Eliminating Cat Urine Odor Using Oxyclean
Oxyclean is a good product to remove the urine and fecal odors from the home. This product actually eliminates any odor during clean up. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s directions but we have added some personal tips which are proven to work.
As with all cleaning products, a test spot in an unnoticeable area is recommended. The longer a cat has been spraying on your furniture or carpet the more applications of the treatments you will need.
Oxyclean
- The manufacturer’s suggested dilution for carpet spots (one scoop per gallon) seems to be a good concentration for treating carpet and furniture. Note that the water must be warm or hot to dissolve and activate Oxyclean, but a cooled solution is probably safer for fabrics and carpet. Oxyclean can be added to a wash cycle for all launder-able items.
- Mix enough Oxyclean to thoroughly saturate the area that has been soiled with cat urine. Remember that furniture cushions and carpet padding tend to absorb a greater percentage of the urine than the surface of the fabric or carpet as gravity pulls it downward. Thoroughly saturate the areas affected by the cat urine – allow the Oxyclean solution to work for 30 minutes or longer. Vacuum, or blot up the excess liquid until no more moisture can be extracted from the fibers. Follow up by saturating the areas again with a second treatment. Finally rinse with a solution of 3 parts water/1 part white vinegar solution – allow to work for 5 minutes or more. Again, extract the remaining moisture in the same manner. Repeat this rinse process at least three times.
- Multiple rinses ensure a good removal process. The urine odor should not be present if you have successfully treated the entire area. A light vinegar odor is normal for a few hours. If the urine scent returns after the area is dry, the area will have to be re-treated.
- An upside down laundry basket is a good way to prevent traffic as the area dries. Deterrents can be placed at the site to discourage continued interest of the cat in re-visiting the area. Please see our article titled “ Examples of Remote Corrections”.
- For areas that have been repeatedly soiled over a long period of time, the cleanup may need to be more extensive, such as removal of old carpet/padding, replacement of floorboards, etc. Unsealed concrete or flooring that will eventually be recovered and where discoloration isn’t a concern, can be treated with a strong bleach solution. These suggestions are the result from our personal experience, and are only one approach to the cleanup of cat urine. As with any cleaning process, it is advisable to consider manufacturer recommendations for cleaning carpeting and furniture whenever possible.
For any other information on cat behavior please visit our web-site www.catsinternational.org
