Removing Cat Urine from Carpet Steps

Did your cat urinate on your carpet? Quick action along with the correct steps are needed for removing cat urine from your carpet.

Step one is to remove as much urine as possible. For stains that are already dry, re-wetting the area will be needed. Steam cleaners or heat should not be used to remove the liquid as the odor and stain may be set permanently in the carpet. White towels or white paper towels should be placed on top of the spot so that the carpet isn't discolored from colors in the towels. Put heavy objects such as books on top of the towels so that urine in the pad will also be soaked up, and leave set overnight. Your foot should not be used for pressure so that you don't get urine on your shoe which could then be tracked onto other carpeting.

When the carpet has dried, use a cleaner specially formulated to remove cat urine on the stain and surrounding carpet. Common household cleaners will not do an adequate job at removing the odor as the urine needs to be broken down into substances that can be removed which requires chemical action. Good cleaners for the job will contain bacteria, enzymes, chemicals or a combination of the three. Never use ammonia since your cat may think that the ammonia smell is actually cat urine and urinate in the area again.

Be sure to test the cleaner on a hidden area before applying to the stain. Thoroughly soak the stain along with the surrounding area since the urine may have spread in the padding underneath. Foil or plastic wrap should be placed over the treated spot so that the carpet stays wet longer, giving the cleaner a chance to perform its job.

After the carpet has dried, if a fresher smell is desired, sprinkle baking soda over the treated area and vacuum. Sniff the carpet to see if the cat urine odor has been completely removed. If you still smell urine odor, you will need to repeat the steps above except treat a larger area this time in case the urine spread further underneath the carpet.

If the smell remains after two treatments, replacing the padding will be necessary. When you pull the carpet and padding up, be sure to treat the underlying subfloor with a sealant in case your cat has future accidents. This will prevent urine from getting in the concrete or wood beneath your carpet and causing a persistent, lingering odor.

Through persistence and use of the correct cat urine remover, you have a high chance of succeeding in removing cat urine from your carpet.