How to Clean Cat Urine Out of Couch Cushions

Cat urine, with its distinctive odor, can wreak havoc on cushioned furniture like your couch. You must be able to clean away all traces of the urine in order to remove the odor and discourage the cat from urinating in the same spot in the future. Luckily, many couch cushions come with removable covers, and there are natural enzyme cleaners that will counteract the stains and smells of your cat's accidents.

Things You'll Need

  • Clean color-safe towels or rags
  • Enzymatic pet stain cleaner
  • Spray bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the soiled cushion from the couch immediately so the urine can't spread to other sections. Take the cover off of the couch cushion. Many covers unzip for easy removal; others may require you to unravel a seam and resew the cover on again once everything is clean.

    • 2

      Blot as much liquid as possible from the cover. Depending on the cover material, you may be able to launder it at home. However, if the cover is a delicate fabric or labeled "dry clean only," bring it to a professional cleaner and let them know what kind of stain it is; do not attempt to clean it yourself.

    • 3

      To wash the cover, test a small section of the fabric with the enzymatic cleaner to make sure it doesn't affect the color or fabric. Soak the cover in full-strength cleaner for 10 to 15 minutes, then hang it to dry indoors, keeping it out of direct sunlight.

    • 4

      Place the uncovered cushion on a clean towel or rag, then use another towel to blot away excess liquid. Saturate the part of the cushion that was stained, using a spray bottle of enzymatic cleaner. In order for the cleaner to work, it must penetrate the entire urine-soaked area. You may want to do this step in a bathtub.

    • 5

      Allow the cushion to dry completely, rotating it regularly so air reaches all sides. Depending on what the cushion is made of, this could take up to two or three weeks; foam cushions should dry more quickly, but a cushion made of cotton batting will take a long time. Do not use a fan or heater to speed the drying of your cushion, because an enzymatic cleaner won't thoroughly work unless it's allowed to dry at its natural rate.

    • 6

      Put the cleaned cover back on the cushion and put your couch back together.