By Jennifer Sellers, Petfinder contributor There’s an unwanted guest in your home. It welcomes you each time you enter a room; it even greets your guests. No, it’s not your beloved kitty; it’s the odor of her urine. You’re not stuck with this uninvited presence, though. There a number of ways you can kick it to the curb. 1. Remove as much urine as possible. The less urine there is, the less you’ll have to deep clean. So when you notice that your cat has urinated somewhere outside of her litter box, clean up as much of it as you can as soon as you can. If the puddle was made on carpet or furniture, The Humane Society of the United States recommends blotting the area with an absorbent paper towel. This won’t get up all of the urine, but it will leave less of it behind for you to have to treat later. If your cat has urinated on linens, clothing or drapes, wash them or have them dry-cleaned as soon as possible. The longer urine stays on fabric, the more stubborn its odor becomes.

Detergents with baking soda or enzymatic additives are best for cleaning items that have urine odor. If the urine is on a wall or other hard surface, wipe it down with a wet rag. 2. Break down the stain and smell with an enzymatic cleaner. Many non-protein-based carpet and fabric deodorizers alone won’t be able to handle the strong, pervasive odor of cat urine. Cats have a stronger sense of smell than people, so even if you can’t smell leftover urine, your cat might – making it more likely that she’ll soil the area again. A spray made with enzymes that target pet urine can help break down the urine and make it less likely that your cat will return. There are a number of these products in pet stores and home improvement stores. Just be sure to use it as instructed. (The potency of many enzymatic cleaners can be weakened by contact with other cleaning chemicals.) 3. Clean the area with an extracting wet vac but avoid steam cleaners. Extracting carpet cleaners expel clean water onto carpet or fabric then suck dirty water back into the tank.

This can be a great way to rinse the area, especially if you’re dealing with carpeting. It’s important to follow the directions carefully. The HSUS recommends using cool, clean water in the wet vac. You should also avoid using steam cleaners. Intense heat can actually cause odors to set into the fibers of carpet and upholstery more stubbornly. 4. Follow-up with a baking soda-based air freshener. Sodium bicarbonate, the substance baking soda is comprised of, is great at absorbing odors. One way to put it to use against urine odor is to sprinkle it on the carpet or furniture after you’ve cleaned your cat’s urine and the area has thoroughly dried. After sprinkling, let it sit for an hour or longer, then vacuum it up. Sprinkle the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for 10-20 minutes, then vacuum. You can store any extra in an airtight container. 5. Find ways to prevent future accidents. The more urine your cat adds to your home, the harder it’s going to keep the odor at bay.

So the best way to fight this stench is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. This may include any number of methods: Companionship with a cat can be rewarding — so can keeping a home. what is the best carpet cleaner for fleasDon’t let urine odor ruin either experience.carpet cleaning courses surreyExpert ReviewedHow to Remove Cat Urine Smellcarpet cleaner for sale ireland Three Parts:Cleaning Up Cat UrineDeodorizing the AreaReducing the Chances of AccidentsCommunity Q&Apool cleaning service fresno ca Few things are worse than the lingering smell of cat urine. pool cleaning service fresno ca

This stubborn problem requires detailed cleaning and a few good habits. Make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand and always be prepared for any surprises your cat has in store for you.pool cleaner parts hayward Blot the urine on your carpet with paper towels. Try to remove as much of the urine as possible. This will ultimately make your job easier. Use clean paper towels and apply pressure. Repeat with new paper towels until you are unable to soak up any more urine. Skip this step if the urine has already dried. You can also use old throw away towels instead of paper ones. The thickness of regular towels allows for better absorption, soaking up more cat urine. If available, use a white towel. Once there's no longer a yellow-tint to the liquid being absorbed, you'll know all the urine has been absorbed. Use an enzymatic cleaner. Enzymatic cleaners, like Nature's Miracle, contain special biological enzymes that break down the proteins in urine, reducing or even completely eliminating the smell.

Note that some enzymatic cleaners may not work if other chemicals were used beforehand to try to treat the stain. It is generally a good idea to try the enzymatic cleaner first, and saturate the area well. Follow the manufacturer’s directions closely and allow to dry for several days. You may not have to do anything else. Mix up a vinegar solution. If an enzyme cleaner didn't completely remove the smell, use a vinegar solution. Combine equal parts of white vinegar and water in a bowl or spray bottle. Saturate or spray the soiled area. Saturate a little bit beyond the soiled area so you can be sure to remove all urine. If you have a black light or UV light at your disposal, you can see the urine glow in the dark and find the exact location of the urine spot. Scrub the vinegar solution into the soiled area. Use a bristle brush and thoroughly rub the vinegar/water mixture until the area is completely soaked. The vinegar will neutralize the ammonia smell in your cat's urine.

Dry the area thoroughly.Wash the soiled area with a household cleaner that does not contain ammonia. Ammonia smells like urine to dogs and cats. Wipe the area clean with water. In a spray bottle, mix 10 parts water to 1 part bleach. Put on rubber gloves and spray the soiled area. Let the bleach sit for 30 seconds, then clean the soiled area with a damp cloth. Be careful with the bleach as it may damage and change the color of some materials. Check clothing for urine. If any clothing has urine, add 1 cup (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar to the laundry detergent in your regular wash. If you still smell urine, add some enzymatic cleaner to your wash. Dry cleaning may be necessary. If you can't get the smell or stain out of an item, you may just have to throw it out. Sprinkle baking soda over the area. Mix a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and mild dish detergent together. Mix 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one teaspoon (5 ml) of dish detergent and spread it over the baking soda.

You may want to spot test this cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area at first to confirm that there is no discoloration. Use a scrub brush to rub the solution into to the baking soda. Blot the area and allow the mixture to dry. Vacuum the soiled area. Vacuuming the soiled area removes both the urine particles and the deodorizer you applied. Extracting wet vacs work the best for this since they saturate the carpet and then vacuum the water back into the vacuum's tank.[6] In a pinch, you can use your regular vacuum; it just won't be as effective as the wet vac. For best results with a wet vac, use cool water in the vacuum tank and always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid using steam cleaners, since the high heat will actually set the stain. Replace the cat's litter box more often. Cats like clean litter boxes, just as humans like clean bathrooms. If you're neglecting your cat's needs when it comes to offering a clean litter box, he may find it harder to resist urinating on your sofa or carpet.

Keep your cat's litter box in a quiet location that is not near its feeding area. This will increase the chance that the box will be used properly. Consider getting your cat neutered or spayed. Have your cat checked by the veterinarian. Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Show more unanswered questions If you have expensive carpeting or upholstery or drapes in your home, a professional should be consulted to prevent damage to your furnishings. Be prepared for accidents when you bring home a new cat. You'll need to train your cat to use the litter box properly, clean up after her if she doesn't, and get medical treatment for her if an illness is causing inappropriate urination. If you're tired of constantly cleaning up after your cat, or you fear that the urine has soaked down to the carpet pad or throughout your hardwood floor, call a professional. Granted, it will cost more, but it is likely to be more effective. Cats and dogs can smell odors even when we cannot and return to the area where urine was previously deposited.