How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Chair: Removing Odor and Stain
- Cats are the best pets ever, but sometimes they bring our houses that lack a fresh fragrance. Of all the odors we have to live with when we are into cat ownership, the worst is probably the urine of a cat. This type of odor seems even more persistent and unpleasant when it stains our favorite leather chair. Whether it did its accident, is marking its territory, or you just can’t figure out how it got there, the smell of cat urine is almost impossible to remove on material such as leather. If you are struggling with the question of how to remove the stink of cat urine from a leather chair, you are in the right place. In this ultimate guide, we are going to walk you through everything that you need to do and know to be able to remove the smell of cat urine from your leather furniture successfully. From acting in a snap to utilizing the correct cleaning agents, this guide was developed to provide you with practical solutions to restore your leather chair to its fresh original look and smell.
Why Does Cat Urine Smell So Awful?
- Before I describe the process of how to get rid of this smell of cat urine in a leather chair, let’s spend a little while on why cat urine may be that pungent, rather odorless smell.
- Human urine holds uric acid-a compound that produces that ammonia-like smell. The urine also holds bacteria, which thrive in this moist leather space. All these factors make the smell stay for a much longer time. Leather is spongy, and thus, it absorbs the urine deeper into it; this way, the liquid and the smell get trapped in the material, which makes it hard to remove. That is why only wiping alone cannot be able to remove the cat urine smell from a leather chair. It should act to break down uric acid and kill the bacteria for it to efficiently remove the smell.
Step-by-Step How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Smell from Leather Chair
Act Fast
The most important rule in helping to eliminate cat urine smell from the leather chair is to act quickly. This way, the smell will evaporate quicker rather than being absorbed deeper into the leather material, as would be the case with fresh urines.
- 1. Blot, don’t rub As soon as possible, blot the stained area with paper towels or a clean cloth. Wipe away as much of the urine as you can from the surface without rubbing the spot to try to rub away the urine- urine pushes deeper into the leather.
2. Damp Cloth: If you have managed to get most of the urine out, moisten a cloth with warm water and gently rub the stain using the cloth to soak as much liquid as possible. You aren’t wetting the leather. Too much moisture can damage it.
Step 2. Apply an Enzymatic Cleaner
1. Test First: Before using any cleaner, one should do a patch test on the leather in an inconspicuous area so that it does not cause discoloration of the leather or harm it.
2. Apply the Cleaner: Now that you have determined that the cleaner is safe for your leather, spray or apply it on the affected area. Be liberal but do not soak the leather.
3. Let It Sit: Let the enzymatic cleaner sit for around 10 to 15 minutes. This is where things begin to turn around with the odor as the enzymes start breaking down the uric acid.
4. Towel Again: Finally, after the soaking time has elapsed, wring the dirty cloth over the region to remove as much of the cleaner and urine as possible. Repeat this as often as necessary until the smell disappears.
Third Step: Leather Cleaner Used to Clean
Apply the leather cleaner first, and clean away the residues of the urine and cleaning chemicals on the leather.
1. Leather Cleaner. Choose one that is a leather product, and should be pH balanced such that it will not damage the material or the color.
2. Apply the Cleaner by Rubbing: Follow the tag directions of the cleaner apply it on the affected area rubbing gently with a soft cloth in circular motions to remove dirt, stains, and urine residue.
3. Leather Buffing: Now you can use a dry soft cloth to buff the leather after cleaning and shine returns to the leather and the rest of the cleaning solution is removed as well.
Step 4: Odor Neutralization Now, even after cleaning, the smell would often remain faintly present on your leather chair. To be entirely rid of this smell, you would now have to apply one of these options:
1. Baking Soda: Baking soda naturally neutralizes the remaining odor. Sprinkle liberally over the area; let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Vacuum up using the soft-brush attachment once the time has elapsed.
2. White Vinegar Solution Another way an odor eliminator can be the use of white vinegar. Mix equal parts in a spray bottle with water. Spray lightly, but do not soak the leather. Allowed it to stay there for around 10 to 15 minutes and then wiped it off with a clean cloth. As the liquid had taken away the urine smell, so too would the smell from the vinegar begin to evaporate.
3. Activated Charcoal: If the smell is still not gone, apply some activated charcoal to soak up the rest of the smell in the leather. Activate a few bags of activated charcoal and place them next to the affected area which pulls out the smell in the leather. Allow it to set for two days to maximize the effect.
Step 5: Leather Conditioning. Having removed the stench of your cat’s urine from your leather chair, it now becomes very important that you condition the leather so that it will not dry out and crack. Leather conditioners replace the oils lost during the cleaning process.
1. Choose the Right Leather Conditioner: Choose a conditioner that suits your needs for the leather chair. Conditioners come either in cream or liquid forms.
2. Applying Conditioner: Spray small quantities of conditioner on the leather by a soft cloth. Now, massage the conditioner throughout the whole damaged area in circular motions.
3. Buffing Leather: After letting the conditioner soak in the leather, buff out the remaining conditioner that would have collected on the surface with a dry cloth, and let it shine once again.
Step 6: Don’t Let It Happen Again
Anything needs a clean-up of the present mess, but in the best-case scenario, prevention is the way to not make a mess again in the future. And here are a few general tips to help you protect your leather chair from such a future cat urine accident:
1. Litter Box Training Keep the litter box clean and in a quiet, accessible room. If the litter box is too dirty or inaccessible, cats tend to urinate outdoors.
2. Using Multiple Litter Boxes: Cats are territorial animals and if there is more than one cat in a house, that means multiple litter boxes have to be provided. Every cat should feel that it is not being dominated by another. If the opposite is true, they may pee outside the litter box.
3. Pet Repellents: Another method would be the use of a pet-friendly spray specially designed to deter your cat from a chosen piece of furniture that she happens to favor urinating on. Most of them have citrus or lavender, which cats abhor.
4. Furniture Protectors: A slipcover or a washable throw over your leather chair will at least give you something to look forward to if accidents should happen again, though it will not protect it totally from accidents.
Some More Tips on How to Eliminate Cat Urine Smell from Leather Chair
1. Avoid using Harsh Chemicals
You’re probably tempted to try using something as aggressive as bleach, ammonia, or strong detergents to fight the smell. This would be really hazardous for your leather and potentially even make the problem worse. You can use a specific leather cleaner or more natural treatments with products like vinegar and baking soda.
2. Let the area ventilate well
Circulate air for your leather chair. Open windows or fans, or move the chair to a better location for air circulation at a faster rate of drying and dispersing odors.
3. Reach Out For Help When It’s Time
Should the smell persist even after cleaning or was the leather damaged, you might have a case to seek a professional. A leather expert has the tools and know-how to deal with hostile odors and stains without allowing your furniture to deteriorate further.
Conclusion
Knowing the trick as to how to get rid of the cat urine smell of a leather chair can save you from living with a piece of furniture smelling awful. So, acting in time, preparing the right items, and following the procedures mentioned above will help you get rid of that terrible smell in your leather chair, and the furniture can be brought back to its previous self.
Caution is as important as hygiene; ensure that the chair is kept safe from future accidents by adding a cover over the chair. Correct procedures will ensure that the smell you like remains in your leather furniture for many years to come. And with good care, you can live in harmony with your pet cat, and there’ll be no stench of cat urine oozing from your furniture.