Cat urine odors in carpet are often powerful and difficult to remove, partly because the bacterium in cat urine decomposes and gives off an ammonia-like scent. In the second stage of its decomposition, the urine emits mercaptans, which are the chemical compounds that give skunk spray its bad smell.

The longer a cat pee puddle sits, the more difficult the cleanup job becomes, as the urine seeps into the carpet fibers and padding underneath. You may not be able to see it after it dries, but you can still smell it, and so can your cat.

People often rely on homemade cleaners for fear of ruining their carpet with a manufactured cleaner. A sprinkle of baking soda is recognized across the internet as the be-all and end-all deodorizer. Still, its small particles can cause permanent damage to both your carpet and your vacuum cleaner. Since the powder is so fine, remnants can sink through the carpet and padding and stay sitting on top of the floor. The fine particles can also clog the pores of your vacuum's bag or HEPA filter, which can drastically reduce suction power.

Other DIY solutions, like dish soap or a vinegar and water mixture, may not work hard enough to restore your carpet to its original state.

To remove cat urine smell from carpet, you'll want to make sure you're eliminating the odor, not just covering it up (like many products do). You'll need to use an enzymatic cleaner with live bacteria to break down and eliminate the stubborn odor's source.

Whether you're spot cleaning a recent accident or removing old cat urine stains from carpet with a steam cleaner, Simple Green Cat Pet Stain & Odor Remover uses safe, naturally-occurring bacterial microbes to eliminate odors and stains at the source.

Directions for Removing Cat Urine from Carpet:

To assure color-fastness, spot test on a small inconspicuous area of the surface to be cleaned.

Spot Cleaning

1. Absorb excess urine. Blot and absorb any excess urine with paper towels.
2. Apply Simple Green Cat Pet Stain & Odor Remover. Shake the spray bottle gently. Saturate the stained area with cleaner and let it sit. Allow the product to remain on the surface until it's dry. Restrict traffic while it's drying. For heavily soiled areas with a strong odor, saturate the stained area and cover with a clean cloth or paper towel and set the bottle on top for weight. Allow it to remain like this for 4 to 5 hours. You may see the stain absorb up into the toweling.
3. Repeat. If necessary, repeat this process until the stain is gone. Once the stain is gone, and the area is dry, vacuum to restore the carpet's softness and even nap.

Machine Cleaning

1. Absorb excess urine. Blot and absorb any excess urine with paper towels.
2. Pre-treat stains. Pre-treat urine spots or stains on carpet with Simple Green Cat Pet Stain & Odor Remover.
3. Add Simple Green Cat Pet Stain & Odor Remover. Mix 3 ounces of formula per gallon of water in the machine reservoir. Follow all general instructions for using the machine.
4. Repeat. If necessary, repeat this process until the stain is gone. Once the stain is gone, and the area is dry, vacuum to restore the carpet's softness and even nap.

TIP: Simple Green Cat Pet Stain & Odor Remover can be used to remove stains on other fabrics like upholstery and bedding.

TIP: For directions on how to remove dog urine stains, click here.

TIP: For directions on how to clean dirty litter boxes, click here.