No matter how well-behaved your dog is or how stringent your pee break schedule is, sometimes peeing accidents happen indoors. When your dog pees on the carpet, prompt action is the best way to make sure the urine won’t leave a lasting impression and odor. But if you find the pee too late and it is become dried, there are a few ways to remove the dried dog pee from your carpet.
We’ve put together the best methods to use to get dried dog pee out of your carpet. The good news is that all these methods are relatively easy to do and effective at lifting dog pee stains while leaving behind a fresh and clean smell.
Before You Begin
Before trying to remove the dog pee stain from your carpet, you should rinse the carpeting with plain water. The best way to do this is by using a wet-dry vacuum cleaner so you can fully saturate and vacuum up the area.
If you don’t have a wet-dry vac, you can use a scrub brush and clean water. Dip the brush in warm water and scrub the spot. Then, use a clean, dry towel (preferably one you do not mind discarding after use) to blot the stain until it is mostly dry. Once you have done that, then you can select one of the solutions listed below.
The Top 4 Tips on How to Get Dry Dog Pee Out of Carpet
1. Make a Homemade Solution
| Materials | White vinegar, baking soda, water, spray bottle |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Effectiveness | Good |
Easy Homemade Cleaning Solution
Equipment
- Spray bottle
- Clean, dry towel
Materials
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white vinegar
Instructions
- In your spray bottle, combine white vinegar, water, and baking soda.
- After shaking the mixture up well, spray it on the pee stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
- Then take a clean dry towel and blot the spot until you don’t see the stain anymore.
Notes
- Easy to do
- Affordable
- Works well at removing new dried dog pee stains
- Not as effective for old dog pee stains that are dark
2. Use an Enzymatic Cleaner
| Materials | Enzymatic cleaner, scrub brush |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Effectiveness | Good |
As far as commercial options, if you’re looking for how to get dog pee stains out of a carpet, this should be your first stop. You can pick up a spray bottle of enzymatic cleaner from a pet store that’s designed to remove pet stains and smells. This type of cleaner features a bacteria-based formula that produces enzymes to target tough stains. Just be sure the cleaner you buy is designed for use on carpets.
To use this method, spray the cleaner generously on the pee stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then use a scrub brush to work the cleaner down into the carpet fibers. When you’re done scrubbing, rinse the cleaner off using plain water and a clean rag. Then simply use a dry clean towel to blot dry the area.
This method can get costly if you have several pee stains to remove because enzymatic cleaners are not cheap. However, the method is effective for most pee stains, so the cost is well worth it!
- Removes pee stains and smells
- Easy to do
- Can get costly if you have many stains to remove
3. Use a Dog Stain Oxidizer
| Materials | Dog stain oxidizer |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Effectiveness | Good |
The problem concerning how to get dog pee stain out of carpet can be solved by using a special dog stain oxidizer. This type of commercial cleaner uses the power of peroxide to oxidize the dog pee so it can be removed. To use this method, simply spray the oxidizer on the stain and allow it to sit for several minutes. Then wipe up the excess cleaner and blot dry the spot using a clean dry towel. You may have to repeat the whole process if you still see part of the stain. The good thing about this method is that it will also remove any lingering dog urine smell that’s worked its way into the carpet fibers. If you still see some of the stain, lift the carpet and treat the padding underneath.
- Easy to do
- Removes stains and smells
- You may have to repeat the entire process
- You may have to lift the carpet and treat the padding underneath
4. Use a Carpet Cleaning Machine
| Materials | Carpet cleaning machine, cleaning solution |
| Difficulty | Moderate to difficult |
| Effectiveness | Very good |
A very good way to remove dried dog pee from carpeting involves using a carpet cleaning machine. If you don’t have a machine, you can rent one at a local hardware store or rental agency. You will also need some carpeting cleaning solution to put in the machine. If you’re renting the carpet cleaner, the hardware store or rental agency will have the solution available.
This method is great if you need to remove several pee stains from large areas. Using a carpet cleaner takes time and some muscle power. It can also be a costly method to use if you have to rent the machine by the hour, afternoon, or day. But all that money and effort will pay off big time if you end up with stain-free carpeting that looks and smells fresh and clean!
- Works great at removing pee stains
- A good way to clean and freshen all your carpeting
- Time-consuming and laborious
- Costly
How to Prevent Dog Pee Stains from Ruining Your Carpet
While it’s good to know how to get dog pee out of carpet, it’s even better to prevent the problem from happening! If your dog is peeing on your carpet and you’re at your wit’s end, here are a few ways to stop it.
- Get your dog outside more often: Your dog may be peeing on your carpet because he doesn’t get outside often enough. Take your dog out for walks more often so he can do his business outdoors.
- Crate your dog when you’re not home: If you need to leave your dog alone while you’re away, put him in a dog crate so he can’t pee on the carpet. Do some crate-training before using this method so your dog gets used to being in the crate.
- Use pee pads: If your dog won’t stop peeing on his favorite spot on your carpet, put a washable dog pee pad on that spot to protect your carpet. This is a good option to use while you’re working on breaking the pee habit so don’t rely on it as your only method for preventing pee stains on your carpets!
Conclusion
It can be maddening to discover old dog pee stains on your carpet. If your dog has piddled on your carpet and left behind nasty stains, try the methods above to get rid of those stains once and for all.
Once you’ve cleaned up the stains, get to the bottom as to why your dog is relieving himself on your carpet and fix the problem right away. Remember that dogs don’t want to pee on carpet as they naturally want to urinate outside. Be patient with your pooch and praise him when he does his business outside so you and your pooch can live a happy and harmonious life!
Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
