How to safely wash a suitcase?

[maomaocat]

I've got a suitcase that a cat peed in last year. I was housesitting for some people and one of their cats had some kidney issues - little did I know that it would ask me to take it to the vet by going to the toilet on my suitcase and clothes. I was able to easily wash the clothes but for the last 10 months I've struggled (or been to lazy) about what to do with the luggage... it's got a fairly strong smell of cat pee inside it. I've sprayed it with some general cleaning spray but that hasn't had much effect.

I saw this guide - 10 Tips on How to Clean a Suitcase - wikiHow - but I'm concerned about the mention of damaging the waterproofing in the suitcase. It's a Kathmandu 40L Jetpack. It's a great bag and I used it all the time before the incident. Since then, it's just gathered dust outside. I'd love to be able to use it again.

Any suggestions about how to clean it?

 

[The Rok]

I can't offer advice on how to clean it, but if it were me and a cat had plssed on my suit case then both the cat & the suitcase would go in the bin!

How much is it to replace the suitcase?

 

[Flying Fox]

May I suggest dousing it in petrol and setting it alight

 

[trooper]

Persistent isn't it?

I had a cat pee on a parachute once (Yes, it IS a long story!!!!)..and I didn't want to use anything "harsh" on it... so I opted for soaking in plain water... rinse and repeat and repeat and repeat...etc

It took quite a few cycles before the smell dissipated to any great extent...

 

[The Rok]

Persistent isn't it?

I had a cat pee on a parachute once (Yes, it IS a long story!!!!)..and I didn't want to use anything "harsh" on it... so I opted for soaking in plain water... rinse and repeat and repeat and repeat...etc

It took quite a few cycles before the smell dissipated to any great extent...

Did you then take the cat up with you while using said parachute? Maybe rest one of its lives?

 

[mkentwell]

1. Place cat in suitcase
2. Place loud clock in suitcase
3. Lock suitcase
4. Leave suitcase in public area near transportation
5. Wait

 

[markis10]

Shannon Lush gets the cat pee on floors often when she does the ABC shows, her recommendation should also work with a bag vs carpet:



Blot the area with paper towel till carpet or floor is touch dry.


Sprinkle bicarb over the area then splash with white vinegar.


Scrub with a nylon brush and leave to dry.


Repeat if the smell remains.


**Note - If you want to deter the cat you can use a combination of camphor and water. If you have coloured carpets only use moth balls near the area.

 

[trooper]

Nah... It was an elderly old family cat... It had earned a bit of leeway!!!

 

[RWJ777]

Thank your lucky stars! I once had my girl wee on my lounge (she was not herself that day and has not done since, 10 years later).

I think we need to lift the tale on this stream of woe (wee). Sorry, couldn't resist.

Anyway, I was able to buy a wash from the vet which was really good. I used it a couple of times and all ok. Last week, my old girl weed on my suitbag -- she was cross I had gone away for a few days. I washed it with simple detergent in the laundry tub (could use bath-tub for a bigger bag) and then rinsed repeatedly. Hung it out in the sun. Given the bag a new lease on life!

Good thing you pawsed before doing anything rash.

 

[Hvr]

May I suggest dousing it in petrol and setting it alight

The suitcase or the cat?

And remember, not on a day of total fire ban.

 

[Flying Fox]

The suitcase or the cat?

And remember, not on a day of total fire ban.

Why make any hard decisions.... both!

Fire Ban advice noted and very apt given what's been happening across AUS of late.

 

[Fantic125]

Regarding the waterproofing, get a can of waterproofing spray from a shoe store and use that on the outside of the suitcase.

I've used it on a Samsonite bag (unfortunately after it got saturated in a thunderstorm.....)

 

[maomaocat]

I guess some of the responses to my question answer another one I had, how to best deal with cats while away travelling ;-)

I'll give some of the other suggestions a go. The bag is a slightly annoying size - a bit too big for carry on, a little too small for checked, but I do like the gluon stuff and built in backpack straps.

 

[vetrade]

Try "Nilodor" to neutralise the smell. Works very well.
Another trick to stop cats (especially tom cats) from pissing inside is to spray their favourite spots with Windex (window cleaner). They don't like the smell of it. Good for curtains as it doesn't discolour them like a lot of other products do.

 

[AVC]

When our cat was new it managed to wee in the laundry basket (even though it was toilet trained, and I stupidly left the basket on the laundry floor near the tray).

Took several washes back to back to get rid of the smell.

I would suggest leaving it to soak for a day or so in the laundry tub, then put it in the machine (if it's a front loader) on gentle. And for the suitcase, just get a new one.

 

[Foreigner]

May I suggest dousing it in petrol and setting it alight

I hope you're referring to the suitcase and not the cat.

 

[Foreigner]

I've got a suitcase that a cat peed in last year. I was housesitting for some people and one of their cats had some kidney issues - little did I know that it would ask me to take it to the vet by going to the toilet on my suitcase and clothes. I was able to easily wash the clothes but for the last 10 months I've struggled (or been to lazy) about what to do with the luggage... it's got a fairly strong smell of cat pee inside it. I've sprayed it with some general cleaning spray but that hasn't had much effect.

I saw this guide - 10 Tips on How to Clean a Suitcase - wikiHow - but I'm concerned about the mention of damaging the waterproofing in the suitcase. It's a Kathmandu 40L Jetpack. It's a great bag and I used it all the time before the incident. Since then, it's just gathered dust outside. I'd love to be able to use it again.

Any suggestions about how to clean it?

I can't answer your question but on re-reading your post i realised the cat is not yours. Did you tell the owners what their pet did? Did they offer to get you a new suitcase? Would you ask them?

 

[jetlagger]

Unusual name mao mao cat.. though I would simply suggest to throw the soiled suitcase out & acquire a new & better smelling one :mrgreen:

 

[maomaocat]

I can't answer your question but on re-reading your post i realised the cat is not yours. Did you tell the owners what their pet did? Did they offer to get you a new suitcase? Would you ask them?

Sadly the cat was not long for this world after that incident. It wasn't the friendliest cat but it was so weak and pitiful at that moment, I was prepared to forgive it for anything provided it stayed alive!

The cat that owns SWMBO and me demonstrates far better bladder control but is a complete paper tiger He's the boss around humans, the wuss around other cats. Doesn't even know how to fight!

 

[atreides]

My brother got drunk and peed in his suitcase years ago

He ended up throwing it in the swimming pool for a few days to sort it out.