Eau de toilet: How to get the smell of cat pee out of carpet 

Cleaning cat pee

How do you get rid of the smell of cat pee? If you’re a long-time cat lover you’ve probably mulled this one over (whilst simultaneously holding your nose). And if you’ve just got a cat for the first time, the question of how to get rid of smell of cat pee is going to be right up there on your agenda... pretty soon. Fortunately, figuring how to get cat pee smell out of carpet fibres isn’t as hard as you might think. 

They may have heard whispers of a trip to the vet. Or they’re a kitten, and kittens have accidents. Or, they’re a cat, and cats do what they want! Whatever the reason, you need to know how to get rid of cat urine smell. First up, it’s nothing to worry about – it happens to every cat owner. And what’s a bit of pee between friends? So let’s look at the question of how to remove cat pee smell from carpets to stop the stench permeating your home.  

And remember, the pee is worth the purrs. 

How to get cat pee smell out of carpet fibres – the prep work 

Before the stink of cat pee really starts to irritate your nose and sting your eyes, you can begin the process of eliminating the smell. And a big part of that is the early prep work: 

  • Act quickly. The longer cat pee is left, the more it’ll start to smell. But it’s not always possible to catch them in the act, or just after.  
  • Get up as much of the puddle as you can. Blot with strong and absorbent kitchen towel. Remember to dab, not scrub, as that has the potential to work the pee into the carpet even more. 
  • Rinse the area thoroughly with cold water and then soak up with kitchen towel. This’ll help remove as much as you can.
  • Wet vacuum. If you’ve got a wet dry vacuum, you can use that at this stage too.
  • Gather your supplies. Then you can move onto the ‘pee removal’ step below. Supplies You’ll need:
    • Washing up liquid 
    • Water 
    • Spray bottle  
    • Kitchen towel 
    • White vinegar or enzyme cleaner
    • Rubber gloves

Tip: One of the most common (and ickiest) concerns when it comes to figuring out how to remove cat pee smell from carpets is what to use so you don’t get stinky cat eau de toilet on your hand. You want something absorbent enough to soak up the excess and strong enough not to break down. Step forward Plenty kitchen towel, the perfect blend of strength and absorbency – ideal for anyone who wants to know how to get the smell of cat pee out of carpet fibres without getting it on their hands.     

How to get rid of smell of cat pee – the pee removal 

Whether it’s a new cat pee puddle you’re dealing with, or you’ve finally located the whiff that’s coming from an old accident, it’s time to get on with the removal. The following steps will help you to continue the process: 

  1. Combine a squirt or two of washing up liquid with warm water in a spray bottle. 
  2. Spray directly onto the pee-stained areas or blot it on. Don’t over-soak the area, though, as you don’t want the pee to soak in even more. 
  3. Dab with kitchen towel to absorb the liquid. 
  4. Rinse and repeat if necessary. 

Whenever using a new cleaner, spray a little solution on an inconspicuous area first to make sure your carpet doesn’t turn your floor an interesting new colour. 

How to get rid of cat urine smell – the final piece of the jigsaw 

You’ve done the prep work, you’ve removed the pee, so now it’s onto the main event – how to get rid of cat urine odour in house by eliminating the smell from your carpet. Here’s how: 

  1. Soak the spot with an enzyme cleaner. These types of cleaners break down the acid in cat pee and clear the smell. Remember to stick on your gloves first. 
  2. No enzyme cleaner? You can also try vinegar. A little stinky in itself, but it’ll neutralise the odour. And it’s much easier to dilute the smell of vinegar in the long run than cat pee! 
  3. Blot after 15 minutes, rinse, blot, and repeat if you need to. That’s how to get the smell of cat pee out of carpet for good. 

Now that you know how to get rid of cat urine odour in house it needn’t be a problem in the future. The next time it happens you’ll be able to deal with the stench in no time. Remember, pets are messy, and that sort of makes them even more of a part of the family. 


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