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Removing Pet Urine
Smells
Whew, Do We Need Help
How can I get cat urine odor out of my carpet? I have
a kitty
who decided to "tinkle" in the same spot for a number of weeks. We are certain
that the urine seeped down into the padding. Eventually, we broke him of
the habit and he is now happy with one of the fancy automatic litter boxes
(a less-than-frugal option). Although we have used the standard over-the-counter
products for neutralizing and deodorizing, the odor creeps up every now and
then. Any suggestions?
Lori L
Try Enzyme Neutralizers
Have you tried the enzyme odor neutralizers such as Simple Solution or Nature's
Miracle? Personally, I've found Nature's Miracle to be about the best. You
have to follow the directions EXACTLY though and saturate the area with the
product, then leave it there the appropriate amount of time. You also have
to treat ALL the areas where the animal has urinated, because if you leave
a spot undone, the animal will smell that and think it's still "okay" to
go there.
This stuff can be expensive if you purchase it through a place like PetSmart,
etc. on a regular basis. I've found the cheapest source of this stuff (and
other pet products)to be Jeffer's Pet Supply
www.1800jeffers.com...they
have some amazing deals. They also sell an ultraviolet light to help you
"view" the urine stains, but this seems kind of expensive for what it is.
Unfortunately, sometimes depending on your sub-floor or flooring, the odors
still persist. Another product I have used are the "Smell-Eze Granules"
no-odor.com and these work
fairly well, though are relatively expensive, for "lingering odors." You
sprinkle this on your carpet and the granules absorb the odor (different
from the grocery store-type carpet deodorizers; these have no smell on their
own) I also bought the Smell-Eze bags of granules that you place around your
home (for smoke, pet odors, etc.) and they worked great for a while, then
seemed to conk out.
Whatever you use, it is sometimes a challenge to conquer these smells, but
it can be done!
Billie
Color Safe Bleach
I moved into an apt where cat urine was abundant. I used Vivid Safe Bleach
and it removed every trace of the smell. It did not stain or lighten the
carpet, but I would try a hidden area first. I poured the Vivid on the spot,
rubbed it a bit, then covered it with paper towels and heavy object. I kept
replacing the towels
Carole
Finally Tried Odo-Ban
We had two large dogs and still have one cat that had "accidents" in the
house. I tried everything, from vinegar to baking soda, to commercial bacteria
cleansers from our local pet store. The best thing to use and I strongly
recommend it is a product called "ODO-BAN" it is available in one gallon
containers from Sam's Club. If you lived nearby, I would be happy to give
you a cup of it. Just mix it 1:3 parts water, sprinkle on the spot, (we used
a watering can as it was a large area, and let dry) Once it is completely
dry, it is impossible to detect any odor. Also you can put it straight in
a spray bottle and spray it in the air to get rid of odors too. Take it from
someone who used it on a "skunked" dog. IT WORKS!
Anna A
Baking Soda Solution
I had a cat who was getting elderly and had kidney disease. She started going
into our lower level den behind a couple of chairs and urinating. I think
what enticed her was the fact that we had sustained flood damage and the
carpet had gotten wet and had a dank smell to begin with. Then she added
to it before I could treat the wet smells from the flooding!
After getting the carpeting dried out and cleaned as well as possible using
the standard carpet cleaners, I realized the urine smell was very much still
present. I have a handy little book called "Baking Soda-over 500 uses..."
and here is what finally worked for me. To prevent the lingering smells in
a carpet, they advise to clean up what you can, then generously sprinkle
the remaining spot with baking soda. Scrub gently, from the outside toward
the center, with a stiff brush or sponge dipped repeatedly in clean water
(test for colorfastness!). Blot up the moisture with paper towels. Leave
a last small layer of baking soda powder sprinkled on the spot and vacuum
it later when the carpet is dry. I have to say, I had to repeat this several
times - but it worked! No more smells!! Carpet looks fine! (and this was
an OLD carpet)
For general deodorizing, they also advise sprinkling baking soda on carpeting
monthly, or as needed, before going to bed and let it set overnight. Vacuum
the next day. They include a home-made carpet deodorizer recipe:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
15 drops of your favorite essential oil fragrance
I've come to love baking soda!
Judi S. in Virginia
Get to the Source
#1) Lift up the carpet and get the affected padding out of there. Cut out
a square piece of the padding and replace it, or if it is foam rubber wash
the affected piece. You will not get it clean on the floor, a carpet scrubber
is only meant to clean the carpet, not the padding. If it is washable, clean
in a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water, then rinse in vinegar.
Dry thoroughly before putting back down (staple into place)
#2) Once the pad is clean, the carpet should be shampooed. I've done this
for people before. A) Spot treat the area with carpet cleaner solution straight
out of the machine and let sit for 5-10 minutes. B) Clean the carpet per
instructions on the machine. C) Replace the shampoo in the machine with white
vinegar and go over it thoroughly one final time just as if you were shampooing
the area.
If the cat or any cats are still in the house, this will not be good enough.
The cat will still be able to detect the smell, as will cats to follow it,
and they will mark the area. If you plan on having a cat again, the carpet
and the pad are NOT salvageable, except in a room the cat would never be
allowed into.
John K.
Club Soda
Several years ago we moved into a house where there had been dogs. We had
a cat--and he was very territorial! He sprayed every corner of our dining
room, over and over again. Apparently the doggy smell was strongest there.
I was about to give up and have the room removed, since I couldn't remove
the "zoo" odor, when a friend suggested using club soda. I bought a liter
bottle and poured a generous amount onto the carpet, letting it fizz. When
the fizzing stopped I used lots of paper towels to blot up the liquid then
let the area air dry. I did every corner of the dining room (it probably
looked like some strange ritual by then!). It took a few applications but
the odor went away! I hope this works for you as well as it did for me. I
also use club soda when someone (or one of the cats) has vomited on the floor.
Takes the sour smell away in a snap!
Donna
Ammonia and Oil Soap
Use equal parts (about a tablespoon each) ammonia and Murphy's Oil Soap and
dilute it in a gallon of water. It worked for us.
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This article reprinted
with permission, as seen on the
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