How to Get Rid of Old Cat Urine Odor: 3 Homemade Solutions
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Cat owners everywhere can tell you there’s nothing worse than coming home from work in the evenings only to be met with the smell of old cat urine odor when you open the door.
While we love our cats, and they’re super adorable if they decide to bypass the litter box in favor of urinating on the couch, bed, carpeting, and other furniture, soon that stale odor of cat urine penetrates everything in your home and the very air around you.
Luckily, there are quite a few old cat urine odor removal home remedies out there you can try to ensure your home smells fresh and urine-free all of the time. We’ll give you our top three choices in the article below.
The Importance of Effectively Cleaning Up Cat Messes, Odors, & Stains
Before we dive into homemade solutions, we want to note that you may require multiple cleanings to lift tough stains and odors. The first part of cat mess prevention is ensuring you are taking the time to properly clean any accidents - and that starts with investing in the right products! Of course, you'll want to opt for something safe, first and foremost, to protect your feline's health, but secondly, you'll need a solution powerful enough to lift the toughest, stinkiest, most set-in stains. An enzyme cleaner is a great go-to option for doing just that.
Our Favorite Enzyme Cleaner
The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite enzyme cleaner out there. It permanently removes even the very worst kitty stains and smells, leaving your home fresh and clean! Click here to learn more about this amazing product and get yourself a bottle.
At Catster, 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!
The 3 Homemade Solutions to Get Rid of Cat Urine Odor
1. Hydrogen Peroxide, Dish Soap, and Baking Soda
You probably already know that hydrogen peroxide is excellent for killing odors and fighting bacteria. If you combine it with dish soap, then it makes an excellent odor eliminator. However, it is important to note that hydrogen peroxide can discolor certain types of materials, so you’ll want to try it out on a small area that’s hidden from sight on what you’re cleaning first.
For this solution, you fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide, then add a few drops of dish soap. Spray the solution directly on the old cat urine area. Blot the area gently with a cloth or paper towel to remove as much of the old urine as possible.
Sprinkle baking soda over the spot to dry the solution and pull out the odors, then let dry.
Once this is done, sprinkle some more baking soda on the spot, let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum as you normally would. Between the hydrogen peroxide and the baking soda, the area should smell fresh and clean when you’re done.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Can be used with other DIY remedies
Cons
- Takes 3–4 hours to dry
- Can discolor certain materials
2. Club Soda
Believe it or not, club soda is the perfect tool for removing old cat urine odors from your home. Simply pour some club soda on the stain, then let it fizz. Once the fizzing stops, blot the remaining club soda up until it comes out of the carpet.
Once the area is completely dry, sprinkle baking soda across the area and let it dry for 30 minutes or longer to remove any lingering odors. Vacuum as usual at the end of that time.
As with any other DIY option out there, this isn’t guaranteed to work on all stains, but it is a natural remedy and pet-safe as well.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Pet-safe
Cons
- May not work on all stains.
3. Vinegar and Water
Vinegar and water have long with a DIY solution for many cleaning and removal projects. In this case, the vinegar works to counteract and remove the odor from the old urine stains. It’s easy to use and can be used not only on most surfaces but in the laundry as well.
It’s best to mix 50% water and 50% vinegar. First, mix it all in a spray bottle, then spray it on the affected area. Finally, mop up the entire solution with a cloth, and let the area dry for the best results.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Can be used on most surfaces and in the laundry
Cons
- Must be mixed
- Must be left to dry
Although homemade solutions are great in a pinch, nothing is quite as effective as an enzyme cleaner. Don't forget to check out our favorites here!
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular levels to dissolve any pet mess you encounter and lift it away at the source.
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture, fabrics, and more. Whether it's urine, feces, vomit, or drool, you can erase all foul spots and smells!
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical fragrances to get the job done. We eradicate smells and stains, not just cover them up.
At Catster, 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!
Conclusion
These are three of the best DIY solutions to get rid of old cat urine odors that we’ve found. If you’re having a problem with your cat using the bathroom outside of the litter box, then it’s best to contact your vet for an appointment if it continues for any period.
Your vet will help you determine if there’s a medical cause for the issue and offer treatment options as well. While homemade solutions may be an excellent option for emergencies, having a pet-friendly enzyme cleaner on hand will ensure that you are able to effectively clean all messes up quickly and effectively the first time.
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Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
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Patricia is a pet writer and lifelong animal lover. She has two cats (Binx and Link) and one dog (Mystery). Binx was found as a kitten under her house and has been part of the family ever since! Patricia is also a published author under the pen name Skylar McKinzie. When she isn’t writing, Patricia enjoys volunteering at her local animal rescue.
