Cat urine can be unbearably pungent, even long after your furry friend has passed away. Unfortunately, its scent often remains on carpets, furniture and mattress cushions for days afterward.
Cats often urinate outside their litter boxes due to missing the box or marking territory, and the best way to respond to this behavior is to quickly and thoroughly clean up any affected areas.
1. Go Inside the Crawlspace
At least five percent of homes with crawl spaces experience what non-professionals refer to as the “cat urine smell.” The source is typically decomposition of organic material under your home, made worse by elevated moisture levels after crawl space encapsulation due to vapor barriers preventing soil moisture evaporation and activating dormant microorganisms that break down organic matter at an accelerated rate and release ammonia, with similar aroma to cat urine.
Odor can seep into your house through cracks in the foundation or crawl space vents, allowing air from this space to filter into living areas of the home. This odor may be due to poor kitty litter choices or behavioral issues from your pet; however, it could also be brought on by stressors such as changes in routine, loud noises or house guests.
Once you’ve identified where the smell is coming from, you can begin taking steps to rid yourself of it. Begin by using an old towel dampened with cold water to blot the area where cat urine has been released as much as possible; for carpeted surfaces use an enzyme cleaner capable of hydrolyzing urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia instead of simply scrubbing as this will only drive further deep into your carpet fibers and compound its odor further. It is best not to scrub as doing so will only drive it further into its fibers! To eliminate cat urine smell quickly from surfaces use an old towel dampened with cold water when used damp with cold water to blot the area instead; once complete use an enzyme cleaner which hydrolyses urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia instead, which acts like this when cleaning carpeting for example, rather than just scrubbing as this will push further deep into carpet fibers further infiltration of carpet fibers. It is best not scrubbing as this will only work further into carpet fibres further embed itself deeper.
If the source of odor in your crawl space vents is the culprit, one solution might be installing an EZ Breath crawl space ventilation system to reverse stack effect and bring in fresh air into both living areas of your home and crawl space.
Odor can also come from sewage backup or contamination in your crawl space that needs to be cleaned up, and professional inspection and treatment may be necessary in order to remove it. Once it’s been dealt with, however, your crawl space and living areas of your home will no longer smell of cat urine!
2. Make a Homemade Cat-Odor Removal Solution
Removing cat urine odor can be accomplished using a homemade solution of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda found under most sinks. This cleaning solution works just as effectively and more sustainably than commercially manufactured removers; additionally, its ingredients tend to be easier on the environment. Before starting this task however, it’s essential that you locate its source: orange neon-like cat pee may appear while fabric or carpet spots will have white or gray “glows.” You could even use a blacklight flashlight flashlight as an aid when looking for its source!
Once you know where the smell is emanating from, it’s important to thoroughly clean the area where it originated. Aiming at eliminating any bacteria which has formed within this space – thus helping get rid of the unpleasant stench – vacuuming may also help remove any lint or fuzz that might have collected beneath its surface.
Now use a towel to soak up any excess liquid from the area, helping reduce how much of it you have to clean up later and thereby shortening cleanup time and effort. After you’ve blotted as much wet pee as possible from your cleaning solution, it’s time to put together your cleaner.
Enzymatic cleaners have become popular with pet owners because of their ability to tackle organic pet messes like urine. Unlike vinegar and baking soda cleaners, these enzymatic products break down components of the mess such as urea, urobilinogin or even ammonia which contributes to smelly spots instead of simply masking it.
Home-made enzymatic cleaners can be made in multiple ways, but one effective approach is to combine all ingredients in a bottle and let them ferment for two weeks – this will allow enzymes to fully break down and eliminate odor from the area so your cat doesn’t return to mark it again.
Once your enzymatic cleaner is prepared, simply spray it directly on the area where cat urine has been detected. Repeated applications may be required in order to fully eliminate odor and ensure no bacteria remains behind. Alternatively, foggers provide uniform dispersion of product so no areas go uncovered by conventional spraying methods.
3. Seal the Crawlspace
A crawl space plays an integral part of home life. Not only does it support the floors above, it serves as an air barrier that keeps moisture at bay. Moisture in a crawl space can lead to mold growth, wood rot and pest infestation – which encapsulating your crawl space is an effective solution to address. Unfortunately, even after having it done professionally odors may still arise due to rodent urine or products off-gassing into it.
If your crawl space smells musty, ventilation could be to blame. Without enough fresh air circulating freely into and out of it, stagnant air will rise up into your home through small gaps and cracks and cause musty odors throughout.
Although cat-urination odor may not be caused by ventilation issues, these should still be addressed immediately. A professional can conduct a crawlspace inspection and install a venting system to eliminate future smells from coming back.
Once odors have been eradicated, installing a vapor barrier in your crawl space to prevent future odors is an easy DIY project and should prevent future odors. Furthermore, installing such a barrier will prevent unwanted creatures from entering such as mice, termites and carpenter ants who find wet environments an ideal environment for living and breeding – something which could compromise the foundation of your home if left uncovered.
Encapsulating your crawl space can save both money and hassle by protecting its structural integrity, while simultaneously saving energy by reducing humidity levels and decreasing energy bills. Plus, encapsulation allows you to avoid cat urine odor spreading throughout the house – potentially disrupting sleep quality! Luckily, Michael Masserang of Specialty Crawlspace Consultant has devised a permanent, cost-effective odor-removal system called Atmox System as a permanent and cost-effective solution.
4. Remove the Contaminated Soil
As your first step, remove all debris, trash and junk from the crawl space. This should include old boxes, storage items and wood. Once this task is completed, start cleaning, but ensure all vents and access points are closed prior to starting work on this process to avoid airborne pathogens entering other rooms of your home.
Once the contaminated soil has been removed, you should vacuum your crawl space thoroughly. This will also help eliminate any remaining cat urine odor; for best results use a high-quality vacuum cleaner that can effectively do this job and use a broom to sweep away dust or other debris that remains. Once done, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water afterwards in order to protect against harmful bacteria found within crawl spaces.
If you find mold or mildew in your crawl space, take photos to show a professional restoration company. This will allow them to determine the most efficient approach for cleaning and restoring this space. It is also essential to repair any issues which could lead to future water damage such as broken gutters or downspouts and redirecting rainwater away from foundation walls of houses.
Odor in a crawl space may also result from improper installation of the vapor barrier, either due to plastic type and installation methods used, or because of an iffy seal; both situations could allow contaminants such as sewage and cat urine into the crawl space through cracks in its material barrier.
Sewage can pose a significant health threat to you and your family. Contaminated sewage often contains parasites, bacteria and fungi that cause illness and infection, while its toxic fumes may trigger headaches or cause nausea in sensitive individuals. Furthermore, left untreated, it could enter the home through plumbing pipes, polluting air quality in living spaces and eventually making you ill.
Whenever there is a sewage smell in your crawl space, it is crucial that you contact a professional restoration company as quickly as possible. They will use specialized equipment and techniques to clean, disinfect and restore the affected area; furthermore they can assist in helping prevent similar issues from reoccurring in future.