How to clean a large area rug with pet urine

Q: Why does my carpet still smell like dog pee after shampooing?

Wet Dog Smell After Cleaning Its more likely whatever stained your carpet in the first place. Things like food spills, animal urine, and other stinky messes can soak into the padding underneath. As the area was cleaned, the stain was wet again and reactivated the leftover particles.

Accidents happen; here's how to clean up and eliminate the smell

Table of Contents Show

Machine-washable items
Carpeted areas and upholstery
For "new" stains (those that are still wet):
For stains that have already set:
6 steps to get dog and cat urine out of carpet
Step 1: Remove the mess
Step 2: Clean the stain
Step 3: Remove the smell
Step 4: For a stubborn, set stain
Step 5: Vacuum
Step 6: If the odor remains, bring in the professionals (for cat urine only)
Don’t want to use chemicals? Here’s how to clean pet urine stains naturally
The bottom line on how to get dog and cat pee out of carpet
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get dog pee out of a rug?
How do you get dog pee out of an expensive rug?
How do you clean a large area rug with pet stains?
Why does my carpet still smell like dog pee after shampooing?

Machine-washable items

Add a one pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent and wash as usual, air drying if possible. If you can still see or smell the soiling, wash again with an enzymatic cleaner — these break down pet waste odors.

If your pet soils the sheets or blankets on a bed, cover the bed with a vinyl, flannel-backed tablecloth while you retrain them. It's machine washable, inexpensive and unattractive to your pet.

Companies are now making washable area rugs, making clean-up much easier for pet parents.

Carpeted areas and upholstery

For "new" stains (those that are still wet):

Soak up as much of the urine as possible. Place a thick layer of paper towels on the wet spot and cover that with a thick layer of newspaper. If possible, put newspaper under the soiled area as well. Stand on this padding for about a minute and repeat until the area is barely damp.
If possible, put the fresh, urine-soaked paper towel in your pet’s designated “bathroom area.”
Rinse the "accident zone" thoroughly with clean, cool water and blot dry.

For stains that have already set:

Consider renting a carpet cleaner from your local hardware or grocery store.
Use a high-quality pet odor neutralizer once the area is clean.
Use carpet stain remover if the area still looks stained after it's completely dry.
Avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery. The heat will permanently set the stain and the odor by bonding the protein into any man-made fibers.
Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area.
Your job will be more difficult if urine has soaked down into the padding underneath your carpet. In some cases, you may need to replace portions of carpet and padding.

Having a pet brings many joys, but life with man’s best friend can get a little messy at times. This is why pet owners must know how to get dog and cat pee out of carpet surfaces. Urine stains are common problems associated with owning pets—especially when house-training puppies and kittens. For this reason, pet owners need to have the best carpet cleaner for pets on hand to make surfaces and upholstery look and smell fresh.

Want to know how to get dog pee out of carpet and how to get cat pee out of carpet? Read on.

6 steps to get dog and cat urine out of carpet

When working on how to get dog urine out of carpet, how to get dog pee smell out of carpet, and how to get cat urine smell out of carpet, it is important to properly sterilize and clean the affected area. The longer pet urine sits in a carpet, the harder it will be to remove the smell and stain. (Please note that it is extremely difficult to remove cat urine smell from carpeting. If the smell persists you may have to replace the carpet entirely or call a professional carpet cleaner.)

If you want to get dog and cat pee out of carpet, follow these steps:

Step 1: Remove the mess

If the area is still wet, dab it with paper towels or newspapers to absorb the urine. Then, cleanse the carpet with clean, warm water by blotting with a wet towel or a wet/dry vacuum.

Step 2: Clean the stain

There are many ways to remove the urine stain left on your carpet. Vinegar is a strong disinfectant and is handy to use in cleaning many areas of your home. You can create a solution of one cup white vinegar and one cup water. Mix the two together in a container. Then, pour the vinegar solution over the area affected by urine, lightly scrub it, and let the area dry completely.

There are also many products available to keep on hand, especially if you are potty training a young pet. Resolve Pet Stain & Odor Carpet Cleaner or other commercial enzyme carpet cleaners are easy to get online or in most grocery stores.

Step 3: Remove the smell

Getting rid of the pet waste smell on your carpets is easier than you may think. Apply baking soda to the spot and let it deodorize the area for 24 hours. Commercial carpet products and vacuums will also treat the smell as they clean the stain.

Step 4: For a stubborn, set stain

House Cleaning Central recommends 1/4 to 1/2 cup household strength (3%) hydrogen peroxide poured over a stain that has set. Let it set for 3 to 5 minutes and then give the area a good scrub.

Step 5: Vacuum

Vacuum the affected area on your carpet to remove any substances that remain.

Step 6: If the odor remains, bring in the professionals (for cat urine only)

If the odor still remains then you can either replace the carpet after sealing the odor in the wooden subfloor with shellac sealant or call a professional carpet cleaner

Pet owners who want to know how to get poop out of carpet can also follow a modified version of these steps. First, mix two cups of warm water with one tablespoon of dish detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Dip a sponge into the solution and gently blot the stain. Repeat until the stain is gone. If the mark does not go away, apply a drop or two of ammonia into the carpet and keep on blotting. This extra step is safe for every type of carpet besides wool.

Getting pet waste out of carpets is a tough job that is easier with the right tools. Everything necessary to clean your carpets can be found at your local hardware or grocery store.

Dish sponge: Stubborn stains like dried urine and feces need to be blotted with a dish sponge to loosen their grip on carpet fibers. A sea sponge or old rag are also good alternatives.
Toothbrush: To work in the cleaning solutions, a soft-bristled brush like a toothbrush is economical and efficient. Make sure that you wear gloves as well to protect your skin while cleaning.
Vinegar: This naturally acidic ingredient is probably in your pantry and is one of the most useful household cleaning agents. It is good at lifting and disinfecting stains.
Baking soda: This natural deodorizer is common in baking. This is usually applied during the final steps of stain cleaning to lift pet odors.
Store-bought cleaners: If you prefer ready-made cleaners, you can find some great products in stores and online. One of the best carpet cleaners for pets is Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator, which has 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon.

Don’t want to use chemicals? Here’s how to clean pet urine stains naturally

If you don’t want to use chemicals, it is possible to clean up pet urine stains with natural ingredients. Many homemade solutions require just vinegar and baking soda. While vinegar is a natural stain lifter, using baking soda is how to get the pee smell out of carpets. A homemade pet stain carpet cleaner made with vinegar can be premixed in a glass spray bottle and stored for immediate use. After you saturate the urine-stained area with the vinegar solution, gently scrub the carpet with a soft-bristled brush. Finally, put baking soda over the area, let it dry, then vacuum the carpet to fully lift all the odors that the baking soda has absorbed.

As mentioned above, cat pee is more stubborn than dog pee. If the smell of cat pee persists, you may have to remove the carpet entirely to get at the wooden subfloor underneath. In this case, the only way to fully ensure that the odor is gone is to clean the floor beneath the carpet using the same method as above and then seal it with a shellac sealant.

The bottom line on how to get dog and cat pee out of carpet

Even the most conscientious of pet owners need to know how to get pet urine out of carpet surfaces because accidents happen. Individuals who prefer cleaners that are free of synthetic chemicals can make homemade cleaning solutions from common household ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. There are also excellent store-bought products that can help you figure out how to get urine out of carpet and upholstery areas. It is more difficult to remove pet waste the longer it stays in the carpet. You must immediately disinfect and deodorize the area for the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get dried dog urine out of carpet?
To get dried dog urine out of a carpet, combine one part vinegar with one part water, then pour some of the solution onto the affected area. Scrub the dried urine stain with a soft brush and blot the area with a towel until it is completely dry.

Will baking soda clean dog poop from carpet?
Baking soda can help clean dog poop from a carpet, but only after you use other cleaners to fully lift the mess and disinfect the area. Apply baking soda to the area after using a cleaning solution and let it dry to deodorize and fully sanitize.

How do you get dog urine smell out of carpet?
To get dog urine smell out of carpet surfaces, apply a solution of one cup water, one cup white vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Let the solution soak into the spot for 5 minutes, then blot it dry.

How do I get pet stains out of carpet?
To get pet stains out of carpet areas, make a solution of ½ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon dish detergent, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Apply this solution to the stained area with a sponge or washcloth. Blot with a dry towel and repeat the process if necessary.

How do you get dog pee out of a rug?

In a clean spray bottle, mix one cup of distilled white vinegar with one cup of water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Shake it up to mix the ingredients, and then spray on the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then blot with towels until clean.

How do you get dog pee out of an expensive rug?

Do not rub the rug; just blot it with warm water and a clean rag. If warm water alone does not remove the stain or the odor, take 1 cup of warm water and add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to it. Use this mixture on the rug and blot the area in the same manner.

How do you clean a large area rug with pet stains?

To get pet stains out of carpet areas, make a solution of ½ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon dish detergent, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Apply this solution to the stained area with a sponge or washcloth. Blot with a dry towel and repeat the process if necessary.

Why does my carpet still smell like dog pee after shampooing?

Wet Dog Smell After Cleaning It's more likely whatever stained your carpet in the first place. Things like food spills, animal urine, and other stinky messes can soak into the padding underneath. As the area was cleaned, the stain was wet again and reactivated the leftover particles.