This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
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Sometimes your cat might have an accident or miss the litter box and pee on your clothes instead! It’s a common problem for cat parents, and thankfully, you can solve it without needing to throw your clothes away—especially if you wash the clothing before the urine can dry. From start to finish, here's a complete guide to getting cat urine smells out of your clothes. We'll also share a few tips for how to prevent your cat from having accidents in the future.
Things You Should Know
- Rinse out the urine spots and blot them dry before soaking them in oxygen bleach.
- Coat your clothes in a white vinegar solution. Then, apply baking soda to the stains before putting them through the laundry and air-drying them.
- Clean your clothes a second time by washing them with an enzyme detergent that can destroy urine odors for good.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I make my clothes smell good?Susan StockerSusan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
Professional CleanerUsing a scented laundry detergent can help your clothes smell good. I personally don't like the smell of artificial fragrances, so I like to use an all-natural scented laundry detergent. Zum Clean's all-natural detergent smells great. -
QuestionWhat if my clothes went through the washer and dryer before I realized they had been sprayed? Is there any hope of getting the smell out?Miss SunCommunity AnswerIt's going to take a while, but every night, soak your clothes in a bath of cold water, 2 tbsp white vinegar, 2 tbsp baking powder, a touch of hydrogen peroxide, and a couple of generous squirts of liquid dish soap. Scrub thoroughly, then chuck them in the dryer, and repeat for at least two weeks. The smell will go away, but it will also smell strongly of vinegar, so be sure to wash them again in a cold water bath with some kind of scented soap.
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QuestionCan laundry ammonia take out urine smell in clothes?Community AnswerIt isn't the best product to use. Other laundry detergents and cleaners would do a better job.
Video
Tips
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If you clean the urine smell out of your clothes but still smell it around the house, search for urine stains stains with a blacklight flashlight. Scan the walls, floor, furniture, and any other surfaces in parts of the house, and mark any you find with chalk or a sticky note. Then, treat them all with an odor-removal product, so your home smells fresh again.[11]Thanks
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For best results, choose a detergent containing enzymes and oxygen bleach. Use it in the wash and as a pre-soak agent.Thanks
Warnings
- Avoid using anything with ammonia. This will only make the urine smell stronger.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- White vinegar
- Oxygen bleach
- Baking soda
- Enzyme detergent
- Blacklight flashlight (optional)
References
- ↑ https://www.homemadesimple.com/pet/how-to-get-rid-of-cat-pee-smell-a-guide/
- ↑ https://www.homemadesimple.com/pet/how-to-get-rid-of-cat-pee-smell-a-guide/
- ↑ https://catsinternational.org/booklet/eliminating-cat-urine-odor-using-oxyclean/
- ↑ https://thecatsite.com/c/how-to-get-cat-pee-smell-out-of-clothes-and-linens/
- ↑ Susan Stocker. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
- ↑ https://thecatsite.com/c/how-to-get-cat-pee-smell-out-of-clothes-and-linens/
- ↑ https://www.homemadesimple.com/pet/how-to-get-rid-of-cat-pee-smell-a-guide/
- ↑ https://www.homemadesimple.com/pet/how-to-get-rid-of-cat-pee-smell-a-guide/
- ↑ https://thecatsite.com/c/how-to-get-cat-pee-smell-out-of-clothes-and-linens/
About This Article
If you want to get the smell of cat urine out of your clothes, start by blotting any excess liquid with a paper towel, then rinse the garment for a few minutes under cool, running water. Next, fill your sink with warm water and add a scoop of oxygen bleach to pre-treat the stain. Leave colored clothing to soak in the sink for at least 1 hour, and let white clothing soak for up to 4 hours. After your clothes have soaked, throw them into your washing machine and coat them in a solution that is 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water. Finally, run your washing machine on a cool or cold setting and hang up your clothes to air dry once the wash cycle ends. For more tips, like how to use an enzyme detergent to treat cat urine stains, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"The site is very user friendly, I love the steps and pictures. Best of all, it worked! I always assumed the hot water and hot dryer would take the smell out, but no. Made it worse. Thanks for the wonderful tips!"..." more