Christina asked: How do I cat urine from a leather couch? My cat urinated on some clothes that I had sitting on my leather couch. The urine soaked through to the couch, and it smells really bad. I’ve tried all sorts of cleaning products, but yet the smell remains. I’m about to have to throw the couch out. It’s only three years old and was a gift from my hubby, so I really don’t want to do that.
Table of Contents:
Cat urine contains proteins that create the odor and are difficult to remove. There are products available that will remove these proteins and the odor that lingers.
Removing Odors with Commercial Products
You Will Need:
- Nature’s Miracle (available at pet supply stores)
- Spray bottle (if not provided with odor remover)
- Leather conditioner
Steps to Remove the Odor:
- Disassemble the couch and remove the cushions from the covers (if the urine has soaked through to the cushions). If the odor is only on the cover, it is not necessary to remove the covers.
- Soak the cushions with Nature’s Miracle and allow air-dry. Repeat if necessary.
- Spray the covers with Nature’s Miracle and allow them to air dry.
- Once the odor is removed, reassemble the sofa.
- Apply a leather conditioner to the leather to maintain its flexibility.
Removing Odors with a Homemade Remedy
This home remedy does not remove stains, only odor. Always test a small, hidden area of the leather first as hydrogen peroxide can have bleaching effects and may discolor some leathers.
You Will Need:
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- Baking soda
- Liquid soap
- Small non-metal container
- Spray bottle
- Leather conditioner
Steps to Remove the Odor:
- Mix together one quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda and 1 tablespoon liquid soap in a non-metal container. Do not stir or shake vigorously when mixing. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda create a large amount of oxygen and over mixing will cause the mixture to overflow out of the container.
- Place the mixture into a spray bottle and gently mist the affected surfaces.
- Blot the areas if needed to remove the moisture.
- Allow the area to dry completely.
- Apply a leather conditioner to the leather to keep it supple and flexible.
Additional Tips and Advice
- The proteins in cat urine are similar to those in skunk spray. Cleaning products used to remove the skunk smell can also be used to remove cat urine odors.
- Cat urine odor must be neutralized with either a commercial product or chemicals that will break up the proteins. Normal washing will remove the stains, but not the odors.
In your directions for the homemade remedy to get rid of cat smell on a leather sofa the list of ingredients does not include vinegar yet the directions say not to mix it too vigorously due to the reaction of the peroxide and vinegar. Is there indeed meant to be vinegar in the mix or is that a typo? If there is meant to be vinegar, how much? I’d like to try this but am uncertain as to what to mix.
I went to Nature’s Miracle site and they state that their products are NOT recommended on leather…..