Cleaning up cat urine is essential to pass a black light test and ensure your home is free of the smell of urine. While many commercial products are on the market, you can also make your cat urine cleaner with just a few household ingredients. This article will show you how to clean cat urine to pass a black light test and get your home smelling fresh again!
Cats are an essential part of so many families, but having cats in the house can bring other problems. Cats urinating outside their litter box is one of those problems. Once you discover your cat has urinated somewhere it shouldn’t have, you need to clean up the urine as soon as possible! Of course, how you do that will change depending on whether or not there is already a “pee smell.”
Contents
Things You’ll Need:
- Two liters of hydrogen peroxide
- One cup of baking soda
- A black-light
- Paper towels
- Window cleaner (Spray and Wipe product) or vinegar solution (1:5 ratio of white vinegar to water in a spray bottle) with added dish soap.
- Liquid laundry detergent made for front load washers.
A Step by Step Guide on How to Clean Cat Urine to Pass a Black Light Test
Step 1: Determine How Bad the Cat Urine Problem Is
Grab your black light and check the entire house for pet urine. If you found stains in more than one spot, hire a carpet cleaning service to clean all spots. The longer an area has been contaminated with cat urine, the harder it will be to get rid of the smell.
Even after getting rid of all visible signs of pet urine on the carpeted areas, consider steam-cleaning or replacing heavily soiled carpets if any sign remains after applying products at home.
Step 2: Clean Cat Urine From Carpet
Sprinkle baking soda over dampened carpet where urine is present. Let sit overnight, then vacuum up the residue. Soak as much remaining moisture using wet paper towels. How much baking soda you use and how long to let it sit depends on how bad the cat urine problem is. Repeat as needed until no more moisture is present.
If this does not remove all of the smell, grab your bottle of hydrogen peroxide and rubber gloves, then apply directly to the carpet where the odor persists using a toothbrush or other scrubbing device. Next, rotate the nylon-bristled brush in a circular motion over area with a hydrogen peroxide solution. This will help lift the stains out.
How much you’ll need depends on the size of the affected area, so be prepared for multiple trips if necessary. If, after two applications, there’s still an odor, consider renting a carpet cleaner machine at your local grocery store or home improvement center or hiring a professional.
To clean urine stains and odors from a mattress, apply hydrogen peroxide onto the affected area with a toothbrush or other scrubbing device. Let it sit for several minutes, then wash off with white vinegar. How much hydrogen peroxide you’ll need depends on the size of the affected area, so be prepared for multiple trips if necessary.
Spray solution made for leather furniture (spray and wipe product) directly onto cat urine stain avoiding damaged areas if present. How many cleaners you need to use depends on how bad the problem is but should only require one application. Never saturate the leather; always start using less and add more as needed to get the job done.
Step 3: Clean Cat Urine From Mattress
Mix one cup baking soda with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. How much you’ll need depends on the size of the affected area, so be prepared for multiple trips if necessary. Apply the mixture over urine stains and let sit. How long you need to let it sit will depend on how tough or old the stain is but again, consider repeating until no more odor presents, then vacuum up the residue.
When presence of urine still remains, make your own enzyme cleaner by mixing 2 tbsp liquid laundry detergent designed for front load washers with two cups of white vinegar in a spray bottle. How much you’ll need depends on how bad the problem is but should only require one application.
Spray area directly over urine stains and sit for several minutes before washing off with water-soaked paper towels. Again, how many cleaners you need to use depends on how bad the problem is but should only require one application. How much laundry detergent (500 ml or 2 cups) is necessary depends on mus odor severity, then follow up with clean white vinegar to cover the entire affected area.
Step 4: Clean Cat Urine From Wood Flooring
Mix 1/4 cup natural dish-washing soap with 2 cups water in a bowl. How much you’ll need depends on how bad the problem is but should only require one application. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and apply over stains.
How many cleaners you need to use depends on how bad the problem is but should only require one application. How much soap is needed to rely on mus odor severity, then follow up with clean water to cover the entire affected area.
Step 5: Black Light Test and How to Pass It
When trying to clean up cat urine or dog urine, a black light will show the stains that have been cleaned and those that have not been addressed. How can you tell? The black light will highlight the dyes in the fabric, making them stand out. How much dyes your fabric contain will depend on its color, and this is why whites tend to be more transparent than darker colors when passed over by a black light.
The best way is to conduct several tests before cleaning so you know which products worked and which didn’t. How many cleaners you need to use depends on how bad the problem is but should only require one application.
How much soap (500 ml or 2 cups) is required depends on mus odor severity, then follow up with clean water to cover the entire affected area. These steps will help in how to clean cat urine to pass a black light test.
Tips and Warnings:
– Clean anything that was touched by the urine. This includes furniture, bedding, carpets, upholstery, and linens. Wash or throw away any items stained with cat urine since they cannot be effectively cleaned.
– Make sure to clean the areas well. If you can still smell an odor of urine after using a cleaner, the area may not be spotless, and it will need more cleaning. Repeat this step until no urine odor is present in the room.
– Avoid using bleach when cleaning cat urine because instead of removing smelly elements, it will only add another one that smells like ammonia. Plus, household cleaners containing bleach should never contact your skin or pets since they can cause irritation and severe health problems.
– Use a squeegee to wipe away any stains on hard surfaces such as tile or wood flooring before drying completely. The longer cat pee sits on these surfaces, the harder it becomes to remove from the surface.
– Remove the litter box contents every day and scrub it with non-toxic cleaner to prevent any possible future accidents.
FAQs about Cleaning Cat Urine for Blacklight Tests
How can I find all the urine spots in my home?
Using a blacklight or UV flashlight in a darkened room will make any urine stains glow, allowing you to identify all affected areas. Look closely at carpets, upholstery, mattresses, and hard surfaces. Stains may be dried and invisible under normal lighting.
What cleaning products work best for cat urine?
Enzymatic cleaners designed for pet stains are most effective at eliminating cat urine odors. Look for products containing protease enzymes that break down urine proteins. Avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners as they can make smells worse.
How do I clean urine from carpet padding?
Urine can soak down into carpet padding. Use an extractor machine to penetrate padding and underlayment. Extractors can be rented at grocery, hardware, or home improvement stores. For severe cases, carpet and pad may need replacement.
How can I stop my cat from peeing outside the litter box?
Make sure litter boxes are clean, easily accessible, and located in quiet areas. Try different litters or box styles if your cat doesn’t like the current setup.
Limit stress by providing affection and toys. See your vet to rule out medical issues. Use deterrents like aluminum foil or citrus scents.
Why does my house still smell like urine after cleaning?
Urine can absorb into porous materials like wood, drywall, and concrete. Traces may remain after cleaning carpet and floors. Ozone treatments or sealants can help eliminate stubborn odors. Professional duct cleaning may be needed if smell persists in vents.
Final Thoughts
Be patient and persistent, as cat urine can penetrate deeply into materials. You may need to re-clean areas multiple times. For severe cases, replacing carpet and padding or hiring a professional service is advisable.
By following the tips in this guide, you can get your home fresh and clean again after a cat urine accident. Passing a blacklight test will assure you that all traces of odor and stains have been successfully removed. With diligence and the proper cleaning methods, you can restore your home’s environment.