Wondering how to get cat pee out of carpet? Check out the full recipe and instructions right here in this post. This a natural, non-toxic recipe suitable for use around kids and pets.

Sometimes, we find ourselves searching for how to clean cat urine from carpet because it’s one of life’s many challenges that need sorting out ASAP.

We know cat urine needs cleaning properly and certainly can’t be left to dry out.

And whether it’s the unsightly stain, smell, or both, it needs cleaning as quickly as possible.

This is why it’s too easy to resort to harsh chemicals to eliminate cat odor, thinking they will kill bacteria and bugs (and the smell). But this can do more harm than good!

Cat pee contains varying amounts of ammonia – and many mass-produced cleaners contain ammonia too.

Which basically adds a second dose of stinky mess if you think about it. Ugh!

So instead, try opting for a natural alternative. I know it’ll cause trepidation, but this odor-busting recipe I’m sharing packs a punch. It well and truly works!

It also smells amazing, so your home will get a refreshing citrusy zing at the same time.

Table of Contents

key ingredients

When it comes to dealing with cat urine (or any urine for that matter – babies, dogs, etc.), the thing to worry about is if you don’t clean it, you’ll know about it a day or so later.

The smell gets SO bad, SO quickly. And it’s really not nice to have urine on your carpets.

With that said, the key powerful ingredient in this homemade cleaner is baking soda, which absorbs the wetness and odor of urine.

It’s essential you leave this on for several hours (even a whole day) to absorb as much moisture as it can, making the second stage of cleaning far better.

The second vital ingredient is orange oil, which is a safe, wonderfully neutralizing essential oil.

It’s great to use around pets and kids and works as a charm to spruce up a smelly carpet – in particular when we’re talking pee smells.

And to finish off, the castile soap works as an emulsifier, meaning the oils and water mix well and don’t separate as easily – making them work more effectively.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

how to get cat urine out of carpet

This is where you’ll find the recipe and instructions for how to get cat pee out of carpet.

Getting onto it straightaway is my best advice – or make up some of this cleaner as a ‘just in case’ so you’ve got it on standby in your cabinet (particularly if you’ve got a kitten!)

Remember to store the cleaning solution in a glass bottle to extend the lifetime of the orange essential oil.

Note that this is a 2-part cleaning process that will take several hours to complete (including wait time).

Ingredients:

Baking soda
Cold water
1/4 cup of castile soap
20 drops of orange essential oil (has cleaning properties, safe around cats, and smells lovely)

Instructions:

(Part 1) Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and let it sit for several hours to absorb the urine. If the urine is old and has already dried, dampen the carpet slightly first with water.
(Part 2) After several hours, vacuum up all the baking soda.
Combine the castile soap and orange essential oil in a 16 oz glass spray bottle and top it off with cold water.
Lightly mist over the affected area, letting soak in for a few minutes before vacuuming again well. You can also blot the area with a paper towel prior to using the vacuum if it’s too wet.

Store extra spray in a cool, dark area for up to 6 months.

Before you begin, I suggest testing a small piece of carpet in the corner of the room.

These ingredients are generally safe, and baking soda, in particular, is a powerful stain remover, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Once you are done cleaning the affected area, now would be the perfect time to wipe out any old lingering stains as well as clean your rugs or carpet in the whole room.

For cleaning upholstery, try using this spray here.

Spraying on homemade cleaner to a carpet.

cleaning tips

The biggest complaint I’ve heard when it comes to removing cat pee on carpets is just how deep it seems to go!

Cat urine doesn’t just affect the top layer of carpet – it seeps into the underlay and can really damage floor boards and surfaces underneath.

This is why it’s critical to use baking soda first off. But, then, let that sit for a good while (aka as long as you can) before vacuuming it off. Baking soda works great at lifting stains out of the carpet and absorbing odors.

Don’t be tempted to skip this part and go straight to the spritzing. You’ll regret it! The smell will only get masked, after which the ammonia of cat urine will return. Not good!

This also means your cat may be tempted to pee in the same place again – doubling up on the issue.

Also, if you add too much of the spray solution with orange essential oil, grab a dry cloth or paper towel and blot it.

It’s literally just a misting that you need once you’re on stage two cleaning (check the recipe for full instructions), which will help fragrance the clean carpet and remove any lingering odor.

Further tips

It’s my hope that this cleaning recipe becomes the best home remedy for pet urine in carpet, but obviously, every home and every surface is different.

Therefore, here are some more tips to help rid your home of odor problems straight up.

First and foremost, ventilate the house! Open the windows in the room where the cat pee’d and keep them open (if the season allows.)

Even if it’s freezing outside, try and open the windows for a few minutes every hour or so to keep the smell at bay.

Please remember as well to empty and clean your vacuum after the baking soda is sucked up.

Baking powders can clog a vacuum and may even stop it from working, so you need to clean it well, making sure to remove all baking soda residue.

Just be sure to dispose of the baking soda intentionally – putting it on your compost heap is a bad idea as it’ll kill the bacteria and microbes which do the compost-making.

If you have any questions about how to get cat pee out of carpet, please drop a comment below. I am happy to answer them.

If you found this post helpful, I think you’ll like reading one of these next.