Cat-Friendly Ways to Deodorize Your Home

Our feline friends are usually very clean as they are essentially self-cleaning machines. That’s why they don’t need to be regularly bathed. However, litter boxes tend to stink up a whole house with their distinct odors. Most people opt for candles and plug-in air fresheners as a simple solution, but these choices may not be the best for you or your cats.

Normal cleaning products and air fresheners are known to be a common source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be dangerous to both humans and animals. That said, you’ll want to think twice before you use a traditional cleaner to rid your house of cat smells. 

To help you deodorize your house safely, below TurboTenant has outlined some effective cleaning solutions using natural ingredients you’ll be able to find in your kitchen. 

1. Litter Box Freshener

Of course, you want to use proper litter box tactics to beat the smell, but sometimes you need a little more to do the trick. Unfortunately, many cats will stop using their litter boxes if it’s heavily scented with a deodorizer. However, a little baking soda in a litter box can go a long way to a fresher house. Simply sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda over the litter every time you scoop the litter box. 

To help with the scent even more, use this DIY room spray to beat those stinky smells every time your kitty does their business:

• 2 to 3 drops of cat-safe essential oils. Be careful, as many EO’s are extremely toxic to cats.
• 1 tablespoon baking soda 
• Distilled water

Mix the essential oils, water, and baking soda. Add mixture to a spray bottle and shake well to create the perfect freshening spray for your space. 

2. Carpet Refresher Solution

With a house full of cats, your carpets can accumulate chunks from the litter box and dried wet food stains. In this case, this carpet refresher solution is the way to go.

For this cleaning recipe you will need:

• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 shaker container – an empty and cleaned parmesan cheese container works great!

Mix your ingredients together in your shaker and you will have a powdery solution that can negate any annoying carpet smell.  Simply sprinkle your cleaning remedy onto the carpet, let it sit for about an hour, vacuum it up. The cinnamon in this recipe isn’t necessary but adds a sweet fall-inspired smell that is pet-friendly and perfect for the holiday season.

3. DIY Simmer Pot Air Freshener

After you’ve finished cleaning any smelly messes, an air freshener can be the perfect way to fill your home with new, pleasant aromas. Ditch the common plug-in fresheners and try this natural simmer pot recipe to push out old pet smells in no time at all. All you need for this recipe is:

• 1 sliced orange
• 1 sliced lemon
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves

Toss your ingredients into a pot on the stove, fill the pot about halfway with water, and heat the mixture on a low setting. Let your solution sit for the day and add more water as needed. As the ingredients cook, your house will be filled with a pleasant, seasonal aroma.

While our furry friends can bring unwanted smells into the house, there are natural solutions to deodorize your room. Using the above recipes, you can keep your house smelling good while keeping you and your pets safe from harmful chemicals found in many traditional cleaners.