When your beloved feline takes to peeing outside the litter box, the odor can be very hard to get rid of. Likewise, masking the smell can seem a hopeless task. Whether your cat urinates on the carpet, on the bed, or on your clothes, it’s vital to neutralize that urine odor immediately. Cats will often return to pee on the same spot, over and over, unless the odor is neutralized. Read on, for hacks to eliminate cat urine odors from your home.

1. Start with your cat litter box

It’s possible your cat doesn’t like its litter box. According to the ASPCA, at least 10% of cats develop some sort of aversion to their litter box, and begin to urinate and defecate outside their box. This problem is common if you have more than one cat; try giving each cat it’s own litter box. Likewise, your cat may simply dislike the type of litter you put in the box; try changing the type of cat litter you use. Avoidance of the litter box is a behavior that must be nipped in the bud; once a cat starts doing its business outside the box, the problem can become chronic.

2. Removing the cat urine odor

As soon as you become aware that your cat has peed outside the box, clean it up as much as you can. If your cat has urinated on something washable, such as bedding or clothing, get it into the washer ASAP. If your cat has peed on the carpet or upholstery, use an extracting wet vac but don’t use a steam cleaner; the heat from a steam cleaner can set odors into the carpet fibers or upholstery, rather than removing it. Finish with an enzymatic cat odor remover contains special bacteria that actually feed on urine. An enzyme spray made that targets pet urine will deter your cat from returning to the same spot. You can find many brands of enzymatic cat odor remover at your local pet store.

3. Do-it-yourself urine neutralizer treatments

There are a number of common household products you can use to naturally neutralize the smell of cat urine. Mix white vinegar with three parts of water to make an odor-neutralizing solution for bedding, upholstery, and carpets. Saturate the area with this vinegar solution, and let dry. You can also use apple cider vinegar directly in the washer; add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar into the washer with your detergent. Get the soiled items into the wash ASAP. Finally, Baking soda is an old home remedy for any type of odor. Generously sprinkle the urine-stained area with baking soda. Rub it into the soiled area, and let it sit for at least half an hour. Finally, vacuum up the baking soda and see if the urine smell is gone.