What laundry detergent gets out cat pee?

Cat urine can be one of the toughest stains to get out of clothing and fabrics. The smelly, pungent odor tends to linger long after the stain has set in. Cat pee contains urea and bacteria that can bond strongly with fabric fibers, making it extra challenging to remove.

Luckily, with the right type of laundry detergent and some helpful laundry tips, you can get those cat pee stains out of your clothes, towels, sheets, and other laundry items. The key is using a laundry detergent designed for pet messes that contains powerful enzyme cleaners. Let’s take a look at the best laundry detergents for removing cat urine smells and stains from your laundry.

What Makes Cat Urine So Hard to Remove from Laundry

Cat urine is more difficult to get out of fabric compared to many other types of stains. Here are some of the factors that make cat pee stubborn:

– Concentrated urea – Cat urine contains high levels of urea, which gives it the strong odor. Urea bonds strongly to fabric fibers.

– Bacteria – Cat urine contains bacteria that produce ammonia as the urine breaks down. This can lead to that distinctive cat pee smell lingering in fabric.

– Oily residue – The urea in cat urine leaves behind an oily-like residue that can attract dirt and grime. This residue can be hard to wash away.

– Repeated accidents – The more a cat pees in the same spot on fabric, the more concentrated the urine becomes and the harder it is to remove.

– Heat setting – If cat urine sits in fabric for a long time before washing, the heat can set the stain and odor into the fibers. This makes it much more stubborn to eliminate.

– Fabric type – Cat urine can be hardest to remove from natural fabrics like cotton, wool, and silk versus synthetic fabrics. The urine soaks deeply into natural fibers.

So cat pee stains need a laundry detergent strong enough to break down the urea crystals, dissolve oily residues, counteract bacteria, and purge odors from fabric fibers. Let’s look at the best options.

Enzyme Cleaner Laundry Detergents

Laundry detergents that contain enzyme cleaners are highly effective at removing dried, set-in cat urine stains and getting rid of the smell. Enzymes are designed to break down organic substances like the urine, bacteria, and grime found in cat pee.

Here are some of the top enzyme cleaner laundry detergents for tackling cat urine:

Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost

– Contains bio-enzyme formula to digest urine, feces, vomit, etc
– Breaks down tough pet urine odors
– Works in all water temperatures
– Safe for most washable fabrics
– Fragrance and dye-free

Bubba’s Super Stain and Odor Remover Laundry Detergent

– Contains natural enzyme cleaner
– Good at removing set-in pet stains
– Fights odors and brightens fabric
– Safe for regular and HE washing machines
– Leaves behind light, clean scent

Earth Rated Eco-Friendly Pet Stain and Odor Laundry Detergent

– Plant-derived, chlorine-free enzyme formula
– Removes tough pet stains and neutralizes odors
– Designed for baby clothes, towels, sheets, upholstery
– Cleans with minimal scent
– Cruelty-free and made in the USA

Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent

– Uses plant-based enzymes to digest stains
– Odor defense properties
– Free of harsh chemicals, dyes, fragrances
– Certified non-toxic and hypoallergenic
– Safe for all washers and fabric types

Arm & Hammer Clean Burst Detergent

– Contains odor-fighting enzyme technology
– Dissolves set-in pet stains
– Neutralizes odors rather than masking them
– Brightens and whitens fabrics
– Safe for HE machines

The active enzymes in these laundry detergents will start breaking down the urea crystals, bacteria, and oil in cat urine stains immediately in the wash cycle. They provide a deep clean for fresh and old cat pee stains alike. The enzymes also help remove musty cat urine odors that have lingered in fabric.

Oxygenated Laundry Detergents

Oxygenated laundry detergents use the cleaning power of oxygen molecules to blast away tough staining and odors. The oxygen-based formula is effective at lifting cat urine stains and deodorizing fabric.

Some top oxygen laundry detergents for cat urine include:

OXO Laundry Detergent

– Oxygen-infused cleaning molecules
– Powers out urine, feces, vomit, sweat stains
– Removes odors instead of masking them
– Brightens whites
– Safe for HE machines

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover

– Oxygen-based powder with stainfighters
– Removes pet stains and odors
– Can be used as laundry booster or additive
– Safe for most washable fabrics
– Fragrance-free

Persil ProClean Oxygen Laundry Detergent

– Formula with smart foam and oxygen power
– Eliminates embedded pet stains
– Fights odors at their source
– Works in all water temps
– Safe for HE washing machines

Tide Oxi Multi-Purpose Stain Remover

– Oxygen-activated laundry booster
– Helps remove urine, feces, vomit stains
– Can be used as pre-treatment or in the wash cycle
– Powers out tough odors
– Safe for most washable fabrics

The oxidizing agents in these oxygen-based detergents work hard to eliminate the smell and staining of cat urine in laundry. They are a good choice for challenging set-in pet stains.

Detergent Boosters That Remove Cat Urine

Using a laundry booster or additive in combination with your regular laundry detergent can provide extra power against cat urine stains. Here are some top cat urine removers that can be used as boosters:

Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator

– Enzyme-powered citrus spray breaks down pet stains
– Removes urine, feces, vomit odors
– Can be used as pre-wash laundry spray
– Safe for use on most washable fabrics
– Leaves a light citrus scent

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

– Enzyme-activated formula for pet stains
– Breaks down urine, feces, vomit, grime
– Can be used as pre-treatment or laundry booster
– Chlorine-free and color safe
– Light fresh scent

Bissell Pet Power Shot Oxy for Stains and Odors

– Oxygen-activated formula
– Removes pet stains and cleans surfaces
– Can be used as laundry pre-spray
– Works to remove old, set-in stains
– Leaves behind light scent

Clorox Urine Remover for Stains and Odors

– Specially designed for cat and dog urine
– Can be used on laundry as pre-treatment
– Contains enzymes to remove stains and odors
– Makes urine fluorescent to find stains
– For whites and colors

Using a pet stain pre-treatment or laundry booster in addition to your regular detergent helps provide a targeted solution to eliminate cat urine stains and odors before washing. The enzymes and odor fighters in boosters penetrate deep into fabrics.

Tips for Using Laundry Detergent to Get Cat Urine Out of Clothes and Fabrics

Choosing the right detergent is the first step to getting cat urine out of laundry. Here are some additional tips to boost your laundry cleaning power against cat pee:

– Pre-treat the cat urine stain. Use an enzyme cleaner, oxygen booster, or urine remover as a pre-wash treatment. This gives the cleaners time to start breaking down the urine before washing.

– Check fabric care instructions. Make sure to use a laundry detergent that is safe for the fabrics you are cleaning. This prevents damage.

– Wash in hot water. For heavy cat urine stains, use the hottest water temperature allowed for the fabric. Hot water will better dissolve the urine.

– Use extra detergent. For stubborn cat pee odors or set-in stains, use extra laundry detergent as needed. This provides more cleaning power.

– Add whitening agents. If washing white fabrics, use oxygen bleach or bluing agents to help brighten fabrics and remove yellow stains.

– Air dry fabrics. Machine drying can set in odors or stains. Line drying allows fresh air to naturally help deodorize fabrics.

– Re-wash as needed. If any urine odor remains after washing, do not dry the fabrics. Re-wash using hot water and more detergent.

With the right detergent and some laundry tips for fighting cat urine, you can keep your clothes, sheets, towels, and other fabrics smelling and looking clean and fresh. The key is using an effective enzyme or oxygen-based formula designed to eliminate tough pet stains and odors.

The Best Laundry Detergents for Removing Cat Urine

Top 3 Recommendations

If you need a quick recommendation for an effective laundry detergent against cat urine stains and odors, here are the top 3 options:

1. Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost – This enzyme-powered laundry booster is specially formulated to target tough pet stains like urine, feces, and vomit. The bio-enzymatic formula digests the urine and removes odors.

2. OXO Laundry Detergent – This oxygen-activated laundry detergent uses the cleaning power of oxygen to lift cat urine stains and eliminate odors rather than just mask them.

3. Bissell Pet Power Shot Oxy – As a pre-treatment laundry spray, this oxy formula penetrates and removes old, set-in pet stains on contact. The oxygen cleaning fights odors.

Laundry Detergent Comparison Table

Laundry Detergent	Key Features	Benefits for Cat Urine
Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost	Bio-enzymatic formula, attacks pet stains, fragrance free	Enzymes digest urine and remove odors
Bubba’s Super Stain and Odor Remover	Enzyme-based, good for set-in stains, light scent	Enzymes break down cat urine and bacteria
Earth Rated Eco-Friendly Pet Stain Detergent	Plant-derived enzyme formula, for laundry and upholstery	Removes stains and odors naturally
Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent	Plant-based enzymes, non-toxic, safe for all fabrics	Digest cat urine with natural enzymes
OXO Laundry Detergent	Oxygen-powered cleaning, specifically tackles pet stains	Oxidizing agents remove cat urine stains and odors
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover	Oxygen-based powder, safe for most fabrics	Oxygenated formula cleans cat urine stains
Persil ProClean Oxygen Detergent	Oxygen formula, smart foam, works on embedded pet stains	Oxygen helps remove urine stains and odors
Tide Oxi Multi-Purpose Stain Remover	Oxygen-activated, can be used as pre-treatment	Oxidizing powers out urine stains and odors
Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator	Enzyme-citrus spray, pre-wash treatment	Breaks down urine as pre-treatment
Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator	Enzyme-activated formula, chlorine-free	Removes stains and odors as laundry booster
Bissell Pet Power Shot Oxy	Oxygen-activated spray, pre-wash stain remover	Penetrates and removes set-in pet stains
Clorox Urine Remover for Stains and Odors	Enzyme formula made for cat and dog urine	Eliminates urine stains and odors as pre-treatment

Homemade Laundry Detergent for Cat Urine

You can also make an effective homemade laundry detergent using ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar or lemon juice. These items all have properties that help remove cat urine stains and odors from fabric.

Here is a recipe for a homemade cat urine laundry detergent:

Ingredients:

– 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
– 1/4 cup baking soda
– 1 tbsp clear laundry detergent or soap
– 1/4 cup white vinegar or lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Combine the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, laundry detergent, and vinegar or lemon juice in a jar. Shake the jar to mix the ingredients.

2. To use, shake the jar and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup directly into the washing machine drum.

3. Wash laundry on the hottest setting allowed for the fabric.

4. Check for stains and repeat washing if needed until urine is fully removed.

5. For heavy stains and odors, pre-soak laundry for 30 minutes in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water before washing.

The hydrogen peroxide is an effective whitener and odor remover. Baking soda helps remove stains and freshen fabrics. The vinegar or lemon work to neutralize odors and clean. This homemade recipe can be an alternative to commercial cleaners when trying to remove cat urine from laundry.

Conclusion

Cat urine can create lasting stains and foul odors in clothing, towels, sheets, upholstery and other fabric items. The strong-smelling pee contains urea, bacteria, and oils that bond tightly to fabrics. To remove set-in cat urine stains and smells from laundry, an effective enzyme or oxygen-based laundry detergent is the best solution.

Look for detergents specifically formulated to eliminate pet stains and odors. The active enzymes will digest the urine and bacteria while oxidizing agents lift the stains. Pre-treating with stain removers, washing in hot water, and using laundry boosters can further help purge cat pee from fabrics. With the right detergent and some laundry tips, you can keep your fabrics fresh and clean.