We’ve all been there. You walk into a room and there is a fresh dog pee smell and a urine stain on the carpet. Cat, dog, hamster, it’s equally awful to have to clean up. And no one enjoys the process of pet urine removal from carpet, especially as it can be so hard to get up once it starts soaking into the fibres.
But, what if we told you that you don’t need to be so stressed about it anymore?
That’s right, we are here to take some of the pressure off with a detailed guide on how to remove pet urine from carpet.
We have steps to remove urine when you have wet stains, dry stains and when to finally call in the professionals.
There are loads of great methods that you can use, each of which will make the experience a little easier on you. It’s time to reclaim your carpet and get it back to looking and smelling fresh.
How to Remove Pet Urine Stains and Odours from Carpet
You’re faced with the dog urine, but what do you do? The answer depends on whether you are dealing with a wet stain or a dry one. Below, you will find detailed guides on what to do when faced with both types of stain.
Before we start, here are some quick tips for removing dog urine stains and odour from carpets:
- Always mop the stain up as quickly as possible
- Make sure you use baking soda generously because it’s an amazing deodoriser
- Wet vacuuming can be highly effective
- Reinforce house training if needed
- Keep a good supply of enzymatic cleaners
- Keep litter boxes clean to avoid cat urine on your carpet
- Get in touch with your vet if the behaviour persists, they might be unwell
Wet Stains
These can be considered the easiest to clean up because they are fresh and haven’t fully soaked into the carpet fibres and dried yet. Here are the steps you need to follow.
What You Will Need:
- Paper towel (a lot of them)
- A shoe
- Water
- Disinfectant wipes
1 Step One
Place paper towels over the stained area to soak up the urine. Make sure to be generous with these, as the more you soak the better the result when removing the pet stain.
2 Step Two
If it is a rug as opposed to carpet, place more paper towels underneath to stop it from soaking through completely (really stack them up) and then press down with a shoe to squeeze the excess liquid out of the dog urine or cat urine stain.
3 Step Three
As the paper towel becomes soaked, repeat as necessary until you can no longer get any urine out. If you have a regular carpet as opposed to a rug, keep soaking the surface up with paper towels until no more dog urine is being collected.
4 Step Four
Once you have soaked the stain up, you can rinse the area with fresh water and use more paper towels to absorb it. If it’s still wet, using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner might be your best bet if you want to get all the excess liquid out.
We also recommend scrubbing the area with a disinfectant wipe – it removes the pet stain and also leaves the area smelling fresher.
Dry Stains
These can be harder to remove, but not impossible. Whether dog urine or cat urine, these steps will help you to achieve a better-looking carpet and get rid of stains efficiently.
What You Will Need:
- Paper towel (a big roll of them)
- Baking soda
- Water
- Enzymatic cleaner
1 Step One
Rinse the stain with water, making sure to do a thorough job. While you can mop it up with paper towels, a wet/dry vacuum would be better suited to the task as it offers more power and drying capabilities.
If it’s still wet after being mopped with the towels, definitely consider this.
2 Step Two
Sprinkle with baking soda and leave overnight to absorb as much of the excess liquid and the odour as possible. Baking soda is able to neutralise the smell, making it perfectly suited to the task.
3 Step Three
Vacuum up the baking soda, and assess the pet stain. If it still remains, you may need to use a professional carpet stain remover to get it out completely. While stain remover is a chemical substance, it is highly effective at removing those impossible stains in a pinch.
As a quick side note, make sure you clean your vacuum filter immediately after sucking up baking soda. This is because baking soda is a fine powder that can clog the filter pores and stop them from working as effectively (or even completely) if left.
![How_To_Clean_Carpet_Stains_With_Vinegar_and_Baking_Soda (2) [photoutils.com]](https://www.smartvacuums.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/How_To_Clean_Carpet_Stains_With_Vinegar_and_Baking_Soda-2-photoutils.com_.gif)
4 Step Four
Use an enzymatic spray on the area to ensure that your pet can no longer smell the urine so that they are not encouraged to use the area again. You can find these affordably online or at your local pet store.
There tend to be different enzymatic sprays for dog urine and cat urine, so make sure you are picking the right one up.
They work completely differently, and using enzymes designed for cats to avoid future pet stains won’t go down well. It’s important to understand What kills pet urine smell in carpet? and to use the correct enzymatic spray.
When to Call the Professionals
If the pet stains are severe, or there are quite a few of them, it might be best to get the experts in. They have access to top tier carpet cleaners, providing your home with the deep clean it needs.
You can hire a carpet cleaner yourself quite easily, but you don’t necessarily have the same skills as these experts.
If you feel like a carpet cleaner might be the best way to remove dog urine and cat urine stains, it’s easy to find a local company that will come out and do the work for you, or a local carpet cleaner hire station.
There’s no need to worry either, we’ve all had messy pets and a professional company won’t judge you for needing a few pet stains removed.
FAQs
Will Carpet Cleaning Get Rid of Pet Urine Smell?
Yes, carpet cleaning will get rid of dog pee smell. If you decide to hire a carpet cleaner, this can be a highly effective way of removing both the urine stain and smell from your carpets.
You might need to go over the space a few times, mostly for the stain, but it will get the job done.
Can Professional Carpet Cleaners Remove Pet Urine Smell?
Yes, professional carpet cleaners can remove pet urine smell. Part of their job is to neutralise odours, and they are able to access much better equipment than the average person.
This means that they have the potential to achieve a deeper clean that really leaves your carpet looking and smelling fresher.
Can I Steam Clean My Carpet to Remove Urine?
No, you should not steam clean your carpet to remove urine – whether it is caused by pets or people. This is because the heat from the steam cleaner actually bonds the natural proteins in the urine with the fibres of your carpet – setting the stain and making it almost impossible to remove.
Can I Use Hydrogen Peroxide on My Carpet?
Generally speaking, no, you cannot use hydrogen peroxide on your carpet. This is because it will bleach the fibres, causing them to become discoloured. While some solutions can be used on carpets, it is better to use the methods above for dealing with pet urine.
How Long Does Pee Smell Last?
The length that pee smell lasts depends on the dog, their health, and even their diet. A dog that is unwell, or even dehydrated, will often have a very sulphuric smelling urine that can last for over eight hours.
A fresh and healthy pet urine spot will only smell for a few minutes before it starts to fade. However, the carpet will smell if it is left for too long.
How to Stop My Pet Urinating on the Carpet?
To stop your pets from urinating on the carpet, use white vinegar or citrus. Pets hate the smell of white vinegar, and many are equally offended by citrus odours. When deterring your pet, get a spray bottle full of white vinegar and spray the carpet with a light mist.
You can also add a few drops of orange essential oils in the mix as this is the most effective citrus odour.
Final Thoughts
It can be really stressful when pets use the carpet as their indoor bathroom, but the good news is that you don’t have to be left with a permanent stain and smell.
Carpets are certainly a little harder to clean than wood floors, but our methods will leave them looking good as new.
It’s important to remember that your pet might be telling you something when they start urinating in the house after being house trained previously. They might be unwell, stressed, or in need of being reminded to go outside and use the facilities.
When you’re cleaning the stains, keep an eye on their behaviour and always seek the advice of a vet if you’re concerned about your pet.
Last Updated on March 19, 2021 by Gemma Tyler
Gemma Tyler is a freelance journalist with 15 years of experience writing for consumer publications. She has tested and reviewed a wide range of household items from vacuum cleaners to washing machines and dehumidifiers to steam irons. Her attention to detail and exhaustive testing certainly makes her an expert in her field.
