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How To Clean Cat Pee From Couch? 😭

By Adviser Grant
Published in Cat Facts
August 31, 2023
7 min read
How To Clean Cat Pee From Couch? 😭

If you’ve got a cat, chances are you’ve dealt with pee on the couch at some point. As frustrating as it can be, try not to get too upset with kitty. In most cases, inappropriate urination signals an underlying medical issue like a UTI or bladder infection. It can also indicate stress and anxiety.

While you work on resolving the root cause with your vet, you also need to tackle the pesky pee stains on the couch. Don’t worry - with the right techniques and products, you can get rid of that nasty cat pee smell and restore your couch.

This guide will walk you through step-by-step on how to clean cat pee from different couch materials like fabric, microfiber, leather and more. Arm yourself with the knowledge and supplies needed to defeat cat pee and reclaim your furniture!


How to Get Cat Pee Out of Fabric Couches

Cleaning cat pee from fabric couch
Cleaning cat pee from fabric couch

Fabric couches provide ultimate comfort and style to living rooms. Unfortunately, the absorbent nature of most fabric makes it susceptible to cat pee. The urine can soak deep into the cushions and be difficult to extract.

Follow these steps to get cat urine out of a fabric couch:

Blot Up Excess Pee

  • Immediately after the accident, blot up as much excess urine as possible with paper towels or an absorbent cloth. Don’t rub, which can spread the stain.

Rinse With Cool Water

  • Liberally spray the area with cool, distilled water. This will help dilute the urine and lift it from the fabric.

Apply an Enzyme Cleaner

  • Enzyme cleaners work wonders for destroying the compounds that cause odors in cat pee. Spray an enzyme cleaner like Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Enzyme Cleaner and let soak for 5-10 minutes before blotting.

Baking Soda

  • Cover the area with a generous layer of baking soda. Let sit for a few hours up to overnight, allowing the baking soda to absorb odors. Vacuum up the baking soda.

Vinegar Rinse

  • Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water and spray over the area. Vinegar neutralizes odors. Blot with a clean towel and allow to fully dry.

Steam Clean

  • Rent a steam cleaner or use an upholstery attachment on your carpet cleaner to deep clean couch cushions. This hot water extraction method pulls urine from fabric.

With the right products and techniques, you can get fresh or old cat urine out of fabric couches. Be patient and persistent!


Cleaning Microfiber and Microsuede Couches

Cleaning microfiber couch from cat pee
Cleaning microfiber couch from cat pee

Microfiber and microsuede couches are soft, comfortable, and easy to clean - ideal for homes with cats! The tightly woven synthetic fabric resists liquids like cat pee. But urine can still soak in if not addressed promptly.

Here is how to clean cat urine on microfiber or microsuede couches:

Blot the Wet Spot

  • Immediately blot up as much of the fresh urine as possible with a cloth or paper towels. Avoid excess rubbing.

Create a Vinegar Solution

  • In a spray bottle, mix one part white vinegar with one part water. Lightly mist the vinegar solution over the affected area.

Sprinkle with Baking Soda

  • Pour baking soda liberally on top of the pee spot. Allow the baking soda to work its magic for minimum 15 minutes. The baking soda will help neutralize odors.

Dry Vacuum

  • Use your vacuum’s hose and crevice tool to thoroughly vacuum up the baking soda once dried. This removes urine residue and odor from the microfibers.

Rinse Clean

  • Take a clean, wet microfiber cloth or towel and gently blot the area to rinse away any lingering traces of cat pee.

Thanks to their durable construction, microfiber and microsuede are easier to salvage from cat urine damage than other fabrics. With prompt cleaning, your couch can be pee-free!


Removing Cat Urine Smell from Leather Couches

Cleaning leather couch from cat pee
Cleaning leather couch from cat pee

Leather’s non-absorbent properties prevent cat urine from seeping deep into the material. However, urine left sitting on leather can stain and cause stubborn odors that make your fancy couch reek of ammonia. Here’s how to clean cat pee from leather couches:

Blot Excess Urine

  • Immediately after the accident, soak up excess pee from leather using paper towels or a dry towel. Avoid rubbing the area.

Dilute the Pee

  • Grab a spray bottle filled with cool water and liberally spray the soiled area to dilute the urine concentrate.

Baking Soda Treatment

  • Coat the leather with baking soda, using enough to completely cover the stain. Allow to sit for a minimum of 15 minutes up to overnight. The baking soda will absorb odors.

Vinegar Rinse

  • Create a vinegar cleaning solution of one part white vinegar to one part water. Use a soft cloth to gently blot the solution onto the leather.

Rinse & Dry

  • Take a fresh damp cloth and wipe away all vinegar residue. Allow the leather to completely air dry.

Condition the Leather

With some elbow grease, you can get pesky cat pee stains out of leather.


How to Clean Old, Set-In Cat Pee on Couches

Cleaning old cat pee stains from couch
Cleaning old cat pee stains from couch

As any cat owner knows, fresh pee stains are much easier to eliminate than old, set-in ones. Once the urine dries deep down into the cushions, removing that stubborn cat pee smell becomes extra challenging.

Don’t lose hope - here are tips to clean old, dried cat urine from couches:

Locate Stains with UV Light

  • Shine a UV blacklight over couch to reveal old pee stains which glow under the light. Mark stains with chalk.

Heavy Duty Enzyme Cleaner

Scrub & Blot

  • Use an old clean toothbrush to gently scrub the enzyme cleaner into the stained area. Next, blot the area firmly with clean towels to extract liquid.

Baking Soda Treatment

  • Pat baking soda generously atop old stains after enzyme cleaner scrub. Let sit overnight, then vacuum. The baking soda will continue neutralizing odors.

Vinegar Rinse

  • Fill a spray bottle with one part white vinegar, two parts water. Lightly mist the solution onto old stains and let sit briefly before blotting with a dry cloth.

Steam Clean

  • Rent an upholstery steam cleaner and deep clean cushions once urine is lifted. This hot water extraction gets out embedded gunk.

With a bit more work, you can still eliminate old, set-in cat urine smells from your couch. Be patient and keep at it!


DIY Natural Cat Urine Cleaners

DIY natural cat urine cleaner ingredients
DIY natural cat urine cleaner ingredients

Want to make your own natural cat urine cleaner for couches? Here are some easy DIY solutions you can whip up using ingredients from your pantry:

Vinegar & Water:

  • Part white vinegar, part water makes an effective solution for cleaning and deodorizing cat urine from couches. The acetic acid in vinegar neutralizes odors.

Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap:

  • Mix together 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 1 part dish soap, and 2 parts water. Spray onto pee stains, let sit 5 minutes, then blot and rinse clean.

Enzymatic Cleaner:

  • Make an enzyme cleaner by mixing 1 teaspoon laundry detergent, 2 cups warm water, and 1 tablespoon biological washing powder. Spray on stains.

Baking Soda Paste:

  • Make a paste with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Spread onto stains using an old toothbrush. Let sit before vacuuming.

Distilled White Vinegar

  • Straight undiluted white vinegar applied and allowed to dry on stains can help eliminate odors.

You can make inexpensive and effective DIY solutions to remove cat urine right from your kitchen!


How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of Couch Cushions

Cleaning cat urine from couch cushions
Cleaning cat urine from couch cushions

Couch cushions absorb urine readily, allowing odors and stains to sink into the interior stuffing. To get cat pee smells out of cushions, do this:

👉Blot Excess Liquid

  • Immediately blot up as much urine from the exterior of the cushion using paper towels. Try to soak up urine before it migrates down.

Remove Cushion Covers

  • Zip off any removable cushion covers and throw in the wash per laundering instructions with an enzymatic cleaner.

Sprinkle Baking Soda

  • Pat baking soda generously over the exposed cushion interior to absorb odors. Let sit overnight before vacuuming away.

Seal in Plastic Bag

  • Place the cushion in a large plastic bag and seal for 2-3 days. This isolates any lingering odors.

Steam Clean

  • Use a handheld steamer or upholstery cleaning machine to deep clean the cushion interior down to the stuffing.

Air Out

  • Allow the cushion to completely air dry before replacing the cover. This prevents mildew growth.

With some thorough cleaning TLC, you can rescue cushions from cat pee damage. Just be sure to get to them quickly!


How to Keep Cat from Peeing on Couch

While you work to remedy inappropriate peeing, here are some tips to keep your cat from soiling the couch:

  • Add a vinyl, leather, or plastic couch cover which are less inviting.

  • Restrict access to the couch using decor items, furniture rearrangement, or an upside-down carpet runner with knobby side up.

  • Place foil or double-sided sticky tape on couch which cats dislike.

  • Deter with an unpleasant citrus or mint scent.

  • Try calming pheromone diffusers to ease anxiety.

  • Add more litter boxes and scoop daily.

  • Take kitty to the vet to check for underlying issues.

  • Use positive reinforcement when kitty uses proper litter box.

With some strategy, you can curb couch peeing and get to the root of what’s causing kitty’s behavior. Hang in there!


Products to Help Remove Cat Pee from Couches

Products for cleaning cat urine from couches
Products for cleaning cat urine from couches

Having the right products for the job makes cleaning cat urine much easier. Here are some recommended solutions:

Having the right cleaning solutions and tools makes removing cat pee stains more effective!


How to Clean Cat Pee from a Couch - Key Takeaways

  • Act quickly to blot fresh accidents before urine soaks in.

  • Use an enzyme cleaner formulated to eliminate cat urine odor and stains. Let it soak in.

  • Baking soda helps absorb odors - sprinkle on generously and vacuum once dried.

  • Vinegar solutions help cut through residue and deodorize pee smells.

  • For old, set-in stains, use heavy duty enzyme cleaners and repeat treatments.

  • Restrict access, add deterrents like tin foil, and use positive reinforcement to curb peeing behavior.

  • Have the right products on hand - carpet cleaners, handheld spot cleaners, enzyme cleaners.

  • Be patient and persistent! With the proper methods, you can rescue your couch.

Getting cat urine out of couches takes a bit of work but it can be done. Stay calm, act fast, and equip yourself to tackle those pesky cat pee stains. You’ll soon be lounging on a fresh, pee-free couch again in no time. Your precious kitty cuddles will be stink-free once more!

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Adviser Grant

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Table Of Contents

1
How to Get Cat Pee Out of Fabric Couches
2
Cleaning Microfiber and Microsuede Couches
3
Removing Cat Urine Smell from Leather Couches
4
How to Clean Old, Set-In Cat Pee on Couches
5
DIY Natural Cat Urine Cleaners
6
How to Get Cat Pee Smell Out of Couch Cushions
7
How to Keep Cat from Peeing on Couch
8
Products to Help Remove Cat Pee from Couches
9
How to Clean Cat Pee from a Couch - Key Takeaways

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