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If you’ve ever had a cat, you know how awful cat pee can smell when it’s done outside the litter box. Naughty, naughty! I’ve thrown out plenty of bed sheets, pillows, and towels because of bad foster kitties, but over the years (and the accidents) I’ve learned that you don’t necessarily have to toss out your stuff. There are a few options, and just this week I learned about a new, and totally easy to find, urine blaster from a local vet.

Nature’s Miracle, or the less expensive, but equally effective Petastic Stain & Odor Remover, works via the science of enzymes. When poured on the tinkled spot, natural enzymes in the liquid eat the odor-causing compounds. The key, I learned from my local pet store, is to keep the area moist. Once the liquid dries, the enzymes die. One tip the shop owners gave me when I had to clean cat pee out of the carpet in my friend’s car (oops!) was to soak the area with Petastic and place a damp towel over the area. This will keep the odor eating liquid around for longer, allowing the enzymes to work longer. Just remember to take the towel out after 24 hours otherwise you’ll have to deal with the smell of pee and mold.

For items that can go in the wash, a local vet suggested Oxi-Clean. She’s found that it does a better job on laundered items than Nature’s Miracle. Make sure to presoak in dissolved Oxi-Clean for 1 to 6 hours. This is key to getting the stain out.