Cat pee is an abrasive, acidic scent. It’s highly unpleasant on its own but is nearly unbearable when it comes to cat pee on your clothing. What’s more frustrating is that once a cat has marked your clothing or a specific area- they will likely do it again.

Read on to discover effective and convenient methods for cleaning cat urine and the residual odor out of your clothing. These include cleaners for purchase and quick and easy DIY methods. You will also pick up some important information on how to deter your cat from urinating in the first place.

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How to Remove Cat Pee from Clothing- DIY

A vinegar wash is one of the most effective methods for cleaning cat pee and residual scent from clothing. If you don’t have any professional strength cleaners on hand or need a quick cleanup, this wash is a simple and efficient way to wash cat urine quickly and its odor out of clothing.

Using a Vinegar Wash to Clean Clothing

Vinegar is an effective cleaning product for cat pee, because the acid in vinegar works to neutralize alkaline salts that are often the origin of odor and stains from cat urine.

This is a simple recipe. You will only need four (or five) items:

Measuring cup
White vinegar
Water
Large bowl
Baking soda (optional)

Mix white vinegar in a 1:3 ratio of vinegar to the water, using cool or room temperature water. Soak the soiled article of clothing entirely in the mixture, and let it sit for several minutes in a large bowl, tub, or industrial sink.

We don’t recommend using the kitchen sink for sanitary reasons, but this is also an option as long as it is thoroughly disinfected afterward.

After a few minutes (5-10), you can sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the clothing. This will react with the vinegar and get deep into the stain. Rinse the article of clothing thoroughly with cold water. Do not use warm water, as this could set the stain.

Air dry the article of clothing. Do not use heat to accelerate the process. This can take time. Set aside at least 24 hours of drying time. This process may need to be repeated an additional time to eliminate all of the odor and staining on your clothing.

How to Launder Urine-Soaked Clothing

It may be a relief to know that you can use your washer to clean cat pee from clothes. It is very important not to utilize a dryer in this laundering process. High heat can set in stains and odors, particularly pet stains. So, while using a washing machine is a handy urine-removing method, avoid using the dryer.

This method also works exceptionally well after using the vinegar wash (see above) to remove the bulk of the initial urine and odor. Manually cleaning the majority of the offending liquid can keep the odor from transferring to the machine and potentially into other loads of laundry.

The washer should be set to only cool or lukewarm temperature. Hot water runs the risk of setting in any residual stains or odors. Use an enzyme-based detergent, as these work best on organic materials and stains. Air dry the items.

It is possible that this step may need to be repeated one or two more times if the odor is really set in.

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Eliminates Odor from Clothes

This brand of laundry detergent can remove pet stains and odors while in the regular wash. You can use this cleaner for:

Bedding
Delicates
Towels
Gym clothes

This odor-eliminating sanitizer is added during the rinse cycle and works in cool water. Urine-soaked clothing should be washed in cool water on a regular cycle and then the sanitizer added in the rinse cycle.

Most detergents will help with cleaning, but the bacteria-killing addition will eliminate lingering odor.

How to Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

It’s important not to add regular clothing to the machine when washing clothes soiled with cat urine. It’s best practice to wash the affected clothing separately, to eliminate the risk of transferring any urine or odor onto otherwise unaffected clothing.

Put this sanitizer in the “fabric softener” spot in your washing machine. If you do not have a fabric softener compartment, simply open the lid, and add the recommended amount to the drum during the rinse cycle.

How to Choose Odor-Eliminating Cleaners

Cat urine on clothing can soak in and set in a matter of minutes. Whether your can peed right on a fresh pile of laundry or missed the litterbox and soaked a nearby item, it’s crucial to get the article of clothing cleaned as soon as possible to minimize the chances of stains or lingering odor.

Angry Orange Odor Eliminator Neutralizes Odors

This highly-rated and popular neutralizing spray helps to eliminate pet odors from furniture and other materials, including clothing. Unlike many high-powered pet odor cleaners, this is made with natural ingredients (real oranges!) and is safe for use around pets and children.

This product can be sprayed anywhere there is a pet odor or mess. This includes:

Clothing
Upholstery
Fabric
Flooring

Angry Orange also assists in deterring cats from revisiting the soiled area or materials. Cats dislike citrus scents, and the orange oil used in the spray is a convenient preventive measure.

How to Use Angry Orange Odor Eliminator

This product can be sprayed directly onto odorous areas. It works best on clothes but can also be used on carpet and bedding with a lingering urine scent.

There are two options for using Angry Orange Odor Eliminator on accident areas, such as beneath a clothing pile or on clothing or furniture, there are two options for using Angry Orange Odor Eliminator.

First, simply spray a light mist over the area. The orange oil will trap and eliminate the cat urine scent while leaving a fresh and citrusy smell.

Second, the spray can also be used as a direct cleaner. Simply spray some product on the affected area or article of clothing and wipe with a damp cloth. You can re-mist as needed to mask and eliminate odor.

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Odor Eliminator

This odor eliminating spray is an enzymatic odor eliminator that works on many items, including clothes. It feeds on the stinky ammonia crystals in cat urine and takes care of the odor as well as the stain.

How to Use Rocco & Roxie

Spray Rocco & Roxie on affected areas. Let sit for an hour and blot with a damp towel. If using on soiled clothing, spray on the soiled area and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes to pre-soak. Then simply add the clothing to your wash and launder as usual.

This product is safe for use around children and pets and has no harmful residue or components left behind. It works on:

Clothing
Bedding
Carpet
Furniture

Save Yourself the Hassle of Cleaning Cat Pee

As the adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is particularly true for pet messes. Getting cat pee out of clothes can be a laborious process, with no guaranteed results.

Deterring cats from peeing in the first place can eliminate a lot of the effort in cleaning soiled clothing. Below we will explore options for discouraging cats from peeing on items such as clothing.

What Smells Deter Cats from Peeing

Several options will stop your cat from peeing on clothes or around the house. The easiest, and most common, is with scent.

Cats dislike strong odors and will actively avoid these if at all possible. Options to employ for deterring urination include:

Essential oils
Spray deterrents
Other methods of dispersing scents

Essential Oils to Keep Cats from Peeing on Items

There are certain types of essential oil scents that cats don’t like. They will avoid these scents, so utilizing one that cats don’t like and one that you enjoy can be a double bonus. Options for essential oils that cats hate include:

Orange essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Peppermint essential oil

If citrus isn’t your thing either, peppermint oil can be a refreshing and effective scent. It’s important to avoid high concentrations of any of these oils, as some oils can be dangerous for cats to inhale or come into contact with. Always check with your veterinarian before utilizing these or any other methods.

How to Use Essential Oils to Deter Cat from Peeing

To use essential oils for deterring feline urination, you only need four items, including:

Spray bottle
Essential oil of choice
Water
Measuring cup

Simply add around 20 drops of the oil for each cup of water. Feel free to make a larger batch if needed. Shake well in the bottle, as the oil will separate from the water. It will need to be mixed each time thoroughly before use. Spray the areas where the cat has historically or commonly peed, such as:

Near the laundry basket
On bedding
In the closet

It’s important not to soak these areas or your clothing; you don’t want too much oil to get onto the clothing and cause a stain, and excess oils can be harmful to your cat if they get onto the skin. You should spray enough for a moderate and lingering scent without obviously drenching the clothes.

Cleaners to Keep Cats from Initially Peeing on Items

Ready-made cleaners are a great purchase to keep cats from marking areas of the house or piles of clothes. If your cat has been marking or urinating in areas of the house, consider using one of the following sprays in your bedroom or closet area to deter potential peeing.

It’s important to note that you do not want to use ammonia-based cleaners to remove or deter pet stains. This ammonia scent can mimic the scent of cat urine and may actually increase the frequency of peeing or marking.

Most of these cleaners or deterrents use a combination of repellent scents along with enzymes to break up existing stains or odors that could potentially attract more urination.

The following cleaners are highly rated by pet owners and can help to deter cats from peeing on things like:

Clothing
Bedding
Flooring

Use Nature’s Miracle: No More Marking to Deter Urination

Nature’s Miracle is a very popular brand with pet owners and for a good reason. They have a spray that is a combination of odor-removal spray and deterrent. The enzymes break up existing odors and stains to keep the cat from revisiting and remarking the space.

Repellent scents of lemongrass and cinnamon help the cat associate the area with unpleasantness, further deterring subsequent urination. This is a natural addition to the spray and is safe for use around children as well as pets.

Feliway Classic Cat Odor Deterrent Keeps Cats from Peeing

This popular diffuser is a great option to keep cats from marking or urinating in the house due to stress. You simply plug this automatic diffuser into the wall, like many other brands of air fresheners. Most of the kits listed come with a 30-day supply for a trial, and then refills can be purchased separately.

The Feliway diffuser uses an odorless pheromone blend to calm your cat. It is supposed to mimic a mothers cat’s pheromones and scent. This method can also reduce instances of scratching and chewing. It works for about 700 square feet, so more than one diffuser may be required.

The bonus of this product is that it is completely safe for pets, and the smell cannot be detected by humans. You don’t have to worry about possibly damaging or harming your pets or children with this method.

How to Use Additional Scent Methods to Dissuade Cats from Peeing on Items

There are various scents that can be employed to keep your cat from peeing on your clothing or other personal items. If you aren’t able to use essential oils or would rather not spray things down, there are other options.

First, some scents that cats hate include:

Citronella
Lavender
Lemongrass
Cinnamon

How to Use Scents to Deter Cats from Peeing

Bringing one of the above scents into an area helps dissuade your cat from peeing on your clothes because they will not want to be in the area at all.

Use these scents in a variety of ways, including:

Burning a candle
Hanging a sachet
Plugging in an air freshener

How to Use Plants to Deter Cats from Peeing

Many people may not know that there are varieties of common plants that can be grown or used to deter cats from peeing in specific areas. Consider bringing one of these into your home or bedroom to keep your cat from peeing on your clothes.

Some of these plant options include:

Citronella
Lemongrass
Rue
Curry plant
Rosemary
Lavender
Geranium

Plants Better Suited for the Outdoors

Like lavender and geraniums, several of these plants are better suited for outside growth because of their potential size. Consider planting them in your yard beneath a bedroom window if possible or utilize a windowsill planter.

Indoor Plants to Deter Cat Pee

Lemongrass, citronella, and rue are options for aesthetically pleasing house plants. These leafy and scented plants are a great way to liven up your space while deterring your cat from being in an area that causes problems.

These plants are remarkably similar to one another and often confused, but both are effective cat deterrents. They are also good mosquito repellents and can be bought in a small houseplant size and placed around the house to deter cats from an area.

Rue is a lesser-known and less common plant. It is a pretty yellow plant that looks similar to baby’s breath. It is wispy, with tiny, bright yellow flowers. It emits a strong scent and is good to mix into floral arrangements or as a companion plant in a planter.

How to Use Herbs to Deter Cat from Peeing

Rosemary and lavender are historically unpleasant to cats, and they will avoid these plants and their scent.

Rosemary can be a small, hardy houseplant that is readily bought at many plant or home improvement stores. It’s easy to fit into bedroom décor or even set on top of a dresser.

Dried lavender sachets or lavender-scented spray is an option. The plant itself can grow quite large, so dried lavender to hang for décor and deterrent is a good choice.

(It’s important to explore why your cat may be marking or peeing on your clothes, particularly if deterrents aren’t working. Rule out underlying medical conditions with a veterinarian. UTIs, stress, and kidney disease are common reasons for unexplained or repeated marking.)

Final Thoughts

No matter the cause of cat pee on your clothing, rest assured that the odor and stain can be removed. Utilize some of the listed methods to avoid re-soiling and marking in troublesome areas while also successfully removing cat pee from clothing.

We hope these tips and tricks will prove helpful and valuable for any possible cat urine issues in the future.