How to Clean Up Dog Urine from Carpet

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What should you do if your dog urines on your carpet? Mistakes happen, but now it’s time to clean up dog urine from the carpet.

Before you get too frustrated, remember that accidents happen, even with the best trained dogs.

Unfortunately, when your pet has an accident on your carpet, you can’t just shampoo the carpet, because soap and water can’t eliminate the odor causing urine crystals.

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Step 1 – Extract the Urine

It’s a bit trickier to clean up dog urine from carpet is than hardwood (see our article about How to Clean Dog Urine from Hardwood Floors.

This is primarily because it’s hard to see if you absorbed all the urine as it soaks into the carpet.

For a wet urine “accident”, take some paper towels (or regular) and press them into the carpet where you think the urine is.

Apply pressure to the paper towels (easiest is to step on them with your feet and use your body weight). You want to repeat this until wetness is no longer absorbed by the paper towels.

See also  How to Clean Up Dog Urine from Carpet

Alternatively, you can also try using a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the wet urine with a carpet cleaner.

Also make sure to check the surrounding areas because if your dog was marking, you might have missed some spots.

If the urine spots have already dried, you can still find these urine spots with a black light. The urine stains will fluoresce under the ultraviolent light in a darkened room.

You can have a little fun with this and pretend you’re filming your own CSI episode, but the reality is you want the most effective way to clean the mess.

Use a sweeping motion and gradually move farther away from the generally smelly location or accident spot you’ve already discovered.

The pet urine that you’re looking for should show up as a yellow/greenish color. You may be surprised to find a stain farther away than you thought.

Put some tape around the spots you find so that when you put the lights back on you know where to clean.

Step 2 – Getting Rid of the Smell of Urine

Before you try any of the below solutions, test an inconspicuous spot on your carpet first to ensure the cleaning solution you use will not damage your carpet.

One of the best home solutions is white vinegar (do not use other types of vinegar – only use white vinegar).

Some people use it straight and others dilute it with water.

Pour the white vinegar over the urine spot and let it sit long enough to reach the bottom carpet fibers for fifteen minutes on a fresh stain and at least an hour on old stains.

As before, soak up the white vinegar with paper towels (or regular towels) or suck out the liquid with your carpet cleaner.

Make sure wetness no longer comes through the paper towels. Then allow the area to air dry.

If you can’t or prefer not to use white vinegar, then review some of the picks we’ve shared.

Top Three Picks 

Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator
This professional strength bio-enzymatic formula from Rocco & Roxie guarantees to virtually eliminate any stain and odor from urine, feces, vomit, and other organic stains.

Discourages pets’ attraction to stained areas by making odors disappear while removing stains from carpeting, rugs or upholstery.

Enzyme Dog Odor Control Formula
Clean up tough urine messes and tackle a large variety of pet stains including yellow, sticky residue. The Nature’s Miracle is equipped with a wand for easier cleaning without bending over.

Pet Stain Eraser & Odor Formula
You love your pet. But you don’t have to love the mess. Bissell Pet Stain & Odor Formula is designed to loosen and remove the stains and soils that your pet leaves behind.

Since it contains odor control technology, the formula will remove odors and help prevent your pet from going back and soiling the same area again.

In addition, it will help neutralize general pet odors so that your home feels and smells fresh.

clean up dog urine

Important Tips:

  • Remember to always test an inconspicuous spot on your carpet first to ensure the cleaning solution you use will not damage your carpet.
  • Be patient – to completely remove dog urine odor, the process may need to be repeated several times over a few days or even weeks.
  • Never use Windex or ammonia to clean a urine spot. Dog urine is partially made of ammonia and thus if you clean with it, your dog will think it is ok to go back and mark the spot.
  • As with all household chemical projects, you should wear rubber gloves.

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