What removes dog urine smell from carpet

Whether you’re practicing potty training for a new puppy or noticing accidents with an older dog, one thing is certain: that dog urine smell isn’t pleasant.

Accidents happen—it’s natural. Practice patience and use positive reinforcement with puppies and dogs that are being housetrained. If your dog is already potty trained but has started to have accidents, take them to the vet to see if there is a medical cause.

In the meantime, here’s how to get rid of dog pee smell around your home.

What Neutralizes Dog Urine Smell?

The pheromones in dog urine are part of a complex system dogs use to communicate. Pheromones teach dogs boundaries and respectable places to urinate; however, once a dog has had an accident in the house, smelling those pheromones may encourage your dog to urinate again in the same spot.

You may smell a foul odor, aka dog urine smell, caused by bacteria in the urine that produce ammonia. If you’re not sure exactly where the urine odor is coming from, try using a UV or black light to find the areas of urination and ensure proper cleanup.

So what neutralizes dog urine smell and its pheromones?

Enzymatic cleaners denature (destroy) the proteins and enzymes that make up the pheromones in dog pee. This not only helps to get rid of the dog urine smell, but it also decreases the chances of your dog being a repeat offender in that same spot.

Products containing accelerated hydrogen peroxide can help decrease the foul odors. Use a contact time of 15 minutes for all odor and stain remover products, and test each product on a small space before using.

How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Smell and Stains in Carpets and Couches

For carpets, couches, or other areas that cannot be machine-washed, follow these steps:

1. First, manually soak up excess moisture with a towel.

2. Next, soak another towel with a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaner. Leave the towel and cleaner on the wet spot for 15 minutes.

3. After 15 minutes, blot and soak up the remaining moisture with a dry towel.

4. Finally, apply an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature’s Miracle, to the spot. Leave the enzymatic cleaner on the spot for another 15 minutes.

If you can’t remove the smell using this method, try contacting a professional carpet cleaner or using a steam cleaning machine.

How to Remove Dried Dog Urine Stains From Hardwood Floors or Carpets

For old and/or dried urine stains on hardwood floors or carpets, follow these steps:

1. Soak a towel with a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaner. Leave the towel and cleaner on the stain for 15 minutes.

2. Repeat the first step using an enzymatic cleaner. 

How to Get Rid of Dog Urine Smell in Rugs, Pillows, Dog Beds, and Sheets

If the soiled item can be put into the washing machine, use an enzymatic cleaner with laundry detergent to effectively get rid of urine stains and smells.

If you still see stains along with a lingering dog urine smell, consult with a professional dry cleaning company.

How to Deal With Stains and Smells in Larger or Heavily Soiled Areas

For heavily soiled areas in the house, consider getting a high-quality mini wet vac. Look for the companies that include an enzymatic cleaner in their base. This will help tackle the dog urine smell and stains.

If name-brand products aren’t working or the space is too large, consider calling your local carpet cleaning company for assistance.

Dealing With Chronic Issues

Troubles with potty training or chronic leaking may be a sign of a medical or behavioral concern. Frequent urination, urinary tract infections, submissive urination, and urinary incontinence are just a few of the issues that could be affecting your dog.

When dealing with a chronic issue, consult with your veterinarian for a potential diagnosis and treatment plan. If your veterinarian rules out medical concerns, consider consulting with a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) to address behavior modification.

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.

What neutralizes the smell of urine in carpet?

Does dog urine smell ever go away?

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

Will the smell of urine in carpet go away?