When a cat sprays your outdoor air conditioning unit, the smell is putrid. Unfortunately, you may not even know that the neighborhood stray has been spraying your unit over the winter until you kick it on during the first hot day of the summer. When you notice that awful smell, you must clean the unit to remove the spray and put a stop to the stench filling your home each time the unit is on.

To eliminate the cat spray from your air conditioning unit, you will need the following supplies:

• Enzyme-based urine cleaning product
• Garden hose and nozzle
• Screwdriver
• Rust-breaking spray

Prepare for Cleaning

Before you begin this process, cut the power to the unit. Go to your breaker panel and flip the switch to shut off the electricity to the unit.

Now, get your screwdriver and start removing the screws that hold the grill in place. These screws can sometimes be difficult to remove because of the constant exposure to the elements. If you cannot get the screws to break free easily, spray them with some rust breaking spray. Walk away for a few minutes and allow the spray to penetrate the rust. After removing the screws, put them in a container with a lid and set it aside.

Lift the grill off of the unit and carefully set it aside. Use care not to bend the grill, or you won't be able to get it put back on securely.

Time to Clean

You should now see the internal coils of the unit. This is the area that you must focus on getting the cat spray off of. Spray the enzyme-based cleaning solution all over the unit, paying special attention to the coils. Be very generous with the application of this solution because you need to coat every area the cat sprayed so that the enzymes can break down the odor-causing elements.

Now, let the solution do your cleaning for you. Walk away and let it dry entirely. Once it has dried, the cat spray should no longer be a problem.

Give the unit a thorough rinse with your garden hose. Use a medium-pressure setting to rinse, and be extra careful around wiring so that you don't knock anything lose.

Note: Don't forget to clean the grill.

Finishing Steps

After the unit is clean, put the grill back in place and reinsert all of the screws. Turn on the unit. If you notice any remaining odor, repeat the process once more.

Stop Future Sprays

There are some plants that you can plant around the unit to deter cats from spraying or even coming close to the unit. Check out these plants and consider planting a few to avoid future sprays.

If the smell continues to be a problem, contact your local AC repair technician for air conditioner repair services.