How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of a Couch? – 3 Easy Ways

Many products out there claim to clean every kind of dirt in your house. But cat pee is a whole different ball game.

Cat pee can really stink up your living room and leave unsightly stains if not cleaned up right away. It smells that way because it is concentrated with protein, urea, and pheromones.

The scent that these leave behind are territory markers and, therefore, difficult to remove. You will need cleaning solutions that can break down urine compounds and make your couch fresh in no time.

So, how to get cat pee smell out of a couch? Read on to know the best methods.

Method One: Use an Enzymatic Cleaner to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell on Couch

What you will need

Step 1: Blot out the pee stain

If the pee stain hasn’t completely dried, blot it out with a cloth rag or paper towels. It is important to lift as much urine as possible to prevent it from seeping further down the couch material.

If you intend to reuse the cloth rags, soak them in warm water with enzymatic cleaner.

Step 2: Saturate the pee stain with enzymatic cleaner

Spraying enzymatic cleaner onto the cat pee on your couch. This cleaner is usable with a leather couch, so no worry that it will ruin the fabric.

Make sure to liberally spray it, so the stained fabric is soaked in the cleaner.

Let the cleaner work on it for 10-15 minutes, and then remove the excess moisture with a cloth rag or paper towel. Leave to dry naturally.

Step 3: (for old stains) Reapply the cleaner

Redo the cleaning cycle all over again if the pee was on the couch for too long and stink badly.

The Enzyme cleaner is good at cleaning cat urine from couch, especically old ones. So, make use of it well by applying generously onto the stinky fabric.

Method Two: Remove Cat Urine Smell From Couch With Vinegar and Baking Soda

What you will need

No enzymatic cleaner on hand? THe combination of vinegar and baking soda is also an effective old cat urine odor removal home remedy.

Step 1: Brush warm water on the stain

After blotting out the pee stain, take some warm water and lightly wash the stain by rubbing it with a soft bristle brush.

Be careful not to wet the surrounding area unnecessarily.

This step is important, especially if you discover the stain after it has dried.

Step 2: Apply the water and vinegar solution

Next, combine equal parts of water and vinegar. Soak the solution over the stain and let it work for about 5 minutes.

Blot it out again to remove the excess vinegar solution and let dry. The sour smell of the vinegar dissipates as it dries.

Step 3: Cover the stain with baking soda

Once all dampness is gone, sprinkle the area with baking soda to absorb the remaining odors.

Leave it for at least 30 minutes, and then vacuum the spot to clean.

And that’s how you get old cat pee smell out of couch.

Method Three: Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Get Cat Pee Out of Couch

What you will need

Hydrogen peroxide is another product that we always have around the house and has many uses. It is an inexpensive solution to clean cat pee out of couch.

Step 1: Sprinkle baking soda

Baking soda is used here to soak the moisture instead of cloth rags or paper towels.

Cover the stain completely and let it sit for 20 minutes or more, depending on how old the pee stayed on your furniture.

Step 2: Test a small, hidden area of the couch

While waiting for the baking soda to do its work, test the hydrogen peroxide.

While hydrogen peroxide is an all-natural cleaning solution, it does have bleaching properties. You want to avoid leaving obvious spots, especially on a leather couch.

Step 3: Work the solution into the stain

Pour the solution little by little on top of the baking soda layer. Get your cloth rag or paper towel to distribute it evenly on the stain.

It may take a little more time, especially if the urine has already set in. Just repeat the process a couple of times until the smell disappears.

What Not to Use

You might see some Reddit users telling you to use ammonia.

Even though it is a superstar in-home surface like your kitchen counter, sinks, and toilets, it breaks down oil and grease and is also a great glass cleaner for your windows and mirrors.

However, it is not wise to use it to remove the cat pee smell on a couch. Cat urine contains ammonia; if used, the cat would most likely go back and use the spot repeatedly.

It may also set the stain instead of removing it.

Summing Up

Cats never routinely use the couch as a litter box. They are clean and fastidious animals; however, sometimes accidents do happen.

You may want to determine why your cat peed on the couch. Finding out can solve the problem at the source and will spare you from cleaning pee stains all over your house.

Please note that it is important to ensure no lingering smells are left on the couch. If it is not cleaned properly the cat can go back and urinate on that spot again to mark its territory.

A pungent pee stain is not a reason to dispose of your couch and get a new one. Cleaning it up yourself is possible with a little bit of effort. Hope that our guide on how to get cat pee smell out of a couch helps!

Read more:

• Reasons why my cat peeing everywhere when in heat.
• Tips to stop my cat from peeing in the house.