If you have a nice leather couch or jacket, you know it must be taken care of. Leather can last a lifetime if your cat doesn’t destroy it! If your cat has an accident that gets on your leather, you might be tempted to throw it out. However, with proper cleaning, you can get the urine smell and stains out of leather without any trouble so that no one can tell that an accident even happened.

Supplies Needed

The 6 Steps to Remove Cat Urine Smells & Stains from Leather

1. Blot Any Pooled Urine

Before you can clean the couch, you’ll want to clean up any urine that hasn’t soaked into the leather and figure out what’s been stained. If you are cleaning a leather couch, we suggest removing any removable cushions and putting aside the clean cushions. Using a cleaning cloth or paper towel, blot any remaining urine and pat the stains dry as much as possible.

2. Enzyme or Homemade Cleaner

Although you can buy leather-safe commercial enzyme cleaners, a homemade solution may be more available. Mix four cups of hydrogen peroxide in a plastic container with one tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Add a quarter cup of baking soda to the mix and stir gently. The mixture will fizz and let off oxygen. Don’t stir it too thoroughly, but stir it enough to dampen the baking soda.

3. Mist The Stained Area

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it liberally over the stained area. Cover the entire stained area.

4. Soak Up Cleaner

Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and wipe off any remaining cleaner. Let the area dry completely overnight. At this point, your stain might be gone, in which case you can skip the next step.

5. Neutralize Any Leftover Scents with Vinegar or Charcoal

If scents linger, you’ll want to neutralize them. You can spray a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water over the area and let it dry. You can also put a bowl of activated charcoal near the stain overnight to soak up odors.

6. Recondition Leather

Once you are finished cleaning, you’ll want to recondition your leather. This works moisture into the leather to keep it smooth and supple. Wait 24-48 hours before reconditioning the leather to ensure it is completely dry. You can buy a commercial leather conditioner or use a few teaspoons of olive or coconut oil. Work the conditioner into the leather slowly until the leather is smooth and supple.

Know When to Use an Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme cleaners are perfect for breaking down tough stains. They are designed to destroy the proteins in bodily fluids like urine, making them a good choice for old or stubborn stains. However, some enzyme cleaners will damage the leather, so test your cleaner on an inconspicuous spot before you clean it.

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Final Thoughts

Removing urine stains, especially old ones, from a couch is challenging if you don’t have the proper cleaners. We hope these steps will help you get the smell of urine out of leather. So many cat owners have fallen “victim” to cat urine stains and smells on furniture and clothing. However, with a bit of elbow grease, you can reduce the odors and stains!

• See also: How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots

Featured Image: cunaplus, Shutterstock