Keep Your Cat From Urinating In That Spot In The Future
Once youve cleaned a particular area, prevent a recurrence by changing the significance of that area to your cat. In other words, since cats prefer to eat and eliminate in separate areas, place food bowls and treats in previously soiled areas, or play with your cat in that space and leave toys there.
How To Protect Your Couch From Stains In The Future
- Regularly inspect your furnitures fabric, as sometimes, it is possible to miss on a fresh spillage and have a harder time cleaning it later.
- Keep an eye on the area under the couch, which makes a nice marking spot for pets, too.
- Frequency in pets urination could be a sign of a health problem, so it is best to take them to the vet for a checkup as soon as possible.
- Plastic covers on the couch do not give the most appealing look, but resorting to this could be convenient at least for a certain period of time.
Getting Rid Of Cat Urine Odor From Microfiber Couch
Take the foam out of the cushion first. If you cannot rinse the microfiber, then lightly spray with white vinegar . Then rinse the inside cushion and pour the white vinegar through it, rinse again. Let it air dry. Should be dry by morning.
Then place a few fabric softener sheets inside the couch and between the cushion/fabric. Change it after a day or two. This helps to keep it smelling nicely after the vinegar. It works. I did it to my regular fabric couch and they haven’t had another accident since. Plus its cheap.
By Dorina
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Why Is Cat Urine So Smelly
If youve ever spent time around felines, you may have noticed that their urine is particularly pungent. This phenomenon isnt in your head. Cat urine really does smell stronger than that of other animals, especially after some time.
The smell of cat urine gets worse with a bit of age. Thats because the bacterium in cat pee decomposes. When it does, an odor similar to ammonia is released. As the bacterium continues to decompose, mercaptans will be released from the odor. These are the same compounds that provide the infamously abhorrent odor to skunk spray.
Its even worse with older felines. As cats age, their kidneys become less efficient, which makes their urine smell even worse than that of younger cats. Male cats that arent neutered also have testosterone in their urine. Once again, this can increase the stench. After all, the hormones are there to signal for other males to keep their distance.
Why Is Urine So Tough To Clean
Its hard to define which is worse the liquids persistence or the smell, but we can all agree that removing urine stains can be a pain. Despite the fact that urine mostly consists of water, 91-96 % to be exact, there are also various other elements that contribute to its specific properties, as their quantity changes, depending on whether its human or animal pee.
Uric acid is present in any type of urine and it is the main reason why removing pee from upholstery is so challenging. While other elements can be diluted in water, uric acid is transformed into invisible crystals, which are not only tough to extract from fabric but are also reacting with it, changing its colour over time.
Once the urine is absorbed by a couchs textile, high temperature or moisture can reactivate the crystals, making them release a strong odour. This is exactly what attracts cats and dogs over and over again to the same spot when they need to do their business not just on the couch, but on the carpets, too. This is also why getting the urine stains out as early as possible is a good prevention measure. Especially, if you have nice and clean jute rug, for instance, that could be seriously damaged by any form of liquid.
Before you put on your gloves and get ready to clean, take a moment to examine the label on your sofa. Some materials are more sensitive, so in case you have suede or velour sofa, make sure to take the listed instructions in mind to avoid damages.
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Sprinkle A Little Baking Soda As A Natural Deodorizer
One of the best home remedies to get rid of cat urine smell is to use baking soda. This common household pantry resident is a natural deodorizer and easy to use on almost every surface of your home.
You can combine baking soda with another cleaner, like vinegar, and sprinkle it over the carpet during the cleaning or after you have soaked it up. You can also use baking soda on its own, without using any other cleaning solutions, to clean up pet urine smells.
Either option will effectively get rid of that cat pee smell in no time. To use baking soda, sprinkle it over the urine spot after soaking up as much excess cat urine as possible. Let it sit for several hours, typically overnight.
Afterward, vacuum up any remaining flakes. If you are unlucky enough to have experienced cat pee in your shoes, using baking soda should help deodorize them, as well. If the shoes can be washed, definitely take that step to get smell out of shoes.
If the shoes are not machine washable, add a hefty amount of baking soda to the shoe interior and let it sit overnight. Dump out the baking soda the next day.
Cat Urine Gets Worse With Time
Cat urine thats outside the litter box is usually unnoticed until it becomes a problem.
After a while, the bacterium in the urine decomposes and gives off an ammonia-like odor thats characteristic of stale, old urine.
In the second stage of the decomposition process, the urine emits mercaptans, which are compounds that give skunk spray its characteristic bad smell.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Urine Smell Using Vinegar
Before attempting to clean a dried pee stain, always clean cat hair off a couch or other surface first. It makes tackling the stain easier without worrying about spreading fur around. Vinegar is a tried and true cleaning solution for most stains and foul odors.
Its ability to tackle pungent smells like cat urine makes it an excellent choice for a natural, non-toxic cleaner. When using this cleaning solution, either cider vinegar or white vinegar will work. Just choose whatever you have available in your pantry.
- A spray bottle
To make this simple DIY cat urine cleaner, mix the two ingredients in a spray bottle and soak up any urine before adding the vinegar spray. Saturate the area with the vinegar solution. For particularly strong smells, you may want to use pure vinegar instead of combining it with water.
After applying the vinegar, gently work it into the carpet or upholstery. For hard surfaces like walls or tile floors, scrub the area. Rinse the area with cool water, then dry with a clean cloth.
While this solution is excellent for almost any surface of your home including mattresses, carpets, and tile floors, it is not recommended for hardwood floors since vinegar can peel off the protective finish.
Arthritis Can Make Litter Boxes Hard To Use
Another possible reason that an older cat may forego the litter box is arthritis. As cats age, they can get arthritis, which makes it harder for them to get into the box, Dr. Kornreich said. Perhaps the sides are too tall, or the box is located in a place that requires the cat to do some kind of arduous physical activity to get to, such as up or down a flight of stairs.
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Why Are Urine Smells So Stubborn
Just when you thought youd gotten rid of the stain, the smell returns, often days or weeks after.
The reason urine stains emit such a formidable stench is because theres nothing wee about them.
Urine is a waste-product, containing a number of ingredients, including bacteria. The problem child in this ingredient list though, is uric salts, which cannot be broken down by anything other than an enzymatic cleaner.
Combine Hydrogen Peroxide Baking Soda And Dish Detergent
If the cat messed up the couch recently, blot the urine as much as possible with paper towels.
Since hydrogen can sometimes discolor certain materials, test it on the small portion of your couch first.
Stir gently until the baking soda is completely dissolved. Do not close the jar.
Pour this solution on the soiled area, making sure that you also cover a couple of inches around it. Leave the mixture to soak into the area without wiping it. This way the solution will soak deep and get rid of the pee smells completely.
Let the couch air dry. Cover the treated area with aluminum foil to discourage your cat from going it while it dries.
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Skouts Honor Laundry Booster For Stains And Odors
Skouts Honor is designed to be used for spot treatment of stained and smelly fabrics before laundering. It can also be added to the wash through the bleach dispenser. Some people dont like the odor of Skouts Honor, but others say that goes away with an additional rinse cycle or wash.
How To Get Urine Smell Out Of The Couch: Delicate Materials
The Salt Method
If your couch is your prized possession and its covered with velour, microfiber, or perhaps velvet, then you may not want to use abrasive cleaners like vinegar.
Luckily, you dont have to, especially if the urine stain is fresh, and youre trying to prevent smell. Heres how you can use plain, old salt to temporarily resolve the issue:
1. Once Again, Absorb Any Remaining Liquid With a Kitchen Towel
Try not to press too hard into the couch, though that may move the urine and help it travel further into the filling. Alternatively, you can decide not to go through this step if you arent sure youll be able to be gentle. In that case, just skip to step 2.
2. Pour a Decent Amount of Salt Onto the Urine Stain
You can seriously let loose here and pour as much salt as you want to cover the stain. Dont skimp as the cleanup may not work in that case.
Once youve poured enough, all you have to do is let it be. Leave the salt on the urine stain to absorb it for a few hours. It should be completely dry before continuing to the next step.
3. Get Your Vacuum and Carefully Clean the Area
Salt isnt as big as sugar, so you may need to go over the area a few times. In any case, make sure to vacuum all of it.
Check to see if you can sense any foul odors. If you can, repeat the process until youre satisfied.
Once again, I do believe this is a temporary solution as well. Still, it may work great if you react fast and are patient enough to keep repeating it.
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How To Get Cat Pee Out Of Furniture
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One of our readers had a cat that decided to start using their living room as a litter box. The cat urinated on every piece of their sectional couch as well as on their recliner. It smelled terrible! They had a really hard time figuring out how to remove the cat urine smell.
They used Natures Miracle that they purchased at the pet supply store but it didnt work. Our readers gave their best suggestions on how to get rid of the cat urine smell in furniture.
Our favorite tip:
Tip #1: We have many animals in our home. The best odor and stain remover for animal urine and feces is an enzyme spray. You want to buy the one that is based on enzymes and removes odor and stains. It works great on carpets, upholstery, sofas, and other living room furniture.
A little goes a long way, dilute 2 to 1* for fresh areas and regular strength for old or areas with heavy marks. *2 parts spray 1 part water. Follow directions thoroughly.
P.S. Cats generally do this because of health but more often then not it is attitude. That is the one sure way they can tell you they are upset.Generally speaking they will go to the property of the one they are mad at and then make their mess.
They do know what belongs to each household member by smell and sight so, if that area of your sectional was predominantly used by someone their smell will be on it, and then its bombs away.
How To Remove Pet Urine Smell From Couch With Vinegar And Baking Soda
Heres a great recipe for cleaning and permanently removing cat urine, other pet stains, and odors:
Start by first cleaning the area with a vinegar-water solution: Use 2-3 parts water mixed with 1 part vinegar. Its easiest to put this mixture in a well-marked spray bottle. Clean and blot, with a white towel or white rag.
*A side note: Never use ammonia to clean up cat or dog urine, because cats and dogs will be attracted right back to that same spot to go again. Since all urine is so strong in ammonia, this fools the pets noses.
Next, I used an enzymatic cleaner to saturated the area, used the attachments from the carpet cleaner, and sprayed the area again. Have no pee smell and no stains.
The second day: Repeat the application enzyme cleaner product and re-cover with plastic.
The third day: Pour plain old drugstore hydrogen peroxide on the area and let it fizz and bubble up anything thats left. Do this and I can bet your pet urine smell will disappear. Be careful to pre-test the carpet in a discreet area before using the hydrogen peroxide, just to make sure the carpet wont fade.
Ive used peroxide many, many times to clean spots on my carpet and upholstery and its never hurt my carpet, upholstery, or any clothes fabric. Peroxide works to remove any organic stain. Peroxide will also remove blood, coffee, and hot chocolate. Peroxide is a totally amazing stain remover. It works by using oxygen to fizz out the stain. Simple, but effective.
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Two : Treat The Area By Soaking The Pee With My Recommended Pet Urine Neutralizer
Now that you have located the areas where your cat has urinated you need to apply a cat urine neutralizer and make sure it comes in contact with all the cat wee. I premix a 4 part product that once mixed creates very effective oxidizing components which will break down the residues of old cat urine. If the urine is very old you may need several applications to break down all the residues as the salt particles and uric acid combined with urea form very hard particles that can take several times to fully break down. The product contains an ingredient that will stay in the carpet and continue to work on any bacteria that resurface.
What Happens If We Dont Remove Urine Right Away
Apart from the odor thats basically a guarantee, urine also poses a threat in the form of extreme damage. If left untreated, it wont just make your furniture stink it will downright destroy it.
Over time, uric acid is able to ruin fabrics, for instance, so your couch, no matter how old it is, will look worse for wear very quickly. On top of that, if the urine leaks down the couch and onto the floor, you can bet that the acidity will ruin your carpet and flooring as well.
But to circle back to urine smell, you have to keep in mind that in case an animal has peed on the couch, failure to remove it may lead to some behavioral issues. Both dogs and cats are drawn to the smell of their own urine, and as you can imagine, all those uric acid crystals will keep tempting them in the months to follow. You may not be able to see them, but your pets can smell them and they will return to the scene of the crime!
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Key Takeaways On Treating Urine In Your Couch
Dont throw your couch out. treat it with my DIY inexpensive urine neutralizer and you will be sweet!
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Get Cat Urine Out Of The Sofa
A reason why hydrogen peroxide removes stains is that it can break down discolorations. If you have no cleaners at hand, you can also use hydrogen peroxide to remove cat urine out of the sofa. Saturate the stained area with hydrogen peroxide and allow it to bubble.
Then, wipe off the residue and allow the sofa to dry. You can also scrub the discoloration with a mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide before rinsing it off with cool water and wiping the couch dry. However, please be mindful of using hydrogen peroxide on some materials because it tends to lighten and bleach dark fabrics.
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