You grab the laundry basket full of clothing only to discover soiled clothes that reek of cat pee. Your furry friend has decided to use the basket instead of their litter box, and now you have a problem. Learn how to get cat urine out of clothes to remove the stain and smell.
Cats are playful and cuddly. Yet, there are times when they exhibit naughty behavior, like refusing to use the cat box. While carpet cleaning may eliminate cat urine odor and stains from rugs, special cleaning techniques are necessary to clean clothes.
Unfortunately, a cat pee stain is challenging to clean, and regular laundry detergent isn’t enough to remove the pet odor. The smell is due to the uric acid crystals in the urine, which leaves a stubborn smell on carpet and clothing. However, it is possible to remove cat pee smell from clothes if you use the proper odor remover.
Removing Cat Urine Stains and Odors From Clothes
Cat pee odor is one of the most stubborn smells to eliminate. Nevertheless, don’t toss your clothing item in the trash just yet. Discover several home remedies to remove cat urine stain and odor from clothes.
Can You Get Cat Urine Out of Clothes?
Does cat urine come out of clothes? Yes, it does. But, using the correct cleaning solution when cleaning cat pee is vital to ensure you remove both the stain and urine smell. Find out what causes cat urine odor and why it’s so difficult to eliminate.
Cat pee consists of uric acid, sodium, pheromones, creatine, electrolytes, and bacteria. As the bacteria break down the urea, it releases ammonia, giving it that distinct cat urine smell. In addition, the uric acid crystals and salts bond tightly to surfaces, making them challenging to clean with regular household cleaners.
The First Step For Getting Cat Urine Out of Clothes
Tossing your urine-stained clothing directly into the washing machine is tempting, but this is a bad idea since a pet stain requires pretreatment. Prepare for getting cat urine out of clothes the right way.
If the pee stain is fresh, try to blot up as much urine as you can with paper towels and hold the fabric beneath cool, running water to flush away urine residue. For dry stains, apply liquid laundry detergent to the area and let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing the fabric.
How to Remove Cat Urine Stains From Fabric
Oxygen bleach is stronger than regular detergent and safer for use on clothes than chlorine bleach. Learn how to remove cat urine stains from fabric with an oxygen bleach soak.
Fill the sink or a bin with water and add a half cup of oxygen bleach. Stir the water to dissolve the bleach crystals and soak the garment in the solution for one to four hours. Use your hands to rub the cloth clean and rinse it beneath running water until it runs clear.
How to Get Cat Urine Out of Clothes
This two-part cleaning process uses white vinegar and baking soda to remove a cat urine stain and smell. Vinegar is excellent for removing cat urine from clothing with its acidity, and baking soda absorbs the odor.
Lay a large towel on a flat surface and spread the affected garment over the towel. Combine a cup of water and white vinegar in a bottle sprayer and spritz the cleaner over the affected area.
Sprinkle baking soda on the stain, let it sit as the ingredients foam, and loosen the urine. Finally, rinse the fabric with running water and prepare it for washing.
Hydrogen Peroxide Removes a Fabric Cat Pee Stain
Hydrogen peroxide is a great alternative for getting cat urine out of clothes if you don’t have an enzymatic cleaner. It’s a disinfectant and mild bleaching agent that kills bacteria and is safe for white fabrics.
Mix a cup of peroxide with a half cup of water in a bottle sprayer and add a squirt of dish soap. Shake the container gently and spray the liquid onto the garment’s pee stain. Use an absorbent cloth to blot the area, repeat the steps until the urine smell and stain are gone, and rinse the item in cool water.
Removing a Cat Urine Stain in the Washing Machine
The simplest way to eliminate a cat urine smell is in the washing machine. However, using an enzyme laundry detergent is essential to break up urine stains. Discover how to remove cat urine stains from fabric in the washer.
After pretreating the clothing, place it in the washing machine with the recommended amount of enzyme laundry detergent. Clean the item on a normal, cool water cycle and hang it up to air dry. Once the clothes are dry, check for remaining odors and stains and rewash the item if necessary.
Tips for Preventing Cat Pee Stains
Cat pee has a distinctly nasty smell and is even worse when it’s on carpeting and clothes. We put together some helpful tips to ensure your feline friend does their business in the cat box, not your laundry.
One of the main reasons for feline accidents is a dirty cat box. Scoop out the cat litter daily and clean the entire box twice a week. In addition, make sure the box is large enough to accommodate their size and keep it in the same area at all times.
Stress is another cause for a cat to stop using the litter box. Cats are very picky about their routine and surroundings, and household changes cause them anxiety, which may lead to peeing in the wrong places.
If you suspect an upcoming stressful event, consider shutting the laundry door and putting your clothes in the closet away from your cat.
Always clean a urine stain promptly with an enzymatic cleaner to keep it from setting and deter your cat from repeated accidents. If you detect the strong smell of cat pee but are unsure where it is, try using a black light to find the urine stain.
Cats have a mind of their own, and for one reason or another, they decide to do their business on clothing instead of their litter box. Luckily, it’s possible to remove a urine stain and cat pee smell from fabrics with enzyme cleaners like white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
We hope that learning how to get cat urine out of clothes keeps your garments smelling fresh, and we’d love it if you’d share our tips for removing cat pee stains from clothes with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook.