How to Remove the Smell of Cat Urine from Running Shoes

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Kitty got it really wrong when he decided to pee on your favourite running shoes... Never fear, here is how to banish that stench for good!

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Find a plastic bag large enough to fit the shoes. It will also need to have enough space to tie up once the shoes are inside.
  2. [1]
    Advertisement
  3. Place the offending shoes into the plastic bag.
  4. Shake vigorously to get the baking soda all over the shoes.
  5. Longer than this is fine too.
  6. Remove the shoes outside or somewhere that you can shake them, like the bathroom . Shake the baking soda off the shoes completely.
  7. [2] The sunshine is important, so if it's too cold or raining, place them in a windowsill for the day or more.
    8. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can I use bleach to remove urine smell and stains from my shoes?
    Bruna Coutinho
    Cleaning Expert
    Bruna Coutinho is a Cleaning Expert and owner of Bruna’s Cleaning Services based in Wilmington, Delaware. With over 10 years of experience and over 200 recurring customers, Bruna's Cleaning Services provides a variety of cleaning solutions to the DE, NJ, and PA areas. While boasting eco-friendly cleaning practices, some of Bruna’s specialties include Deep Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Post Construction Cleaning, and Airbnb Cleaning. In 2023, Bruna's Cleaning Services was voted a Neighborhood Fave on Nextdoor.
    Bruna Coutinho
    Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    No, it’s not a good idea to use bleach on your shoes. Bleach can damage the fabric or material and could make things worse. Instead, stick to mild soap and water or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar for cleaning and removing stains or odors.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
  • Question
    This did not work for me, why is that? I followed all of the steps and it did not work, did this work for anybody else?
    Emma Richardson
    Community Answer
    You could instead use a dawn dish soap and Oxi clean mixture. Put it in a dawn dish soap bottle. Then put the shoes in the washer. Squirt with dawn and Oxi mix and then start the washer.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 33
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If the runners can be spot washed, try to do so using a suitable urine remover. But only put dry runners in the bag unless it sits in direct sunlight, in which case, you risk fading of the runners.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • If your cat has the temperament to do this once, he might get around to doing it again, so reconsider where you keep those shoes!
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Plastic bag, large enough to fit shoes
      • Rubber band to tie bag up with (optional)
      • Baking soda
      • Sunny day

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Find Cat Urine With a UV Light
      3 Best Methods for Getting the Smell of Pet Pee out of Your Couch
      How to
      Stop a Cat from Urinating in the House
      How to
      Clean Stinky Shoes: Home Remedies for Fresh Feet
      How to
      Polish Shoes
      How to
      Polish Boots
      How to
      Clean inside Shoes to Remove Odor
      How to
      Remove Odor from Your Shoes with Baking Soda: 4 Ways
      How to
      Fix Holes in Shoes
      How to
      Dry Shoes Fast with Newspaper, in the Dryer & More
      How to
      Sanitize & Clean Thrifted Shoes
      How to
      Remove Gum from a Shoe
      How to
      Fix Wet Suede Shoes
      How to
      Make Shoe Polish
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/10-tips-for-cleaning-cat-urine/
      2. ↑ https://www.thriftyfun.com/Cleaning-Cat-Urine-on-Leather-Boots.html

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 138,408 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Kayreen Haggin

        Mar 3, 2017

        "I'm excited to try this out because I have already tried laundry soap and Oxyclean, and they still smell. ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement