How to Make You Own Cat Urine Odor Remover Home Remedy
You've probably seen all kinds of pet odor removers out there, but if you've tried a few, you know not all of them work as well as the manufacturers claim.
Some work all right on dog urine, but don't have much effect on cat urine.
Others barely remove any stains or odors at all.
Still others are highly effective, but aren't available everywhere.
The Problem with Commercial Cleaners A few commercial pet urine cleaning products really do get the job done, but those are a few and far between.
The ones that work well usually contain live enzymes or bacteria.
The reason has to do with the chemical composition of cat urine.
A cat's urine forms crystals that cling to most surfaces.
Water and most household cleaning solutions, including bleach, will do nothing to remove them.
Most household cleaners are formulated to break down dirt and grease.
Car urine crystals are far tougher than dirt and grease, so you need something capable of breaking them down on a chemical level.
Fortunately, Mother Nature has a few products can can do just that.
White Vinegar If you discover a fresh, still wet "accident" or your cat has left her mark on a delicate item like a silk blouse, this is a good first-line cleaner.
It's gentle, natural and lifts out odors well.
It does leave its own pungent odor behind, but that dissipates within a few hours.
If you really use a lot and the room is closed up, it may take a few days, but it will eventually go away.
While brown vinegar is equally capable of cleaning cat urine, it's likely to leave a yellowish or brown mark of its own.
Vinegar alone may work on fresher spots, but it's more effective with other ingredients.
Hydrogen Peroxide This common product containing nothing more than oxygen and hydrogen is one of the most powerful weapons against cat pee odors.
Its strength makes it ideal for older, set stains.
Stick with 3% hydrogen peroxide from your drug store or grocery store.
The stronger solutions available for bleaching hair can strip the color right out of carpet or furniture, leave a nasty mark on your hardwood or linoleum floor, or otherwise do more harm than good.
Other Ingredients A number of other fairly common household products can also help you clean up the stains and smells.
These include baking soda, lemon juice, liquid Castile soap, and certain types of mouthwash.
Usually, one of these ingredients alone won't help much.
The right amount in the right combination with other ingredients either boosts the mixture's overall cleaning power or creates a chemical reaction that breaks up and lifts out the cat urine crystals.
To find a combination that works for you, either try a proven-effective recipe or experiment with blending several ingredients.
One warning, though: never combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide because they react to create a toxic acid.
Remember to, that the effective removal process is different for fresh (still wet) spots and older, dry spots.
Some work all right on dog urine, but don't have much effect on cat urine.
Others barely remove any stains or odors at all.
Still others are highly effective, but aren't available everywhere.
The Problem with Commercial Cleaners A few commercial pet urine cleaning products really do get the job done, but those are a few and far between.
The ones that work well usually contain live enzymes or bacteria.
The reason has to do with the chemical composition of cat urine.
A cat's urine forms crystals that cling to most surfaces.
Water and most household cleaning solutions, including bleach, will do nothing to remove them.
Most household cleaners are formulated to break down dirt and grease.
Car urine crystals are far tougher than dirt and grease, so you need something capable of breaking them down on a chemical level.
Fortunately, Mother Nature has a few products can can do just that.
White Vinegar If you discover a fresh, still wet "accident" or your cat has left her mark on a delicate item like a silk blouse, this is a good first-line cleaner.
It's gentle, natural and lifts out odors well.
It does leave its own pungent odor behind, but that dissipates within a few hours.
If you really use a lot and the room is closed up, it may take a few days, but it will eventually go away.
While brown vinegar is equally capable of cleaning cat urine, it's likely to leave a yellowish or brown mark of its own.
Vinegar alone may work on fresher spots, but it's more effective with other ingredients.
Hydrogen Peroxide This common product containing nothing more than oxygen and hydrogen is one of the most powerful weapons against cat pee odors.
Its strength makes it ideal for older, set stains.
Stick with 3% hydrogen peroxide from your drug store or grocery store.
The stronger solutions available for bleaching hair can strip the color right out of carpet or furniture, leave a nasty mark on your hardwood or linoleum floor, or otherwise do more harm than good.
Other Ingredients A number of other fairly common household products can also help you clean up the stains and smells.
These include baking soda, lemon juice, liquid Castile soap, and certain types of mouthwash.
Usually, one of these ingredients alone won't help much.
The right amount in the right combination with other ingredients either boosts the mixture's overall cleaning power or creates a chemical reaction that breaks up and lifts out the cat urine crystals.
To find a combination that works for you, either try a proven-effective recipe or experiment with blending several ingredients.
One warning, though: never combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide because they react to create a toxic acid.
Remember to, that the effective removal process is different for fresh (still wet) spots and older, dry spots.
