Try Baking Soda or Any Deodorizer You can combine a little bit of baking soda into your cat's litter. The next time your cat uses the litter box, the baking soda will absorb the urine along with the litter itself. Between the two, the days of an odorous, ammonia-filled house should be behind you.
Use Baking Soda
If you decide that a cat litter deodorizer isn't right for either you or your cats, using a little baking soda is another sure way to help with the odours coming from your cat litter box, although it may sound like an unlikely fix.
Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda to the bottom of the litter box to absorb odor. You can also buy clay cat litter containing baking soda for a similar effect. Sprinkle a cat-specific deodorizer on top of the litter to mask any unwanted smells.
Add baking soda to the litter: Surprisingly, baking soda is a great all-natural deodorizer that is both safe for cats and can help manage the litter box smell. By mixing a little bit of baking soda with the litter, you can help absorb any urine odors also.
Cleaning the area thoroughly with vinegar first and then applying an enzyme treatment will break down and evaporate the uric acid and your home will be free of cat odors. Vinegar and enzyme cleaners work on all surfaces: hardwood floors, carpets, mattresses.
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This GH Seal-star spray quickly tackles airborne cooking odors, smoke, must and more with its cyclodextrin technology that surrounds odor molecules and pulls them from the air. And all this performance comes at a great price, making it our Best Value pick.
Baking Soda
If you're still having odor problems, try sprinkling a little baking soda on the bottom of the box before you add fresh litter each week, or place an open box of baking soda in the same area as the box.
Note that while many people use scented litter or air freshener to mask litter box odors, these odors can be off-putting to cats. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat.
Use the natural power of baking soda to help neutralize cat urine odor in soiled bedding and clothes. Add a half-cup directly to the drum with your clothes, or use a detergent that has baking soda in it.
Covers or hoods trap odors. That's good for you, but less so for the cat who may not enjoy being trapped inside with the smell. Some litter-box hoods have a space to hold a charcoal filter, which may help keep odors down for both cat and human.
#2: Replace the Litter Twice a Week or More
Even if you scoop out your kitty litter box consistently, smells can still linger in the litter as you accidentally miss small specks of urine and feces. That's why changing the litter at least twice a week can help to significantly reduce litter box smell.
A little sprinkle of baby powder in your cat box after scooping can make it smell a little less, well, smelly!
The beneficial qualities of baking soda are the result of its ability to act as a buffer, neutralizing both acidic and alkaline substances to regulate pH. This is the real secret behind its effectiveness as an odor remover — it does more than mask offensive smells, it actually neutralizes them.
The distinction in composition approach is that baking soda has a stronger alkaline base while baking powder has extra neutral pH stability. Cleaning Uses: Baking soda may be very powerful at absorbing odors and stains on surfaces like countertops and home equipment.
The "why" behind baking soda's successful absorption of odors has more to do with chemistry than anything else, says Alex Reed, the co-founder of Truman's: "Most smells are acidic in nature, and baking soda can be a pH neutralizer." Simply put, the chemicals in baking soda are perfect at neutralizing the acids that ...
Compared to other domesticated species, the urine of cats is more concentrated. It has a very strong ammonia odor which can grow stronger the longer you let dirty litter sit. But extreme odors from the litter box could be red flags indicating something more serious like a urinary tract infection.
When urea, the main component of urine, decomposes, the highly volatile ammonia is released, and as cats have higher levels of urea than dogs, or even humans, this is multiplied in the litter tray. Humans can detect ammonia at very small concentrations, and it has a particularly fishy smell.
If you're wondering whether it's safe to clean a litter box with bleach, vinegar or other pet care cleaning supplies, the answer is yes—as long as you rinse them properly. However, you're probably better off just using good old soap and water.
Try home remedies like vinegar, baking soda, and activated charcoal. Regularly vacuum carpets, rugs, and other surfaces where pet hair accumulates. Clean items your pet uses daily, including bed coverings and pet blankets. Regular grooming promotes good health and removes unwanted smells.
Baking soda absorbs bad smells from old food scraps and other garbage before it reaches your nostrils. If you're all out of baking soda, try using dryer sheets for stinky trash cans. The fabric softener from the sheets will grab smells and replace them with a pleasant laundry scent.
Add about 25 drops of your favorite essential oil to 2 tablespoons of baking soda and stir to combine. Lemon and lavender are great choices, but eucalyptus is my favorite because of the refreshing scent. Pour the baking soda and essential oil mix into the water and stir. Then funnel the water into your spray bottle.
Activated Charcoal is an amazing material with a huge surface area, that can absorb odor molecules. All Innofresh products use this material because it's the best available odor absorber.
Multiple things can cause your house to smell like cat urine, even if you don't have a cat. Investigate if there is mold, leaking Freon, sewer gases, smelly plants, spoiled food, or even stains from previous pet owners.