How to remove pet and dog urine from carpet

This article tells how to remove pet urine from your carpet, get rid of the smell and offers tips for selecting an appropriate cleaning product.

Photo Credit: Antti Karppinen
By Angela Epps

Everyone who has a pet knows about the products that are specifically aimed at cleaning up after animal accidents. Removing pet urine from you carpet can be an expensive proposition if you go the retail route. Here are three easy tried and true steps for removing your dog’s (or any other four legged friend’s) urine from your carpet.

1.) First, grab a bunch of paper towels and soak up as much of the urine as you can by blotting up the excess wetness. Always blot, never use a rubbing motion.

2.) Try a mixture of dish and soap and water. Wet the area thoroughly and let it sit for about ten minutes before taking your handy paper towels and blotting again. Rinse the area with clean water to remove any residue soap and soak up the extra moisture before letting the carpet air dry thoroughly.

3.) If there is any smell left after the area is completely dry, sprinkle some baking soda over your carpet and let it sit for about twenty minutes before vacuuming it up. There are a lot of ‘pre-vacuuming odor reducing powders’ that are being marketed for those with pets, but I have found that this method works just as well as, if not better than, its pricey alternative.

If you do wish to try a store bought carpet cleaner, remember these three tips when shopping:

1.) Buy a product that is specifically aimed at cleaning up a dog or a cat’s waste. Read the label to make sure that it is safe to use around your pet.

2.) Always follow the directions and be aware of any health issues or safety hazards that the usage of the product(s) might create for the humans in your home as well as the animals.

3.) Always spot test a new product on an inconspicuous part of your carpeting before using it in a larger area where others can see it. Some products can cause carpet discoloration and/or fading, especially if the flooring is older. Every carpet is different and just because it works well in one room of your home isn’t a guarantee that it won’t damage a different type of carpet that is laid in another room.

If you do not notice the mess until after it is well set into the carpet, you may never be able to rid yourself of the stain and/or smell completely. If you manage to clean up the surface of your carpet but still notice the rancid smell you can try to lift the carpet up and clean the sub flooring underneath with a mixture of dish soap and water. Make sure to clean the underside of the carpet where the animal has urinated as well.

Some people even use a mixture of bleach and water to completely disinfect the area after washing it. I do not feel that this is necessary but if you do wish to try it, make sure to rinse the area thoroughly afterwards to clean up any residue left from the strong concoction. Do not use this mixture on the underside of the carpet as it might soak through to the top layer and discolor it.

After dabbing up the extra moistness and allowing the area to dry completely, re-lay the carpet and the smell should be gone. If it isn’t, or if the stain itself is still showing through, you may need to think about replacing the carpet. If you are still going through the ‘training stage’ with your pet(s) or are thinking about having more in the future, you may want to think about getting a more durable type of flooring in the areas that they inhabit such as a vinyl or laminate. This makes for easy clean-up and maintenance.

Pets are a big responsibility but they are also a wonderful part of a lot of people’s lives. Sometimes you just have to deal with the wet stinky carpets in order to enjoy those wet nose kisses.