How to Remove Cat Urine From Clothes

Your beloved kitty may be skipping its litter box and taking aim on your favorite pants and tops for several reasons, so it's important to address those issues immediately. Although cat pee odor is especially pungent because of its high ammonia concentration, you should be able to remove the smell from clothing in your washing machine.

When removing cat pee odor smell from clothes, avoid ammonia-based cleaners, which could draw your pet to the items again, and opt for natural solutions. For fresh stains, a homemade solution may be all you need: mix 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the stained areas to soak them. Wash the clothes in the washing machine with your standard laundry detergent. As always, it's a good idea to color-test the vinegar solution on any delicate or fine fabrics.

Use a commercial enzymatic cleaner/odor remover if the urine stains have dried or if the vinegar-water solution did not completely eliminate the odor. These cleaners use bio-enzymatic cleaning agents to destroy protein-based stains and odors such as from cat urine. You'll either apply the cleaner directly to the stain prior to washing it or add it to the washing machine along with the detergent, depending on what product you purchase.

Even though the urine stain and odor may be out of your clothing, a lingering smell may remain in the washing machine. Turn on your machine to the hottest water setting and pour in 1 quart of distilled white vinegar as it begins filling up. Add in 1 cup of baking soda, then open the machine's lid so it stops running for up to one hour, allowing the mixture to deodorize. Then close the lid so the washing machine finishes the cycle.

After removing the urine stain and smell from your clothes, it's important to figure out why your cat is peeing outside of the litter box to prevent future accidents. Make sure the litter box is fresh and clean, as cats are particular about personal hygiene and won't eliminate in dirty conditions. Scoop out solid waste at least one or two times daily, and change the litter and disinfect the box weekly. Buy at least one box per cat as felines don't like to compete for space. If you've followed these tips and your cat still is peeing outside of the box, take him to the vet for a check-up to eliminate underlying health issues. You also can discourage your pet from urinating on clothes by keeping the items off the floor and out of the way.