How to get old cat pee stains out of carpet?

Question

I should have dealt with the stain when it was fresh, but I didn’t and now I’ve made the job much harder for myself. The stain is approximately 8 months old. So far I’ve gone over it 4 times with carpet shampoo, carpet stain remover and carpet refresher powder. But no matter how many times I go over it, the stain won’t budge and the smell of the cat pee returns within a week of being cleaned. The carpet is 20 years old so I don’t care about discolouration from the stain, but it’s the smell that I’m trying to get rid of! Anyone have any suggestions? I’m desperate to get rid of it.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

You're fighting a war that can't be easily won.

Cleaning the carpet itself won't solve the problem. There's a sponge pad under the carpet that will be soaked with it, and very likely so is the plywood or concrete under the pad. Until ALL of these layers are cleaned and/or replaced, the problem isn't solved.

It's not at all unusual for the subfloor (wood) to need to be replaced, or if concrete, for the concrete to be cleaned and treated with special products designed specifically for the job. Compared to this, replacing a portion of the foam pad is simple and cheap. And if you are doing all this, you probably should just go ahead and replace that section of carpet too.

That might sound crazy, but I assure you it isn't. Much like a skunk's spray, cat urine has incredibly strong and persistent odors that are used by them to mark their territory, and are incredibly resistant to cleaning out of porous materials like carpet, carpet pad, wood, or concrete.

You can attack these stains with various chemicals, and that will give you some limited success, but it's not going to be anything close to a complete solution. If it gets hot or humid, you WILL still smell that smell forever until it is completely taken care of, and even worse, any pets you still have will continue to smell it and will continue to pee there, over and over again, making the problem worse.

Oliverlogan263 · Accepted Answer

Dang, old cat pee is the worst smell ever. I feel your pain, I had a buddy whose place was ruined from it. Here's what I'd try:

- Grab some hydrogen peroxide. That stuff is really good at breaking down urine smells. Mix it 50/50 with warm water and soak the stain, let it bubble.

- Baking soda is also your friend. Sprinkle it on thick after using the peroxide and let it sit a few days. That'll absorb any leftover smells.

- Try using an enzyme cleaner too, the kind made for pet messes. The enzymes actually eat the proteins in the urine that causes the smell. Go over it a few times.

- As a last resort, you may need to cut out that section of carpet completely if the smell keeps coming back. It's probably soaked into the pad underneath.

Good luck, I hope it comes out! Next time tell your cat no more indoor accidents, haha. Let me know if those tips help, I've seen them work on tough stains before.

NathanDavis · Answer

hmm, not sure if you have tried this... but if you're only cleaning over the surface of the carpet, there problem might still be under the carpet and in between and possible on the surface as well

now if you actually did it clean under the carpet and the surface it is on as well... maybe it is time to get an specific product, enzyme based one that clears the smelly proteins

and if you have not tried cleaning under, then trying with a mix of warm water and vinager

Smashingdoozy · Answer

The smell will likely never come out especially if you have a concrete foundation. It would have soaked right through unfortunately.

Though try some vinegar and baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda over area, brush it into the carpet, let it sit for a couple minutes then spray with white vinegar. It'll froth up, let that sit for 5-10 then either use a damp cloth to dab up the extra or vacuum it up with a wetvac or carpet cleaner

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and let sit for about ten minutes. Pour some vinegar on the baking soda and let it fizz for a few seconds before blotting the liquid with a fresh rag. Once the area looks clean, it's time to eliminate the odor.

exitseven · Answer

At Home Depot there is a product called Resolve Pet Urine destroyer. It really works for both pets and kids and probably the elderly as well. I heard it has been used at the White House.
It has to be used with a steam cleaner. You csn rent one at Home Depot if you do not own one.

Lyndsielee666 · Answer

Now why would you let that soak all the way to the foundation 😭

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Do you know someone with an ozone machine? Car dealerships use these to get the smell out of smoker cars. I have achieved good results with mine.

love_conquers_lust · Answer

Wet vac with pet treatment solution. Usually an enzyme cleaner.

Iron_Man · Answer

Water and soap scrub scrub, scrub, then rinse out

Staximus · Answer

Lift up the carpet, cut out the padding underneath the offending area and throw it away. Replace it with a new piece of padding. Spray the carpet with Nature's Miracle enzyme cleaner

scooogy · Answer

I would first moisten the carpet and then put something on that pulls out the fluids with their scent, like salt.

slatyb · Answer

Forget it. Replace the carpet.

Worst · Answer

Let me plumb in a bathroom for your cat lol

OddBeMe · Answer

Eesh. Excorcism. And removing carpet.

CubaPirate · Answer

Simple buy a new carpet

ThrillSeeker01 · Answer

Vinegar.

jimmy2 · Answer

Lick it lol

How to get old cat pee stains out of carpet?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and let sit for about ten minutes. Pour some vinegar on the baking soda and let it fizz for a few seconds before blotting the liquid with a fresh rag. Once the area looks clean, it's time to eliminate the odor.

How to get old cat pee stains out of carpet?

Most Helpful Opinions

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What Girls & Guys Said

Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and let sit for about ten minutes. Pour some vinegar on the baking soda and let it fizz for a few seconds before blotting the liquid with a fresh rag. Once the area looks clean, it's time to eliminate the odor.

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