreshing smell
Works to remove stubborn urine smells and stains
Absorbs cat urine odors
Cons
Colorful mouthwashes may stain fabrics
- See Also: How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots
Leaves a refreshing smell
Works to remove stubborn urine smells and stains
Absorbs cat urine odors
- Leaves a refreshing smell
- Works to remove stubborn urine smells and stains
- Absorbs cat urine odors
Colorful mouthwashes may stain fabrics
- Colorful mouthwashes may stain fabrics
Conclusion
When we think about cleaning old cat urine, we may initially reach for bleach and ammonia products. However, these are not the types of cleaning agents you should be using when ridding your home of old cat urine odors.
Instead of using ammonia-based cleaning agents that will provoke the opposite of removing cat urine smell and instead entice your cat to urinate in the area again, you’ll want to use enzyme-based cleaners (homemade or store-bought) for the removal of old cat urine odors. These solutions are easy to make and can be stored and used again if you find that the odor has returned.
Related Read:
- How to Find Hidden Cat Pee and Get Rid of the Smell (Step-By-Step Guide)
- Why Does My Cat Pee On My Clothes?
- How to Get Cat Pee Out of a Comforter in 5 Steps
- Why Is My Cat Peeing in the Sink? 3 Possible Causes and Solutions!
Featured Image Credit: Yongyut Hemsa, Shutterstock
