Meowful stains & smells: How to clean cat pee from a carpet

Those who enjoy the company of cats generally find that having one brings much-needed joy and comfort into their homes. Nevertheless, having one as a pet comes with its fair share of challenges; among the cat-related incidents you can expect are your furniture getting scratched and your carpets getting stained from cat pee.

The last one is particularly challenging because removing the smell and stain of cat urine from carpets can be a difficult task. If it is a problem that you are dealing with right now, let this guide teach you how to clean cat pee from carpets.

Preparing to clean your pee-stained carpet

Before proceeding with cleaning cat pee from your carpet, you should first gather all the tools and products that you need:

• Bucket of cold water

• Enzymatic cleaner in a spray bottle

• Paper towel or cloth

• Rubber gloves

• Vacuum

How to remove cat urine from your carpet

Step 1: Blot the wet spot on the carpet

The first thing to do in the cleaning process is to wear a pair of rubber gloves to avoid touching the pee and cleaning solutions with your bare hands. Afterward, use a clean cloth or paper towel to soak up as much urine as possible from your carpet. It’s preferable to do a dabbing motion instead of scrubbing to prevent the spread of pee and odor on the carpet’s surface.

Step 2: Rinse the surface

Use cold water to rinse the same spot. If you’re dealing with old cat urine odor removal, the home remedy will have to start here since the pee will most likely have dried up by the time you clean it. In preparation for the next step, use a vacuum to dry the surface. Take note that using a steamer instead of a vacuum for this particular procedure is a no-no because it can cause the cat pee smell to set in the carpet more.

Step 3: Pour or spray enzymatic cleaner

One of the best ways to get rid of cat pee smells and stains is by using enzyme cleaners. But be sure to test it on a small patch first to see if it will cause discoloration. If it does not affect the carpet’s color, you may proceed with its usage.

To neutralize the unwanted odor and get rid of the stain effectively, pour or spray a generous amount of the solution on your carpet; a few sprays will likely be useless because they won’t thoroughly saturate the carpet fibers and reach every part where the pee has settled. After pouring the enzyme cleaner, wait 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing the carpet with water again.

Step 4: Vacuum the area

Vacuuming the damp spot again is the last step on how to remove cat urine smell from carpets and the stain it comes with. You can use a vacuum specially made to handle pet urine, but a regular one is just as fine. Run it through the affected area multiple times until it becomes dry.

How to protect your carpet from another cat pee incident

Cat urine can permanently damage carpets. As such, prevent a cat pee incident from reoccurring by using a cat repellent. Some are available as powders or liquid sprays, while others come in the form of plants, like the aptly named scaredy cat plant.

You may also hire a professional cat trainer who can improve your pet’s behavior and teach them that peeing should only be done in designated areas, such as cat litter boxes.

Restore your carpet’s cleanliness with Airtasker

One essential component of having a clean household is not allowing any traces of cat urine or smells to remain on any surface of your property. But if you are always on the go, it might be hard to take care of this problem. One way to solve it is Airtasker—you can just hire a professional who knows how to remove cat pee on carpets and how to clean rugs.

You only need to post a task on the website with all the necessary details (such as your location and budget, as well as the type of fabric your carpet is made of) to begin receiving offers. You can determine which Tasker best fits the job by looking through their performance reviews.

If your carpet has other stains, like blood or vomit, don’t worry—Airtasker has you covered, too.