Does laundry detergent get rid of cat urine?

Cat urine can be difficult to remove from fabric, especially once it has set in and dried. The scent of cat urine lingers and can be overpowering. For cat owners, cleaning up accidents quickly is imperative to prevent permanent damage to clothes, curtains, furniture upholstery, and carpets.

Standard laundry detergent alone often fails to completely eliminate cat urine odor and stains. But there are some effective techniques using common household products like detergent that can help tackle this messy problem.

Why Cat Urine Smells So Bad

The reason cat urine creates such a potent and unpleasant odor lies in its chemical makeup. Cat urine contains high levels of protein from the breakdown of muscles, which contributes an ammonia-like scent. Bacteria feed on this protein and exacerbate the smell. As urine dries, the odor becomes more concentrated.

Cats’ unique metabolism also plays a role. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely entirely on meat-based proteins for nutrition. Their bodies extract more nitrogen from this diet than omnivores like dogs. This excess nitrogen gets secreted in urine and produces strong odors.

Additionally, an enzyme called urease converts urea in cat urine into ammonia, which has a harsh, pungent smell. pH also affects odor. Cat urine typically has a pH between 6 and 6.5, making it more acidic than neutral water. Acidic conditions allow more ammonia to be released into the air.

Why Cat Urine Stains Are Hard to Remove

When cat urine remains on a fabric surface for an extended period, it bonds tightly with fibers and causes stubborn stains for several reasons:

• The urea in cat urine crystallizes and hardens over time, making it more difficult to dissolve and wash away.
• Bacteria and enzymes in cat urine break down the urea into ammonia. Ammonia acts as a dye that permanently alters the color of fabrics.
• Cat urine contains pigments that give it a yellow tint. These pigments soak into fibers.

Fresh cat urine can sometimes be flushed out with water or spot cleaned. But once dried and set in, special removers and thorough washing are required to tackle cat urine stains and odors.

Does Laundry Detergent Remove Cat Urine Smell?

Using regular laundry detergent by itself often fails to fully eliminate cat urine stains and odors from fabrics. Here’s why:

• Most laundry detergents are designed to work best in a large volume of water during a regular wash cycle. They do not pre-treat or focus on set-in stains.
• Cat urine contains high amounts of protein that require an enzyme cleaner to break down. Most standard detergents do not contain enough enzymes.
• Detergents made for human urine and body soils are not formulated to handle the unique chemical composition of cat urine.
• Detergents work by suspending soils in water for rinsing. But cat urine bonds tightly to fibers and is not easily rinsed away.

While using a higher concentration of detergent may seem logical, it often still falls short of removing all traces of cat urine. The scented chemicals added to laundry detergents also fail to mask cat urine odor. Without the right cleaning method, the smell will linger.

Homemade Cat Urine Remover with Detergent

While regular detergent alone does not effectively eliminate cat urine stains and odors, there are some homemade solutions using detergent that can help tackle this messy problem:

Vinegar and Detergent

The acidity of vinegar helps neutralize odors and break down urine crystals. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part laundry detergent and apply the solution directly to the cat urine stain. Let it soak for several minutes before washing in the machine with detergent and oxy boosters.

Hot Water and Detergent

For fresh stains, rinse or soak the fabric in hot water mixed with a small amount of biological detergent immediately. Hot water helps dissolve urine crystals. The enzymes in biological detergent work to break down urine components.

Baking Soda and Detergent

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and mild abrasive that can tackle set-in cat urine stains. Make a paste with baking soda and laundry detergent. Rub it into the stain until foamy. Rinse and launder with detergent and stain removers.

These homemade cleaners boost the effectiveness of regular laundry detergent on cat urine stains. However, they still may not remove odor and stains as fully as a dedicated pet urine remover.

Enzyme Cleaners and Detergent

One of the most effective ways to tackle cat urine with detergent is to use an enzyme cleaner formulated specifically for pet messes. Enzyme cleaners work at breaking down the urea, bacteria, and proteins in cat urine. Here are some options:

Nature’s Miracle

Nature’s Miracle is one of the most popular enzyme cleaners for cat urine, feces, and vomit. It contains bio-enzymatic agents that target organic matter like the urea, proteins, and bacteria in cat urine. Using Nature’s Miracle with laundry detergent provides a thorough clean:

1. Apply Nature’s Miracle liberally to the cat urine stain. Let it soak in for 5-10 minutes.
2. Rinse the area with cool water and blot dry.
3. Wash in the machine with laundry detergent and oxy-powered stain removers.
4. For severe odor, let the item soak overnight in a Nature’s Miracle and water solution before washing.

Out! Pet Stain & Odor Remover

Out! makes an effective pet stain and odor remover pre-wash spray that activates enzymes naturally found in cat urine to eliminate the source of odor. To use Out! with laundry detergent:

1. Spray Out! liberally over the cat urine stain.
2. Let sit for 5 minutes to penetrate deep into fibers.
3. Rinse and blot dry.
4. Wash in a machine cycle with laundry detergent.

Bissell Pet Stain & Odor Remover

Bissell’s pet cleaner uses pro-enzymatic formula to get rid of cat urine stains, bacteria, and odors at the source. For best results, use with laundry detergent as follows:

1. Spray Bissell cleaner generously over cat urine stains. Allow 10-15 minutes dwell time.
2. Use a damp sponge or cloth to blot area and rinse.
3. Launder with a free-rinsing detergent and stain fighting booster.
4. For heavy stains, let item soak overnight in a solution of cleaner before washing.

These enzyme cleaners are specially designed to handle cat urine odor elimination. Using them along with laundry detergent provides a thorough clean to tackle even set-in urine stains.

Professional Cat Urine Cleaning Products

For stubborn or heavy cat urine odors, professional-grade cleaners offer maximum power to deep clean fabrics:

Rocco & Roxie Enzyme-Powered Pet Odor & Stain Remover

This professional strength cleaner uses concentrated active enzymes combined with natural odor neutralizers to permanently remove cat urine stains and smells. To use:

1. Pre-treat the cat urine stain liberally with Rocco & Roxie cleaner. Let dwell for at least 15 minutes.
2. Rinse area thoroughly with cool water and pat dry.
3. Launder using laundry detergent and oxy boosters.
4. For heavy stains, soak fabric overnight in a solution of the cleaner before washing.

Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator

Angry Orange utilizes a powerful citrus-power formula to destroy pet odors at a molecular level. It’s professional strength, yet safe for use around children and pets. To clean cat urine smells with Angry Orange:

1. Spray Angry Orange liberally over the affected area. Allow 15 minutes for it to fully penetrate and neutralize odors.
2. Blot excess liquid.
3. Use laundry detergent and rinse with vinegar for washing.
4. For heavy stains, soak overnight in Angry Orange before washing.

These commercial-grade enzyme cleaners offer an effective 1-2 punch against stubborn cat urine messes when paired with laundry detergent washes.

Laundry Detergent Boosters for Cat Urine

While enzyme cleaners tackle the organic matter in cat urine at the source, laundry detergent boosters can provide extra cleaning and odor fighting power in the wash cycle. Here are some of the best to use along with detergent on cat urine:

OxiClean

OxiClean uses the natural power of oxygen to lift stains and odors from fabric. For cat urine, make a paste with OxiClean and laundry detergent. Rub it into the stain and let sit before washing. Add an OxiClean booster to the machine cycle.

Borax

Borax helps laundry detergents work more effectively to remove stains and odors. For cat urine, add 1⁄2 cup Borax along with detergent to the wash. Soaking fabrics in a Borax solution beforehand also helps lift set-in urine stains.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a natural detergent booster and deodorizer. For cat urine smells, add 1⁄2 – 1 cup of vinegar to the laundry detergent wash cycle. Presoaking or rinsing fabric in vinegar also helps detergent cut through urine stains.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizing agent that leaves clothes fresh. For cat urine odors, add 1⁄2 cup baking soda along with laundry detergent to the wash cycle. Make a paste of baking soda and detergent to pretreat dried urine stains.

These boosters help maximize the cleaning effects of laundry detergent against the unique challenges of cat urine stains and smells.

Laundry Detergent Tips for Cat Urine

Here are some additional tips for getting the most success using laundry detergent on cat urine stains:

• Look for biological detergents with enzymes to help break down organic matter in cat urine.
• Use scent and dye-free laundry detergents to prevent masking urine odors.
• Select high efficiency laundry detergent for concentrated cleaning power.
• Add stain-fighting oxy boosters to the wash cycle.
• Soak fabrics in hot water before washing to loosen dried urine.
• Wash cat urine items separately from other laundry using the hottest water safe for the fabric.
• Make sure all traces of detergent and odor are fully rinsed away.
• Increase the amount of laundry detergent for tougher dried-in stains.
• Run a rinse cycle with vinegar to eliminate any lingering odors.

Home Remedies to Avoid

When tackling cat urine with laundry detergent, there are some homemade mixtures to avoid:

• Avoid using bleach or products containing ammonia, which make the urine odor worse.
• Avoid using too much heat, which can set the stain and create an even tougher odor problem.
• Avoid scent enhancers like scented fabric softener that simply mask odors rather than eliminating them.
• Avoid plant-based stain lifters and essential oils that are not formulated for pet stains.
• Avoid over-washing fabrics stained with urine, which can spread the stain.

Conclusion

Cat urine stains and odors can be challenging to eliminate from fabrics and upholstery. While regular laundry detergent alone often falls short, there are some effective techniques using common household products like detergent to tackle this messy problem.

The most successful approach is to team up an enzyme-based pet stain remover with laundry detergent to fully destroy cat urine at the source and wash away the evidence. Added laundry boosters provide extra cleaning and odor fighting reinforcement. With a thorough cleaning routine using the right detergent and products, even persistent cat urine stains can be conquered.