How to Get Cat Urine Smell & Stains Out of Leather – 6 Simple Steps

If you have a nice leather couch or jacket, you know that it needs taking care of. Leather can last a lifetime—but not if your cat destroys it! If your cat has an accident that gets on your leather, you might be tempted to throw it out. But with proper cleaning, you can get urine smell and stains out of leather without any trouble so that no one can tell that an accident even happened.

Cleaning Tools and Ingredients Needed

The 6 Steps to Remove Cat Urine Smells & Stains from Leather

1. Blot Any Pooled Urine

Before you can get to cleaning, you’ll want to clean up any urine that hasn’t soaked into the leather and figure out what’s been stained. If you are cleaning a leather couch, we suggest removing any removable cushions and putting aside any clean cushions. Using a cleaning cloth or paper towel, blot any remaining urine and pat the stains dry as much as possible.

2. Mix Up the Cleaning Solution

Although you can buy commercial enzyme cleaners that are leather-safe, in a pinch, a homemade solution may be more available. In a plastic container, mix four cups of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Add a quarter of a cup of dish soap to the mix and stir gently. The mixture will fizz and let off oxygen. Don’t stir it too thoroughly—just enough to dampen the baking soda.

The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite enzyme cleaner out there. It permanently removes even the very worst kitty stains and smells, leaving your home fresh and clean! Click here to learn more about this amazing product and get yourself a bottle.

At Excited Cats, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!

3. Mist The Stained Area

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it liberally over the stained area. Cover the entire stained area.

4. Soak Up Cleaner

Let it soak for ten to fifteen minutes, and then wipe off any remaining cleaner. Let the area dry completely overnight. At this point, your stain might be gone, in which case you can skip the next step.

5. Neutralize Any Leftover Scents with Vinegar or Charcoal

If scents linger, you’ll want to neutralize any remaining scents. You can spray a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water over the area and let it dry. You can also put a bowl full of activated charcoal near the stain overnight to soak up odors.

6. Know When to Use an Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme cleaners are perfect for breaking down tough stains. They are designed to destroy the proteins in bodily fluids like urine, making them a good choice for old or stubborn stains. However, some enzyme cleaners will damage the leather, so test your cleaner on an inconspicuous spot first before you clean with it.

7. Recondition Leather

Once you are finished cleaning, you’ll want to recondition your leather. This works moisture into the leather to keep it smooth and supple. Wait 24-48 hours before reconditioning leather to make sure that the leather is fully dry. You can buy a commercial leather conditioner, or you can use a few teaspoons of olive oil or coconut oil. Work the conditioner into the leather slowly until the leather is smooth and supple.

• Related: How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots

Final Thoughts

We hope that these steps will help you get the smell of urine out of leather. So many cat owners have fallen “victim” to cat urine stains and smells on furniture and items of clothing. But with a little bit of elbow grease, you can reduce the odors and stains!

Featured Image: cunaplus, Shutterstock