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Pet
5 Easy Steps to Clean Your Pet Urine Stains from Carpet
19
Sep
Sep
No matter how potty trained your pet might be, accidents happen—and more often than not, they happen on rugs and carpets. These easy steps will teach you how to clean pet pee from your floors and share safe and effective cleaning products you should be using to do so. Plus, learn how you can work with your pet to avoid repeat accidents in the future.
Why Does My Cat or Dog Pee on Carpet?
There are a number of reasons why your pet might be having accidents inside. If you’re still in the process of potty training your kitten or puppy, inconvenient urination shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. House training is something that takes time and requires a lot of patience. That said, if it’s becoming an uncontrollable issue, it’s best to reach out to a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist for advice.
Some pets also suffer from bladder inconsistency as they age. For instance, dogs with dementia may simply forget their house training and think your carpet is just as good as peeing outside. But, if your young, potty-trained pet keeps having accidents on the carpet, something else might be at play. Be sure to check with your vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions like diabetes, urinary tract issues, kidney disease, or Cushing’s syndrome—all of which can lead to bladder incontinence.
Finally, if your pet keeps peeing on the same spot on your carpet, it’s likely that you didn’t entirely remove the smell from previous incidents. If your pooch or kitty is still able to smell their own scent, you’re risking a repeat accident. So you must be sure that the odor is gone.
If you find yourself needing to clean up a dog or cat pee stain from your carpet, luckily it’s not a very difficult task.
Tools for Cleaning Cat or Dog Pee on Carpet
Before you start scrubbing, make sure you have all the cleaning supplies you need to clean your rug or carpet.
- Rubber gloves
- Paper towels
- Distilled white vinegar
- Empty spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Dish sponge
- Trash can
Step-by-Step Guide for How to Clean Cat or Dog Pee from Carpet
“With any stain, it’s best to tend to it and treat it as soon as possible for the best results,” says Chris Albers, Marketing Director at Carbona, a stain-removal product company.
The following steps will help you clean pee stains from the carpet effectively so that you don’t have any leftover residue:
1. Soak Up the Urine
Using a thick layer of paper towels, blot the stain to remove as much moisture as possible.
2. Apply Distilled White Vinegar and Water
Distilled white vinegar is the go-to household item to get rid of cat or dog pee on carpet. “Dilute vinegar with water for a 1:1 ratio, and spray on the stain,” recommends Caitlin Sole, senior associate home editor for Better Homes and Gardens online. To make sure the vinegar is safe on your area rug or carpet, first spot-test on a small corner or discreet area, Sole adds.
3. Let It Sit
Once applied, let the vinegar sit for a few minutes before blotting dry. Repeat as necessary to remove odors.
4. Ensure That All Odors Are Gone
Baking soda is an excellent ingredient to help eliminate stubborn odors for good. “Sprinkle it on your rug or carpet as needed, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes or longer for set-in odors,” Sole says. Sole, who owns a Great Pyrenees, will sometimes let the baking soda sit overnight for best results.
5. Vacuum
Once the area is dry, thoroughly vacuum the carpet to remove any excess baking soda, and check the stain to make sure it’s really gone.
How to Handle Old or Seriously Stubborn Pee Stains
In an ideal world, you’d catch your pet mid-pee, but there are times when it takes days to notice cat or dog pee on the carpet. In that case, you might need to level up and use an over-the-counter enzyme-based cleaner that removes cat and dog pee stains and neutralizes odors to keep pets from returning to the scene for repeat accidents.
For safety purposes, when it comes to using any carpet cleaning product, the key is to allow the carpet to dry completely before allowing your pet to return to the area. “This will help to prevent the risk of skin irritation or gastrointestinal upset,” says Tina Wismer, DVM, Senior Director, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
“Proper use of carpet deodorizing products should not cause significant harm or injury to pets,” she adds. “Should your pet accidentally come in contact with the freshly applied product, we recommend washing the paws with mild soap and water to avoid minor skin irritation.”
If your dog or cat inhales carpet cleaner, it could result in a mild upset stomach and minor respiratory irritation, which could lead to sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose, Wismer says. “That’s why it’s a good idea to keep pets out of the room until after you have vacuumed up all of the product,” she explains.
For persistent urine smells, you might even want to consider treating your carpet with a wet/dry vac, Sole says. These can come in handy, especially when it comes to cat urine, which can be particularly hard to clean. If you choose to go the vacuum route, there are several pet-specific models available on the market. Some come with a hefty price tag, but you can typically rent one of these vacs for the occasional major mishap. They are highly effective in removing deep pet pee stains and smells, says Sole.