How to clean a sofa from cat urine: proven methods

11/18/201609/20/2020 Maria Ivanova

It is no secret that domestic cats are very clean animals and know where the owners have organized a toilet for them. It is there that they relieve their natural needs. But sometimes accidents happen, and a pet can mark the carpet or upholstered furniture. Cat urine has an extremely unpleasant odor, so work to remove it and eliminate the odor must begin immediately.

Why is it important to try to remove a stain from the couch immediately after your cat marks it? If you don’t catch it in time, the animal will relieve itself again in this place. In addition, the ingrained smell of urine is quite difficult to remove, and not everyone succeeds the first time. And it’s not at all difficult to get rid of the smell of urine by immediately getting down to business.

Reasons for cat behavior and odor

The sooner you understand why your cat marks furniture, the sooner you can solve this problem.

To solve your cat behavior problem once and for all, you need to find out why your beloved pet wasn't using his litter box. By finding out the animal's motive for such an action, you will prevent repeated damage to the furniture. The main reasons for the behavior of a four-legged friend include:

Dirty tray. If you rarely clean your cat's litter box, your pet may deliberately avoid using it. There are times when a cat relieves itself in a dirty tray, urine remains on its paws, which it then spreads throughout the apartment.
The tailed one has recently settled in your house and has not found its bearings. Show the cat the place where he needs to go.
The pet is still small and does not know how to use the cat litter box.
The pet is sick. He may have, for example, a urinary tract infection or another illness. If the cat experiences pain when going to the toilet, then the litter box will be associated with unpleasant sensations. In this case, you need to take him to the veterinarian.
The favorite has entered old age. His body became weak.
Furry friend doesn't like litter. Perhaps the granules are crunchy or too large.
The cat marks his territory. This is natural animal behavior. If several cats live in an apartment, then the main pet will mark.
The animal does not use the tray due to lack of attention from the owner or from resentment.

If you find out why your cat avoids his toilet, you can avoid the reappearance of marks and an unpleasant “odor” in your apartment.

Why is the smell of cat urine persistent?

Cat urine, like the urine of other animals, is persistent and cannot be washed off with plain water.

Animal urine has a persistent unpleasant odor. This is due to the composition of the liquid. It includes: urochrome (a coloring matter), urea (makes urine sticky), uric acid (a substance with an unpleasant odor).

After the acid decomposes, chemical elements with a persistent odor are formed. If liquid gets on the cat’s mark, the “aroma” becomes even more pronounced. Acid does not dissolve in water. Simple cleaning will not help solve the problem of removing the odor, so you need to know in advance how you can clean the sofa from cat urine.

"Deodorants"

They are used when you need to mask caustic amber. Or used together with cleaning products. “Deodorants” help out if you urgently need to put things in order in the house and not make a mess in front of guests. Deodorizing substances do not eliminate the cause itself, so the cat can easily feel the remains of his urine and urinate there again.

Surfaces are well deodorized:

lemon juice (1:2 with water);
apple cider vinegar (1:2 with water).

Treat the smelly area with one of the products. Leave for half an hour, wipe with a clean damp cloth.

Essential oils of citrus, tea tree, mint, anise, juniper, clove and jasmine also perfectly mask the smell of cat activities.

Ways to remove odors from upholstered furniture

A sofa marked by a cat will not stop smelling unpleasantly after you try using deodorant or coffee. The pungent “aroma” will continue to periodically remind you of your pet’s mischief. Fragrances, essential oils, and water without detergents are also ineffective (it can cause the stain to increase). There are several products that help remove odor:

vinegar;
lemon;
hydrogen peroxide;
soda;
potassium permanganate solution (only dark furniture can be treated);
alcohol products (vodka or camphor alcohol);
iodine-based solution (for dark furniture).

In addition, there are various professional products that can be used to remove odor. When choosing them, you need to look at the composition, which should contain antibacterial components.

We advise you to sometimes sprinkle citrus juice on your cat's favorite area of furniture. The aroma of lemon and orange will scare away your four-legged friend and help keep your furniture stain-free.

Special means

Before purchasing a special product with the desired effect, carefully read the composition. It is desirable that among the listed components there is no chlorine. In addition, go through the instructions again with your eyes before using them directly.

Always wear protective rubber or latex gloves. This will prevent chemicals from coming into contact with your skin, which in turn will minimize the risk of skin damage.

Also, try not to inhale the air when you spray this or that product so that it does not get into your lungs.
Conduct preliminary testing. In other words, rather than immediately covering the entire area of furniture with a special product, test its effect on a small piece of furniture.
Carefully observe how the fabric behaves, will the colors fade, will the texture of the material change? Once you are sure that everything is in order, you can start cleaning.

Before starting disinfection, wet the desired area of the sofa thoroughly. This is done so that substances aimed at neutralizing the effects of cat urine can act immediately and effectively.

Traditional methods

Using citric acid to clean your sofa, you can remove the pungent odor.

There are traditional methods for removing the smell of an animal mark and cleaning the stain. Using home remedies, you can prepare the substance yourself and take quick action. Such cleaning does not require large expenses.

Citric acid and iodine

You can remove the smell of cat urine on the sofa by using citric acid along with iodine. These substances have an oxidizing effect and affect the breakdown of urea elements. To treat the stain follow these steps:

pour citric acid into water;
add two drops of iodine;
wet the sponge with liquid and wipe away the dirt.

If the stain is old, repeat the procedure after 20 minutes.

You can also clean your sofa using a simple iodine-based solution. Prepare it based on the ratio: 10 drops / 1 liter of water. Treat the stain and dry the area with a hairdryer. This method is only suitable for dark furniture.

Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soda

If there are no professional products at home, use vinegar

A vinegar solution is considered one of the effective means for removing stains on a sofa. Dilute vinegar with water in proportions 1:3. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray over the problem area. After this, wait for the cleaning solution to react and dissolve the urine. Use a damp sponge to remove any remaining dirt. After these steps, leave the baking soda on the wet area. Wait until the furniture is dry and shake off any remaining powder.

To get rid of a new stain, you can try using baking soda alone. Due to its antimicrobial and absorbent properties, the substance copes well with fresh traces of cat fluid. Sprinkle the stained area with powder and leave for 25 minutes. Afterwards, vacuum the wet area and wipe with a damp cloth.

To remove dried urine, baking soda must be applied in another way:

add a little warm water to the soda (to a paste-like consistency);
rub the mixture into the fabric with a brush;
wait until the area dries;
remove any remaining paste and wipe the sofa with a soapy rag.

Baking soda is one of the popular stain removers.
In addition, to get rid of urine on light-colored furniture, you can try using hydrogen peroxide. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of laundry soap shavings. Pour 3 teaspoons of peroxide into the resulting mass and stir. Spread the paste over the stain and wait until it dries. After this, remove any remaining substance from the surface and wipe with a damp sponge.

There is a second method using peroxide. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and rub the substance in. Mix water and peroxide in equal quantities. Pour the solution into a spray bottle. Spray the upholstery with liquid and wait until it dries. Vacuum any remaining baking soda.

Soap solution

When cleaning, it is better to use laundry soap

Another cleaning method is to use a soap solution. In this option, you need to use brown laundry soap.

Take half or the entire block (depending on the degree of contamination) and grind it using a grater. Gradually add water and stir until a viscous substance is formed. Then apply the solution to the upholstery, blot with toilet paper, napkins or damp rags. This method is suitable for washing dark furniture.

You can also use glycerin soap. It must be thoroughly rubbed into the dirty surface, rubbed with a brush and rinsed with water. After this, you need to wait until the area dries. Repeat the procedure if necessary. Glycerin works well with urea.

Medical alcohol

Plain rubbing alcohol can remove urea and bacteria. It can be bought at a pharmacy. To get rid of the smell, first clean the stain with soapy water. When the furniture is dry, saturate the desired area with alcohol. In order to completely neutralize the “aroma”, repeat the steps 2-3 times. After such treatment, there is no need to additionally wash the upholstery with soap and water, because the alcohol disappears on its own.

What happens to urine in the upholstery and filling of the sofa

When urine gets on the upholstery of a sofa, it is quickly absorbed into the structure of the fabric and into the top layer of the filler. The speed of this process depends on the absorbency of the materials and the presence or absence of moisture-proof layers/impregnations.

Within a few days after the “incident,” urine evaporates and loses up to 96% of its volume, which is water. Precipitated metabolic products remain in the materials - uric acid salts, urea, pheromones and other water-insoluble substances. The pH of urine shifts from acidic (pH 5-6) to alkaline (pH 9-10).

The main source of the foul “aroma” is uric acid salts. The characteristic odor of ammonia is given to the components of urine by bacteria that enter biological secretions from the outside and/or are initially contained in them (present in the urine of sick elderly people). The yellow color of the urinary spot is given by urochromes - derivatives of bile pigments.

When in contact with water, the components of uric acid form highly volatile organic compounds, thiols (mercaptans), which emit a disgusting stench. To neutralize it, dry cleaners use special odor absorbers.

Read in the blog: “Even dry cleaners fail: 6 problems when dry cleaning upholstered furniture.”

Fresh and old marks - features of cleansing

A new stain is easier to remove than an old one

The most effective way to clean a sofa is to remove a fresh mark. You can remove the smell that has not become firmly ingrained into the sofa using soap, soda, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Old pollution is more difficult to deal with. In this case, it is necessary to use several methods simultaneously. For example, you can use a professional anti-pollution and odor eliminator.

Alternatively, you can try to get rid of the old mark using regular home remedies. Wet the stain with acetic acid and add baking soda. Then treat the surface with a solution of water, hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap. Rinse everything off with water after 3 hours. Apply to the stain: vodka, washing powder, furniture detergent, ammonia. Remove the applied mixture after an hour.

Errors when cleaning

To remove odors, never use chlorine-containing products or substances with ammonia - they will aggravate the problem and damage the upholstery. Although chlorine has a strong odor, it does not deter cats and they return to the previously marked area.

Eau de toilette and air freshener will not get rid of the unpleasant “aroma,” but will only temporarily mask it. We do not recommend using fragrances, because they will not cope with the problem - the smell will definitely appear after some time.

Case of healing a sofa without chemicals

While preparing materials for the article, I came across an interesting story from a breeder of Bengal cats. Despite the cleanliness of the owners, there was always a sickening smell of cat meat in their apartment.

Let's leave the moral aspects of animal trade aside.

Let's talk about the stink.

Tired of the aromas, the owners were forced to invite dry cleaning employees to the house, who brought with them the NebO3 ozonizer. After half an hour of processing the apartment, the owners of the nursery experienced a shock. The cats seemed to be lost in the room - they did not feel their old marks, had difficulty finding their bearings, and behaved extremely cautiously, as if they had entered someone else's territory.

If nothing helps?

Have you tried all the options, but the stain remains in place? Contact the professionals

If you have tried many times to get rid of the smell of the tag, but nothing has worked, then try replacing the sofa filling. To do this, open the seam closest to the stain and remove the old contents of the furniture. Wash the upholstery (all or part of it). Buy new litter and place it inside.

You can go to the forums and write to experienced cat owners. Perhaps they will share their experience and recommend a new effective remedy. As a last resort, go to a dry cleaner. Specialists will carry out “water cleaning” with a water vacuum cleaner. It sucks up dirt and treats the fabric with detergents.

So!

Links to articles that complement this part:

1 part. How to get rid of fresh and old urine smell. Recipes based on kitchen products. How to prepare killer stain removers for the most difficult cases. How to prevent repeated “accidents” in a cat;
Part 3. Contains proven recommendations from forums. What mistakes does a housewife make when cleaning a sofa? How to stop a cat from making puddles in the wrong place;
Part 4 Why is urine so persistent and what remedies are most effective? What pharmaceutical drugs will help? How to clean urine that has penetrated into the filling of a sofa? Is it possible to train a cat to use a litter box and how? Do they love people, or is the cat by nature a cold egoist?

We have 1 cat and 2 cats living at home. Plus a dog. From extensive experience I can say that store-bought powders (I bought some “American”) were not able to remove the cat’s scent. Table vinegar and dish gel are much more effective. I thoroughly wash the floor (in our country it is the floor that most often tempts animals) with vinegar and Fairy. Sometimes, instead of gel, I add washing powder to the water. If you constantly refresh this area with water and vinegar, the cats will gradually forget about their treasured place and stop shitting there.

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Useful tips and prevention

Don't scare your furry friend by swearing, and he'll quickly wean himself off the bad habit.

To prevent your pet from acting up, provide him with a comfortable place to use as a toilet. Change the litter in the tray more often (once every 2 days). You need to clean up after your cat immediately. If you notice that the cat is about to relieve itself on the sofa, immediately take it to the necessary place for this. Observe the animal's behavior. In cases where your pet marks the sofa in front of you, immediately take measures to destroy the stain so that an unpleasant odor does not settle in the apartment.

Try to find out the reasons for the animal's behavior. Take your pet to the vet. Perhaps he is sick. Also, consult a professional regarding spaying or neutering. Don't shout or punish your four-legged friend. He may get scared and will mark furniture when no one is looking. Be patient with your pet.