Most people love their dogs. However, with the work involved in caring for our pets, cleaning pee stains from carpets or the floor of your house is likely the least fun.
As a pet owner, you’re likely accustom to the ordor of your dog’s urine. Unfortunately, your guests likely won’t be, making the smell overwhelming and possibly offensive.
It’s also worth noting, these accidents accumulate over time and can severely decrease the value of your property if the time ever comes to selling. Simply put, the smell will put off buyers, regardless how nice and clean the home looks and feels.
Note: These tips on removing pee smells from carpets also apply to other animals other than dogs.
“In my professional journey, I have helped numerous pet owners tackle this very challenge, and the key is persistence and proper cleaning technique. It’s not simply about masking the smell but removing it at the source. Utilizing enzyme-based cleaners along with your regular cleaning routine can notably contribute to eliminating these stubborn odors.”
Dr. Katrina Thurston, Veterinarian, Pet Behavior Specialist
What To Do If The Urine Stain Dried?
The dry dog pee has already taken a hold on the carpet. We want to reverse to process and try and get it back to when the urine was wet. This might seem counter productive because we will also activate the urine smell by doing this. However, there is a reason to the madness.
Here are the ingredients for your cleaning solution and equipment needed to get the job done:
Step 1: Fill spray bottle up with white vinegar
A spray bottle helps distribute the vinegar solution more evenly over the dog’s mess. It also helps generate finer particles of vinegar to get under the urine which ultimately lifts it while killing bacteria.
Spray the vinegar over the spot until it gets pretty wet, yet, at the same time don’t soak it (hence why we use a spray and don’t pour the vinegar).
Let the vinegar do it’s thing for about 15 to 20 mins!
Note: As stated, this step will reactivate the smell of urine, but don’t be alarmed, this is expected.
Step 2: Pad with a white cloth
Once the vinegar has been given a good 15-20 minutes to soak, grab a white cloth and add pressure by pushing downwards (don’t rub) on the surface you’ve sprayed.
By padding downwards (putting weight into it), you’re absorbing the vinegar / urine mixture and ultimately removing it from the carpet.
Keep applying pressure with dry areas of the cloth to maximize absorption. When you see the cloth no longer getting wet, you’ve then absorbed as much as possible using a cloth.
To take it step further, use paper towels, discarded newspapers or a sponge to further suck up any left over moisture. The idea here is to remove the moisture as much as possible, but do not be worried if you can’t get it all out. That’s where the next step comes into play.
Note: Do not use a colored cloth, as you risk staining your carpet by transferring the cloth color onto the carpet.
Step 3: Baking soda for further drying & neutralising of order
The cloth can absorb only so much. Next we want to sprinkle good old baking soda over the surface where the vinegar was (essentially over the urine section).
You want to sprinkle enough of it until you have one layer that covers up the carpet.
Next, using the same white cloth, rub the baking soda into the carpet so that it goes under the carpet fibers and reaches any remaining vinegar / urine mixture.
The baking soda will start to turn into a type of crust as it absorbs the remaining mixture. This absorption acts as an odor remover and neutralizes the smell.
Step 4: Vacuum your carpet
Now that the baking soda has done its job, it is time to remove it from the carpet.
The simplest method is by vacuuming the baking soda. In fact, you might as well vacuum the whole carpet while you are at it.
What I like to also do, is take the carpet outside and beat it from the back to remove any excess baking soda and then give it one final over with the vacuum cleaner.
Alternatively, If you are strapped for time, simply use a brush to lift as much of the baking soda as possible.
The bristles from the bush will get under the fibres and lift up any baking soda trapped underneath. Finally give the area a once over with the vacuum cleaner.
Final Thoughts
Pet odors can be overwhelming, and can put first time buyers of your home if the smell is prominent.
However, this is not only about the value of your house, but also about having visitors.
The more your pet urinates, the harder it gets to remove the stain and smell. Removing pet stains and neutralizing the odor is not that hard, but it is always best to deal with the accident sooner, rather than later.
Otherwise it becomes a challenging task to keep your home feeling and smelling fresh! And let’s be honest, it’s not the most hygienic for your health.
When it comes to dog urine on the carpet, I treat it like I would a stubborn oil stain on a crisp white shirt. Soaking the area with a mixture of vinegar and water as soon as possible always works in lifting the stain. For the smell, I swear by a sprinkle of baking soda left overnight and vacuumed up the next day – your house won’t be reminding anyone of an unattended fire hydrant.
While I respect your vinegar and baking soda trick Tobias, I’ve found that hydrogen peroxide solutions, store-bought or homemade, can be more effective. Added benefit, it’s also completely pet safe!
Hello Lowell, I’ve also used hydrogen peroxide in the past and can attest to its efficacy. However, I’ve found club soda to be an equally effective and safer alternative, since it doesn’t bleach colored fabrics like hydrogen peroxide can.
I’ve raised more pups than you could shake a stick at and club soda does wonders, does no harm to your carpets or the dog.
I absolutely agree with Jenkins about club soda–it’s magic. Accidents were common when our Huskies were pups, but a good dab of club soda always did the trick while not fading my carpets. Now, whenever a new pup joins the Sanderson family, a large bottle of club soda is the first thing we buy!