Your best furry pal can leave some of the worst messes for you to clean up
Pet ownership can be a joy—there’s nothing like the love of a dog to warm your heart and provide unconditional love and companionship. Unfortunately, despite your best house training efforts, you may find that your furry friend has left you a surprise on the carpet in the form of a puddle of pee. Learn how to get urine smell out of carpet, so your home smells fresh and clean for you and your fur baby.
As most pet owners know, accidents happen. And often, those accidents involve your canine sidekick leaving their mark somewhere in your home. It’s always good to know how to get rid of bad smells in your home, but with animal urine, it’s even more important. Dog pee can be particularly pungent, and, in addition to that, if the smell remains, dogs will often revisit the spot of a previous accident and re-mark it, leading to a bigger, stinkier problem in the future.
A dog’s sense of smell is far more sensitive than a human’s, so even if you think you’ve thoroughly cleaned up the mess, there may be a lingering smell your pet can pick up on. Fortunately, there are methods you can use to remove dog pee smell from carpet–so even the most sensitive canine sniffer can’t find it again.
While cleaning pet urine from hardwood floors can be as straightforward as mopping it up as soon as you see it, removing Fido’s accident from your living room carpet is a little more challenging. But don’t panic, because you can teach an old dog new tricks. Learn how to get rid of dog pee smells in carpet for good, and never have to deal with the lingering odor of a pet accident again. Before getting started, begin by soaking up as much of the urine as possible by blotting it with paper towels, then use one of the following methods to treat the remaining stained area.
Cleaners that contain enzymes have long been the gold standard for cleaning up pet messes. These cleaners contain biological compounds that break down the components of urine that cause smells and stains and eliminate them for good. Be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner that’s specifically formulated for pet messes, since you need specific enzymes that target biological stains and odors.
Vinegar can be an effective cleaner for pet urine due to its deodorizing properties and acidity. After blotting up as much urine as possible, saturate the area with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. Let the spot air dry—the vinegar will smell strong but as it evaporates, the smell will dissipate, along with the smell of pee.
If you can still detect a lingering odor, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the soiled spot. Let the paste dry overnight or until the baking soda is back to its powdered form. Vacuum the spot thoroughly to remove the baking soda. This method is also great for other removal scenarios, like removing pee smell from a mattress.
Household detergents can also prove to be a useful tool in your battle against pet urine odors, especially when accidents are caught and cleaned up right away. Detergents can be a good option for removing pee stains from couches and other upholstered items—just remember to do a patch test on the fabric first!
Of course, laundry detergent does its best work in the washing machine, removing smells from clothes, bedding, and other washable fabrics. (Just don’t dry any items until you’re sure the smell is gone! The heat from the dryer can set in stains and odors for good.) You can also mix a little laundry detergent with water and brush or blot it into carpet or upholstery to remove fresh pet stains. Once you’re done, blot the area with clean water and press dry with clean paper towels or cloths.
Dish detergent can also be good in a pinch to deal with pet messes. Make a soapy solution with lukewarm water and a small amount of dish soap and blot or brush it on the area. Blot with clean water and press dry.
When mixed with water and a little dish detergent, hydrogen peroxide can also be an effective pet pee cleaner. Use caution with this method, though, since peroxide can bleach carpets and other fabric. Always do a patch test first to avoid permanently discoloring your carpet.
Unfortunately, you can’t always get to pet messes as quickly as you’d like. Urine stains that have dried and set in can be much tougher to remove than fresh stains. Start by wetting and blotting the stain with plain water to remove as much of the original material as possible. You can also use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to pull up residue from the original stain (but stay away from steam cleaners—the heat will set the stain and odor).
Once you’ve re-wet the area and removed as much of the dried urine as you can, use one of the above methods to treat the area and reapply as needed until the smell is gone.
Even infrequent pet accidents can cause long-lasting odors that never seem to go away. Remember these tips for a pee-free home that smells clean and fresh:
Clean up pet accidents as soon as possible. Dried urine smells stronger and is more difficult to clean and neutralize.
Avoid heat. Applying heat to a soiled area can set the stain and smell in for good, making it nearly impossible to eliminate.
Use a blacklight. Can’t find the source of the pee smell? A handheld blacklight will cause the proteins in urine to glow, making it easy to track down even an old mess.
Patch test fabrics. Before using any cleaner on your carpet, test a small amount in an inconspicuous area to ensure your carpet won’t fade or stain from the cleaner.
Based on the responses of 67,100 Angi customers, steam cleaning and shampoo cleaning are popular choices for tackling dog urine stains and odors. Steam cleaning uses high heat to break down stains and neutralize odors deep in the carpet fibers, while shampoo cleaning lifts and removes the spots with specialized detergents. Both methods are highly effective at restoring carpets, making them top picks for pet owners.
If your carpet has multiple dog pee stains, or you haven’t had any luck removing the smell on your own, a local carpet cleaner has the equipment and expertise needed to make pee smells a thing of the past. The average cost of carpet cleaning ranges between $125 and $240, depending on the area of carpet being cleaned.
Worked quickly and cleaned up debris well.
They were very professional and friendly. The paint job was very well done and precise. They were very clean too. Not a drop of pain anywhere
KC Hammer, LLCThey were a on time, did a great job, and cleaned up after the job.
Tornado Tree ServiceMy mower wouldn’t start and after calling several places, decided to take my mower to Brent. Luckily, it just needed a new spark plug. Got a tuneup and was able to pick up in one day. I saw on his page I’d need to have my own filter so I had that ready to go when I picked up. You will...
Fixin' LawnmowersOur house has never been this clean! I highly recommend Diamelys Cleaning! She is so kind, thorough, and professional. We plan to have her back for recurring services. She is THE BEST.
Diamelys Cleaning ServiceGreat guys. They kept the site clean
Jesus worked very hard to get everything done, it took a few days but his price is great.
Great experience, very professional, left the job site clean, and even called back a few days after the install to check how I was enjoying the new AC system.
Zach's Temp Control, LLCRemoved stains that had been in my carpet for years.
Faith and Grace Home Improvement, LLCJustin was awesome! Took time to explain steps involved in making insurance claim for my roof and kept me informed in a timely manner. The crew did a fantastic job on the roof and cleaned up everything. Not one nail or shingle left in driveway or yard! My roof looks great. Definitely a...
Rayne Storm Consulting LLCFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Discover average carpet cleaning costs, price factors, and tips to save. Get transparent estimates to keep your carpets fresh and your home healthy.
Mold is more than a stinky eyesore: It is also a health hazard. You need to act quickly when you suspect mold in your carpeting.
Some homeowners wonder if professional carpet cleaning is worth the cost. We break down the pros and cons so you can decide what works best for your home.
You have two ways to deep clean your home’s carpet, but which is best? Use this guide to look at the pros and cons of dry carpet cleaning vs. steam cleaning.
Don’t have a steam cleaner? It’s time to roll up your sleeves. This guide will show you how to clean carpet without a carpet cleaner.
Wondering how much it costs to rent a carpet cleaner? Discover rental prices, key cost factors, and tips to save on your next carpet cleaning project.
