How to Get Cat Urine Out of Leather Boots: 3 Easy Methods
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Cats are lovely pets to have at home. But they tend to pee in places that they should not, and a good example is leather boots.
Picture your favorite pair of leather boots. One morning when getting ready, you get them out for some light cleaning. Then you catch a whiff of cat urine. What will you do?
With pets like cats around, it’s best to keep the boots in a safe place where they won’t get to them. However, it is also a good idea to learn how to get cat urine out of leather boots in case they do find them. Below is a step-by-step guide that offers the best solution for this issue.
Cleaning Cat Urine from Leather Boots
Leather is a natural material that requires lots of care. It tends to be quite porous. This means it can easily stain and absorb liquid like cat urine. Once you notice the cat urine on your favorite pair of boots, act fast to get rid of it.
Luckily, there are several solutions that you can use to get rid of the cat pee and odor.
Using an Enzyme Cleaner
There are cleaning agents with enzymes to help break down the cat’s urine. When you use this solution properly, you get rid of the pee, stain, and odor. For this to work, follow the steps below.
1. Gather Your Cleaning Products
Preparation is the most crucial step to remove all the cat urine. The urine might have been there for some time, which means you have urine, stain, and odor to tackle. Start by gathering everything that you need, including olive oil, saddle soap, four soft cloths, water, and enzymatic pet odor-neutralizing cleaner.
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2. Remove the Cat Pee
Using the soft cloth, make sure you absorb all the cat urine. If the urine has been there for some time, the leather boot might have already absorbed some. But try as much as possible to remove much of the residue using the soft cloth.
3. Spray the Stain
Take your enzymatic cleaner when there’s no more liquid inside the shoe. Spray it inside and outside the leather boot. Ensure you cover the entire stain with the cleaner. It will help to break down the urine stain.
After spraying, leave the cleaner on the shoe for 5 minutes. Once the time elapses, take a soft and clean cloth, then dip it in clean water. Ring out excess water and use the damp cloth to work the cleaner on the boot. Do this in a circular motion making sure you cover the entire affected area.
4. Leave the Cleaner to Dry
When you work the enzymatic cleaner, leave it overnight to dry. Ensure you touch the boot to ensure there’s no more dampness before proceeding.
5. Use the Saddle Soap
Fetch another clean, soft cloth and dip it in warm water. Apply some saddle soap on the damp cloth. Use the cloth to work on the area with stains. Remove all stains left over on the edges of the area with the cat pee.
6. Add Moisture Back to the Leather Boot
The leather boot requires some moisture to avoid cracking and discoloration. This is where olive oil comes in handy. Add two to three drops of the oil to the impacted area. Use the last soft cloth to work the olive oil on your leather shoe. Follow this with buffing using a part of the cloth without any oil.
Using a Natural Solution
Leather is a natural material which means a natural solution can be a better option for removing cat pee. The natural solution is simple to make and will break down the urine enzymes. You can use the following items for the best results:
- 4 small towels
- Spray Bottle
- Baking Soda
- Liquid soap
- Leather conditioner
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Plastic mixing container
- Mixing stick
- A pair of gloves
- A mask
Follow this procedure:
1. Preparation
Prepare to clean your leather boots by gathering all the items listed above. Also, sit somewhere you can work on the shoes without making a huge mess. Make sure you put on the gloves before mixing the different ingredients.
2. Mix the Natural Solution
Get the plastic container and mix one tablespoon of liquid soap, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 4 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Use the mixing stick to mix the ingredients carefully. You can wear a mask to prevent inhaling the fumes.
3. Place the Mixture in the Spray Bottle
While still wearing the gloves, pour the mixture into the plastic container into the spray bottle. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes for the mixture to settle. As this takes place, use one of the towels to soak up as much of the cat urine from the leather boots as possible.
4. Spray the Affected Area
After absorbing the cat pee, spray the natural solution on the affected area. Make sure the area is a little damp, then leave the solution on your boots to dry.
5. Recondition the Leather Boots
Once the solution dries up, it’s time to recondition the leather boots. Apply some leather conditioner on a clean towel, then work it on your boot. It’s the best way to add moisture back to this area to prevent further damage.
Using White Vinegar
Another natural solution you can use that’s readily available is white vinegar. Combining the white vinegar solution and lots of sunshine is a winning solution. For this, you have to get the following items:
- A small bowl
- 2 cups of white vinegar
- 2 cups of water
- A small brush
- Newspapers
- Leather cleaner
- Sunlight
- Coconut oil
- Clean, soft cloths
Steps to follow:
1. Remove the Excess Urin
As much as the leather will have absorbed the cat pee, use a clean, soft cloth to absorb the excess amounts. Make sure you’re sitting in a sunny area as you do this. If it’s a cold day outside, it’s best to use a different approach.
2. Scrub the Area
The patch with cat urine requires some scrubbing to remove all excess grime on it. Use a small brush to do this gently. But ensure the brush is dry to prevent moisture from worsening the stain. If the cat’s urine has been there for some time, the odor can be excessive.
3. Apply Leather Cleaner
After scrubbing the area, apply some of the leather cleaners. There are many brands to choose from.
4. Mix the Vinegar solution
Leave the leather cleaner on and mix the vinegar solution. Get the small bowl and in it, add the water and vinegar. Take another clean cloth and dip it into the vinegar solution. Work the wet cloth on the area with the urine stain. Don’t ring the cloth. Work the solution first, then proceed to wipe away the residue.
5. Leave the Boots to Dry
When you wipe away the excess vinegar solution, leave the boots to dry completely. Once the moisture is dry, get another clean cloth and the coconut oil. Apply the oil on the leather boots to bring back moisture to the area.
Does Vinegar Ruin Leather?
Vinegar works as an excellent cleaning agent when you want to get rid of cat pee. However, it’s best not to use it without diluting it with water. Vinegar can dry out your leather boots, leaving them discolored and with cracks.
It’s why in the above solution, you have to apply some coconut oil after the vinegar solution dries up. Leather loves moisture, and coconut oil will moisturize the affected area.
Have a Designated Area for Your Cat to Pee
Most of the time, cats require a place to relieve themselves. If you don’t provide them with a clean litter box, they can find another place to do so. This is how you end up with cat urine in your favorite pair of leather boots.
Therefore, always ensure you have a clean litter box in the house. Keep it in an area where the cat can access it. Also, make sure the cat isn’t affected by any other animal in the house. Some cats pee in different private areas of the house.
Lastly, as you change the litter box, ensure the space around doesn’t smell of old urine. Cats are quite sensitive and prefer a clean area.
Conclusion
Cat urine can ruin leather boots. You end up with a nasty stain and odor when the pee stays there for long. Therefore, the best solution is to get rid of the cat urine as soon as possible. This article has three excellent solutions you can use to clean leather boots.
These solutions center on breaking down the cat’s urine enzymes. Once you do so, you have to add moisture back to the leather boots using natural oil. Always ensure you have all the things you need before cleaning the affected area.
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Featured Image Credit: FotoRieth, Pixabay
