If your cat has urinated on your suede couch, shoes, jacket, or any other item, it's important to remove it as soon as possible. Since cat urine is composed of urea, uric acid and creatine, the best way to clean cat pee is with an enzyme-based cleaner, which will break down the proteins. Time is of the essence when cleaning urine off of the suede because as bacteria decompose the urea, the infamous ammonia smell is released.
Step 1: Soak Up the Urine
The first step in knowing how to get cat pee out of shoes, furniture and other suede fabric is to soak up as much of the urine as possible using an absorbent cloth right away. Place a clean microfiber cloth or a paper towel onto the stain and gently push it down to wick as much of the liquid as possible out of the suede. Gently blot the stain, but don't press down on the urine too hard, as you may drive it further into the suede. Use as many cloths or paper towels as needed until most or all of the urine is gone.
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Step 2: Clean with Dishwashing Liquid
Next, place a few small drops of a clear, gentle dishwashing liquid onto the stain and rub it into the suede using an old, soft-bristled toothbrush. Then, blot at the suede using a cloth dampened with plain water until the soap is gone. Doing this will prime the stain for the enzymatic cleaner.
Step 3: Select an Enzymatic Cleaner
Choose an enzymatic cleaner, which will break the urine down and completely remove it from the suede. The enzymes will bond with the urine's protein molecules to not only rid the suede of the stain, but also of the pungent ammonia odor as well.
There are several types of enzymatic cleaners available, so it's important to choose one that is designed to work on leather and suede—check a product's label before you use it to be sure. You can also test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous part of the suede to test the reaction prior to using it.
Step 4: Best Way to Clean Cat Pee
Apply the enzymatic cleaner to the suede following the manufacturer's instructions. It's essential to allow the cleaner to air-dry because the enzymes break the uric acid down into ammonia and carbon dioxide gases, which easily evaporate. You can cover the treated suede loosely with a towel, cloth or old sheet if it's a large area, but don't blot the material dry.
Step 5: Repeat Cleaning As Necessary
You may need to repeat this process two or three times to completely remove the cat urine odor from the suede.
Step 6: Restore Suede Surface
Once the stain and odor are fully removed and the suede is nearly dry, rub dry, yellow cornmeal into the suede. Then use a dry, suede brush to remove the cornmeal from the suede. This is the final step in how to get cat pee out of leather and suede. Now, you can enjoy your clean, odor-free shoes, bags and furniture.
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