Click to Skip Ahead
Getting rid of stubborn odors caused by dog urine can be challenging. Whether you are dealing with a puppy, a senior dog, or a pup with an incontinence problem, the issue is likely too familiar. When your dog decides to do their business in your home, it can ruin some of your favorite fabrics.
Carpet and rugs can be expensive, and you don’t want to replace them prematurely. Fortunately, there’s a solution for even the most embedded smells. Here are six methods, along with their steps.
The 6 Methods on How to Get Dog Pee Smells Out of Carpets & Rugs
1. Enzymatic Cleaner
One of the easiest and most efficient strategies for getting rid of old, lingering urine smells is to use an enzymatic cleaner. These cleaners are designed to break down the molecules that make pet urine stink. There are many options available, so make sure you do your research and find one that works best for the household surface that you’re working on.
If you're trying to find an enzyme cleaner that does it all, we highly recommend our favorite cleaner, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray. It permanently removes the very worst stains and smells you can imagine and makes clean up a breeze. There's even a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle today. At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
Rating
Image
Product
Details
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
CHECK PRICE
2. Baking Soda & Vinegar Solution
If you want to use something you already have on hand, a baking soda and vinegar solution is an easy, cheap fix for fresh stains. This option is best for the areas that are still wet. Following just a few steps, you can remove waste and the odors associated with them.
Vinegar and baking soda work together nicely without damaging the quality of your carpet. It’s a wonderful home-made option as opposed to store-bought products.
Step 1. Blot Carpet Dry
Before you start extensively cleaning, it’s best to transfer as much of the liquid out of the carpet as you can. Take a scrap towel, cloth, or paper towel to draw the urine or waste from the carpet.
Step 2. Apply Vinegar Solution
Next, make a vinegar solution with one part white vinegar to three parts water. Spray the mixture on the area, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and lightly blot and dab at it to remove most of the excess moisture.
Step 3. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Stain
While the vinegar solution is still saturated on the carpet, sprinkle baking soda on top. You might notice that this combination fizzes—just take it as a sign that it’s doing its job. Let it sit for several hours. This concoction will eliminate odors and remove stains.
Step 4. Vacuum Area
Once the area is completely dry, you can vacuum it up, and you should find your fabric is as good as new. It is possible that you might need to repeat the entire process a few times.
3. Wet Vac
Older stains have had more time to set and are much harder to remove. When it comes to flooring and furniture, one of the best tools for removing these deep stains is a wet vacuum. You can even add enzymatic cleaners to the vacuum to break down the compounds even further.
4. Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Dish Detergent Solution
If you have an area with dried urine that’s been there for a questionable amount of time, you might try this solution instead. It gets deep into the fabrics or surfaces to remove those unpleasant odors. This is similar to our first method, but it may discolor fabric, so test it in a small area first.
You will need four total supplies:
- Baking soda
- 1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
- A few drops of dish detergent (preferably Dawn)
Again, this works best on dried spots.
Step 1. Blot Carpet Dry
Before you start to clean, you need the carpet to be completely dry. Check the moisture by touching the carpet or rug with a paper towel.
Step 2. Apply Baking Soda
After blotting up as much of the stain as possible, generously sprinkle baking soda over the affected area. Let it sit for about 10–15 minutes to help absorb odors.
Step 3. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Detergent Solution
For deeper stain removal, mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle:
- 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- A few drops of grease-cutting dish detergent
Lightly spray the solution over the baking soda-covered area. Let it sit for a few minutes to break down the stain. As the mixture dries, the baking soda will help lift the stain and neutralize odors.
Step 4. Vacuum Area
Once the area is totally dry, you can vacuum up the solution. If you have one, it might be easier to use a handheld vacuum for this part. Either way, it might take several passes to get the solution up.
5. Carpet Cleaner
If you have a carpet cleaner on hand, it might make your life easier. Companies make solutions specifically for carpet cleaners to remove stains and smells from our beloved pets’ messes.
To preserve your carpet fibers, always use a recommended carpet cleaner that is compatible with the fabric. Next, you’ll want to make sure you do a quick sweep over the warnings and ingredients to ensure that it’s safe for both human and furry friends in your home.
Some cleaners are quite potent until dry, so you might have to close off a room until it completely airs out. Use all instructions that come with your particular carpet cleaner.
If you don’t own a carpet cleaner, you can likely rent one at several locations near you. You can also buy a pet-specific carpet cleaner for all your needs—if it’s in your budget, of course.
6. Professional Help
Professional cleaners have access to stronger equipment and chemicals than the average person. They also usually have a few dog urine-neutralizing tricks up their sleeves that you might not know about!
What Neutralizes Dog Urine Smells?
There are two major options for neutralizing dog urine smells: commercial products and simple home remedies.
Enzymatic cleaners are specially designed to break down the odor-causing molecules in pet urine. They contain a certain kind of bacteria that speeds up the decomposition of the natural matter (in this case, what’s left of your dog’s pee). If that sounds complicated, don’t worry, it isn’t! All you have to do is spray on the cleaner and wait about 15 minutes. You’ll have to invest a little bit of money, but this is the most effective (and easiest) way to get rid of the odor. It’s worth noting that this is the kind of cleaning solution most professionals use.
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...
If you want to try a home remedy, white vinegar can be fairly effective and highly affordable. Acidic molecules in vinegar bond with volatile, odor-causing molecules in the carpet, effectively neutralizing the cause of the lingering smell. In essence, white vinegar also helps break down dog pee smells.
Common Causes of Accidents in the Home
If your dog is going potty in the house, there’s usually a logical and easy-to-identify reason that this is happening, so you can be proactive, enforcing good habits or putting precautions in place to eliminate rug or carpet accidents.
Potty Training
Your pup is having their first introduction to the world—they’re going to make mistakes. Puppy pads are a momentary aid in training, but you should limit the amount of time you use them. Sometimes, with the overuse of puppy pads, your dog might prefer fabrics to grass. To eliminate this issue, try only to use puppy pads when no other option is available.
It can take going to the potty in the house only once to become a habit. Use your best judgment, and try to keep your puppy on a set schedule. When you can’t, that’s when it’s time to prepare the reinforcements.
Territory Marking
If your dog has reached sexual maturity but remains intact, your male might start marking. Marking is instinctual, and males use it to let potential female friends know that they are available. Even if there are no other dogs around, it’s part of their nature.
Marking issues can be resolved with neuter surgery, which is also beneficial in other ways. Prices for this surgery range, and there are plenty of options to keep your pets from reproducing.
Here are a few options, along with average costs:
- Veterinarian Offices — Prices in vet offices can vary drastically depending on who owns the practice, their level of specialization, location, and the size of the facility. Typically, private practices charge between $300 and $500.
- Rescues/Shelters — Rescues and shelters have reduced spay and neuter programs, and you might, in rare cases, even get the procedure for your pup for free. As a basic average, the total cost ranges from about $40 to $100. It depends on the facility itself and the services offered.
Incontinence
As our pups age, or if suffering from certain health issues, incontinence can occur. Many health problems can cause incontinence issues, so make sure to speak to your vet if your dog starts having accidents at home.
While your vet determines the reason for your dog’s incontinence, you can buy puppy pads for fabric protection and check out diaper options your dog can wear.
Final Thoughts
Canine pee doesn’t have to give you any trouble. You can safely neutralize dog urine smells with all-natural options or opt for highly effective enzyme cleaners that can help. Whether you clean up by hand or rely on a carpet cleaner, you can get out even the most stubborn smells with enough effort.
If you just can’t fully get rid of that smell in your rug, consider buying a pet-friendly upgrade!
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
