How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Carpet – 7 Tips & Tricks
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Unfortunately, no matter how well-trained your dog is, accidents happen, and sometimes that accident results in a pee-soaked carpet. Sometimes you are unaware of the carpet bombing incident, but eventually, the familiar smell gives it away, and your top priority is to get rid of it. The good news is that you can! And we are here to help.
Whether you are busy training a new pup or your dog has had an accident, these tips and tricks can help you eliminate the stain and odor!
What You Should Know Before You StartÂ
Pheromones in dog urine are a part of their communication system that allows them to learn about boundaries. However, once a dog has an accident in the house, it may encourage them to use the same spot again, so it’s vital to get the smell out as quickly as possible.
It’s never fun cleaning up urine from your carpet or rug, but sometimes it is the reality of owning a dog. You can thankfully get rid of the smell, but it is not an incident you want to continue rectifying, so potty training is essential from a young age. It is also easier to get rid of urine when you deal with it right after it happens and not after it has had time to soak in.
If you are busy training a new puppy or your dog is not fully potty trained, it is crucial to monitor your dog’s potty habits and regularly check your home for accidents.
How to Get Dog Pee Out of the Carpet
If your dog has just peed on your carpet and you managed to find it soon after the incident, here is what you should do:
- Place paper towels over the urine spot and under the area if it is a rug that you can lift. Then place some newspaper sheets on top of the paper towels.
- Leave the paper to soak up the urine or stomp on it to help absorb the urine faster.
- Remove the paper, rinse the area with cold water, and repeat steps 1 and 2.
- Avoid scrubbing the area since it can push the urine deeper into the carpet.
- Now, it’s time to remove the odor.
The 7 Tips on How to Remove Dog Pee Smell From Carpet
There are a few tried and tested tips and tricks to get the urine smell out of your carpet. Once you have removed all the liquid, the next step is to remove the odor. You can do that by using these methods:
1. Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common household item with many uses, one of which is to eliminate odors, such as dog pee. Baking soda is ideal for removing and cleaning stubborn stains because it contains natural absorbent and antibacterial properties.
A quarter cup or less of baking soda should be sufficient for most stains. First, spread it evenly across the soiled area. Then, vacuum thoroughly after letting the baking soda soak for the entire night. You might need to vacuum the site multiple times to eliminate the smell.
 2. Try a Vinegar Spray
Vinegar can work well for wet and dry stains and is pet-safe and cheap. The acidity of the vinegar will kill bacteria in the urine, which will cancel out the odor. It also helps disinfect the area and remove stains.
Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of warm water into a spray bottle. Shake it to mix it and spray it onto the pee spot, ensuring it is saturated. Leave it for at least 15 minutes to soak. You can then use a cloth to dab off the excess vinegar. It’s best to use a cloth you can throw away afterward. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing since it could work the urine and vinegar deeper into the carpet.
3. Try a Combination of Baking Soda and Vinegar
For a stronger cleaning solution, cover the vinegar solution with baking soda and leave it for 30 minutes until it forms a dry crust. Test the combination on a tiny, unnoticeable area before covering the stain if you’re concerned that the vinegar and baking soda will change the color of your carpet.
Combining vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle is another approach you may try. Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, and 1 cup of water. Spray the stain and wipe it clean with a cloth you can throw away after letting it sit for a short while.
4. Use an Enzymatic Cleaner
If you prefer commercial cleaning products, you can use an enzymatic cleaner to neutralize the odor. Protein bonds in the stain are broken down by enzymatic cleansers, making the stain and odor easier to remove. Look for enzyme cleaners designed specifically for pet stains, like dog urine, for the best results.
Enzymatic cleansers typically take up to 24 hours to completely remove a stain. Allow it to soak into the stain for the specified time as directed on the bottle. Check to see if your carpet still smells after that, and if it does, you might need to shampoo it.
5. Make a Hydrogen Peroxide Mixture
For this mixture, you will need to mix 1 ½ tbsp of hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp of dish soap, and 2 tbsp of baking soda in a plastic bowl to form a paste. Baking soda and dish soap deodorize and disinfect it, while hydrogen peroxide dissolves chemical bonds and makes stains invisible.
This homemade cleaning solution works best on light-colored carpets for dry or wet urine stains. Before cleaning the stain on a dark carpet, try a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the edge of the rug to see whether it will discolor it.
Apply the paste to the carpet using a spoon and press down the paste to work it into the carpet. You can leave it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Once it has soaked for long enough, remove the paste with a wet cloth. Use paper towels to absorb excess moisture; if any paste gets left behind, you can vacuum it up once it is completely dry.
 6. Try Essential Oils
Essential oils can eliminate odors, but be cautious when using them by keeping your pets away. You can mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil with baking soda before sprinkling it on for an extra odor-busting boost, or you can mix it with water to create a spray. Essential oils will not eliminate odors alone but are better used as an additional tool for fighting the urine smell. The essential oils you can use are lavender, lemongrass, rose geranium, and patchouli.
 7. Treat Dry Stains
If you have sniffed out a pee stain that has already set in, you may need to rent a carpet cleaner with a high-quality, pet odor-neutralizing shampoo. Some of the previous tips may also work for dry stains, so try them first before going through the hassle of renting and transporting a carpet cleaner.
8. Avoid Steam Cleaners
Steer clear by utilizing steam cleaners to remove urine odors from carpets. The heat bonds the protein into any synthetic fibers, which can permanently set the stain and odor.
Conclusion
The methods we discussed can eliminate the urine odor in your carpet, but it can help significantly to remove the stain as soon as you notice it. Unfortunately, accidents happen, but it’s important to potty train your pet to prevent issues. Monitor your dog’s toilet habits and ensure you are prepared for any accidents. Also, remember that you should never punish your dog for an accident since punishing your dog will cause more harm than good.
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Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
