Common household items will usually take care of the problem.
Time 5 to 15 minutes
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$0
Introduction
We love our furry friends but not the messes they make. Here's how to get rid of stains and odors for good.
Maybe you’re training a puppy or the kitty you brought home hasn’t learned the rules yet. Or maybe your housebroken pet had an accident. As most pet owners know, accidents do happen.
And sometimes, it may not be an accident. After all, dogs and cats are biologically wired to communicate through their urine — marking territory, among other behaviors. That means even pets with generally good house manners may be leaving an important message. It’s just not for you.
Whatever the reason, the scent can be off-putting and linger for a long time. Pet pee can ruin or discolor carpets, rugs and upholstery. Jen Jones, dog behaviorist at Your Dog Advisor, says uric acid causes stains and odors.
“When the urine is not properly cleaned up, the strong uric acid forms into crystals,” she says. “These crystals are expert bonders, too, and they will tightly latch onto the surface they are exposed to.” And cats have even more concentrated urine than dogs.
Alessandro Gazzo of Emily’s Maids says the tight bonding happens in the “million microscopic sponges” in the padding underneath your carpet meant for comfort and acoustic insulation. That adds up to one big challenge eliminating pet pee stains and odors. Here’s how to tackle your pet pee problem.
Tools Required
- Bristle Brush
- Microfiber towels
Materials Required
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Water
Project step-by-step (4)
Step 1
Soak up wet urine
According to Jones and Gazzo, if you find a puddle of urine, your best bet is to soak up as much as possible before it has a chance to set in. Do this before you use any cleaners. Microfiber cloths are really absorbent, Gazzo says, making them an ideal tool to use.
Step 2
Scrub with vinegar solution
After soaking up the mess, scrub the area with a homemade cleaner like a vinegar solution. The most common mix is a one-to-one ratio of vinegar to water, but that can vary, according to experts.
“Some people recommend initially using a solution that has a greater proportion of white vinegar (so perhaps three-part vinegar to one part water) and leave this to dry,” Jones says. “As a second step, you can use a second solution that is one part vinegar and three parts water, so that the vinegar smell will not be so strong.” Others recommend one or two applications of equal parts water and vinegar.
Step 3
Cover the area with baking soda
Once completely dry, lightly sprinkle the area with baking soda. Let it sit about 15 minutes and vacuum it up. For especially tough odors, leave the baking soda overnight and vacuum the next day.
But, Jones says, don’t be tempted to take a shortcut and mix the vinegar and baking soda together; their acidic and alkaline properties will cancel each other out.
If a cat keeps peeing on carpet, it might because it can still smell urine odors in that spot. Getting rid of the smell will discourage them from doing it again.
Step 4
Use an enzymatic cleaner
“Uric acid is not soluble in water and this means that a normal cleaning product or water-based solution is generally not effective at removing it,” Jones says. “Sometimes you may think that you have gotten rid of them. But when the uric acid crystals are exposed to more water (or your dog potties in the same place), they recrystallize and the smells resurface again with a vengeance.”
So if the homemade recipe didn’t work after a couple of tries, or the urine dried or sat for awhile before you discovered it, then try an enzymatic carpet cleaner for pet stains. These cleaners break down the uric acid and make it easier to clean up.
Jones recommends really soaking the area, not just spraying it lightly. You can also use a bristle brush to really scrub the fibers (if they’re durable enough). Or cover the area and let it soak for awhile before trying to absorb the mess.
Tip: Still missing the mark? It’s possible you’re not targeting the exact spot. Gazzo recommends using a UV light to locate the actual stain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a carpet cleaning machine to get rid of pet urine smells and stains?
If you’ve repeated these steps a couple of times and still not getting the desired results, the next option is renting a carpet cleaning machine or calling a pro. Note: Don’t use a steam cleaner or hot water because the heat can seal the stain or smell.
Why does my carpet still smell like urine after shampooing?
Sometimes even a carpet cleaning machine may not resolve the issue. If that’s the case, the pee may have soaked into the carpet padding. If that’s the case, you may be forced to remove the carpet or rug and pad.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide to remove pet urine stains and smells from carpet?
Yes. If the vinegar and baking soda route doesn’t work, hydrogen peroxide is another effective way to take care of the problem with a common household material. Just mix it with water and a little dish soap. Then pour it over the baking soda and scrub the trouble spot.
About the Experts
- Alessandro Gazzo is a cleaning expert and the founder of of Emily’s Maids, a housecleaning service based in Dallas, Texas.
- Jen Jones is a dog behaviorist and professional dog trainer with more than 25 years of experience and the founder of Your Dog Advisor.
