11 Ingenious Ways to Get Urine Out of a Car Seat (2023)

Busy parents know accidents happen. Unfortunately, transporting young children or pets can result in urine stains on car seats.

Our top product pick is Angry Orange Odor Eliminator & Pet Stain Remover.

We recommend this cleaner because it does a great job of breaking down odor-causing compounds and helps lift stains out of upholstery and other materials.

Here is our list of the 11 best products for getting urine out of car seats, plus some helpful car seat cleaning tips. 

11 Best Products for Getting Urine Out of Car Seats

Read on to learn more about some of the most effective products you can use to clean up accidents and remove stains from car seats.

Best Enzyme Cleaner and Odor Eliminator Combo: Angry Orange 

Enzyme cleaners are one of the best options available since they can break down and dissolve the compounds that give urine a distinctive smell.

Don’t let this pet urine cleaner fool you. It works just as well on human urine stains. Angry Orange is an excellent enzyme cleaner that breaks down uric acid, bacteria, and other compounds that give urine its unpleasant smell.

Plus, it uses a natural compound found in orange peels, which is safer than harsh chemicals.

Besides eliminating the smell, this cleaner has a great citrus smell and uses a mildly abrasive texture to get urine out of car seats, fabric, upholstery, carpet, and other materials.

Pros:

• Enzymes break down uric acid and other compounds

• The formula does a great job of lifting old and new stains

• Leaves fresh citrus smell behind

Cons:

• Not the cheapest option

Best Non-Enzyme Urine Cleaner: Resolve Urine Destroyer

Resolve Urine Destroyer is the best way to remove human and pet urine stains. This cleaner neutralizes odors, lifts stains, and penetrates upholstery to deep clean the area using polymers.

Pros:

• Climate pledge friendly product

• It does a fantastic job of removing stains and odors

• Great for spot cleaning and deep cleaning

Cons:

• Doesn’t use enzymes

Best Natural Solution: Begley’s Natural Pet Stain and Odor Remover

Begley’s Natural Pet Stain and Odor Remover is a product designer for pet owners, but it works well on human urine. It uses an enzyme that breaks down the molecules that give urine its unpleasant smell.

The fresh citrus smell does a great job covering up any underlying urine smells, and the spray formula is convenient for lifting large urine stains.

Pros:

• Enzymes break down the molecules that cause the urine to smell

• The spray formula is convenient

• Natural ingredients

Cons:

• Small quantity for the price

Best Urine Cleaner for Old Stains: Clorox Urine Remover

It’s an effective way of removing urine stains and smells, but you’ll need to rinse the area thoroughly to prevent accidental exposure to hydrogen peroxide and other harsh ingredients. 

It’s safe to use on upholstery and other materials but can cause irritation if it comes in contact with human skin.

Pros:

• Removes bacteria and odors

• Great value tanks to commercial formula

• A reliable brand that’s known for quality cleaners

Cons:

• Hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals can be harsh

Best Heavy-Duty Cleaner: Simple Green

Simple Green offers a versatile product designed to lift urine, blood, vomit, and other stubborn stains. 

It works great on new and old stains, and even though the brand markets its product toward pet owners, the cleaner works with human urine.

Pros:

• Effective enzyme cleaner

• Great value with the refill included

• Works well on new and old stains

Cons:

• The list of ingredients is hard to find

Most Concentrated Enzyme Cleaner: Urine-B-Gone

This professional cleaner is excellent for those who like shopping in bulk. Due to the high concentration of Urine-B-Gone, you’ll get better results if you dilute this cleaner in some warm water.

Overall, it’s a great option for removing tough stains and lingering odors since the enzymes will break down the bacteria and acids causing the urine smell.

Pros:

• High concentration of enzymes

• Adjust the concentration by adding water

• Excellent value

Cons:

• You’ll have to dilute this cleaner before using

Best Unscented Urine Cleaner: ZORBX Urine Cleaner

It won’t cover up the urine smell, but it uses salts, rubbing alcohol, and distilled water to neutralize odors and lift smells. It acts fast, and you can safely use it on car seats and a wide range of surfaces.

Pros:

• Great for those who are sensitive to smells

• It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals

• Acts fast and does an excellent job of removing stains

Cons:

• It doesn’t help mask the urine smell

Best Budget Solution: Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda

Arm & Hammer baking soda is a pantry staple, but it’s also a versatile cleaner. Thanks to its abrasive properties, baking soda can absorb fresh urine stains, and the low pH of baking soda can help neutralize the odor.

You’ll get better results if you generously sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let it sit for a few hours. You can rinse the area and apply another cleaner if the smell remains.

Pros:

• An inexpensive and versatile solution

• Great for absorbing fresh stains

• Low pH helps with the odor

Cons:

• Not as effective as enzyme-based cleaners.

Most Versatile Cleaner: Distilled White Vinegar

These two gallons of Member’s Mark Distilled White Vinegar are a great buy, and white vinegar is an effective way of breaking down the uric acid in urine.

Pros:

• It breaks down uric acid and removes stains

• Great value

• Suitable for a wide range of other uses

Cons:

• It leaves a strong smell behind

Most Gentle Solution: Dish Soap

This gentle dish soap from Mrs. Meyer’s is a biodegradable solution that you can use to eliminate minor urine stains.

For better results, try mixing a few drops of dish soap with some of the distilled white vinegar listed above.

Pros:

• Biodegradable product without harsh chemicals

• Ideal for lifting small urine stains

• Versatile product

Cons:

• Not as effective as other solutions

Best for Eliminating Unpleasant Odors: Febreze Unstoppable Car Air Freshener

A strong car air freshener is a must-have accessory for busy parents. We highly recommend the Febreze Unstoppable Car Air Freshener with its convenient vent clip design and pleasant smell.

Pros:

• Great, long-lasting smell

• The vent clip design is discreet

• It covers unpleasant urine smells

Cons:

• Doesn’t directly clean urine out of car seats

A Few Tips for Getting Urine Out of Car Seats

These tips will help you get urine stains out of upholstery.

How do you get urine out of fabric car seats?

Your priority should be to break down the uric acid and other compounds that cause urine to have a strong smell. Once the fabric absorbs these compounds, the smell will be challenging to eliminate.

You can pat the area with paper towels to remove as much of the stain as possible. Rinsing with some cool water can help.

Spraying the area with a urine cleaner or mixing one-part vinegar with one-part warm water will help. Let the cleaner or vinegar sit for a few minutes before using a sponge to lather the fabric.

If you’re cleaning up after a pet, it’s also important to disinfect the area since some animals have high levels of bacteria in their urine.

How do I get rid of urine smell in my car?

Uric acid and, in some cases, bacteria give urine its smell. This smell can linger in your vehicle even after you’ve cleaned the stain.

The best way to eliminate this smell is to use an enzyme cleaner. Enzyme cleaners use proteins to break down compounds like uric acid and bacteria in a process similar to digestion.

Look for a quality enzyme cleaner with a high concentration of proteins. Spray the area with this cleaner and wait a couple of hours. The enzymes need time to penetrate the upholstery and get to work.

If the odor remains, try baking soda, vinegar, or an air freshener to cover it.

Does pee stain car seats?

Urine contains urochrome, a yellow pigment that can stain surfaces. If you don’t clean the urine quickly, it will leave a dark stain. You can prevent urine from staining your car seats by rinsing the area with as much water as possible. 

Conclusion

The best way to get urine out of a car seat is to use an enzyme cleaner like Angry Orange Odor Eliminator & Pet Stain Remover. Also, follow the provided cleaning pointers for optimal cleaning and freshness.