How To Get Old Urine Smell Out Of Carpet

As dog owners, we've all been there. You got delayed at the office or running errands, and your dog couldn't hold it any longer. Of course, he picked the perfect place on the carpet to pee. Even worse, your pet has chosen a regular spot to relieve himself in your home because you haven't been able to eliminate the smell completely.

Do you know how to get dog pee out of carpet? Never fear! We'll give you some expert tips on how to get dog pee smell out of carpet for good.

How To Get Dog Pee Out Of Carpet

If you want to know how to clean dog pee from carpet, there are a few issues you have to address — the smell, the carpet stains, and how much of the carpet is saturated, i.e., how long since your dog peed (and how long the urine has had to seep deep into the carpet).

First, the basics. What's the best dog urine remover? You might be surprised to know that it's plain old water. Below are some tips on the first steps to take to get dog urine out of carpet as soon as you find his "oops" spot(s).

How To Get Dried Dog Pee Out Of Carpet

Dog laying next to soiled rug (caption: How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Carpet)

Find the exact location of the stain with a UV flashlight.
Thoroughly rinse the stain with water. A carpet cleaner will do the best job since it saturates the carpet with clean water and sucks up the dirty water. Tip: Don't use a steam cleaner. The heat from a steam cleaner permanently sets the stain and odor.
Apply a pet odor neutralizer (see our recommendations below). Be sure to follow the instructions and test a hidden area of the carpet first to make sure the neutralizer doesn't stain the carpet.
Allow the spot to completely dry.
If the area still looks stained after drying out, use a high-quality carpet stain remover (our picks are below).
If the urine has soaked into the padding under your carpet, you may have no choice but to replace that area of the carpet and padding. Once the carpet pad is wet, it's extremely difficult (if not impossible) to clean and dry it.

Tip: The Humane Society urges you NOT to use heavy cleaning chemicals, like ammonia or vinegar. They actually don't remove the odor, and the strong scent of the chemicals may entice your dog to mark their area again (learn more about why dogs mark their territory).

How To Remove Wet Urine Stains From Carpet

Place a few layers of paper towels over the carpet to soak up the urine.
Cover the paper towels with a clean towel or several layers of newspaper (additional paper towels would work as well).
Place newspaper or a clean towel under the affected area if possible (for example, if it's an area rug).
Press firmly into the stain with an old, clean shoe or something else that you don't mind getting urine on to help absorb as much of the urine as possible.
Replace the paper towels and towels/newspaper if they become soaked, and repeat step 4 (if needed).
Once the urine is soaked up, rinse the area with cool water, and be sure to soak up the water with towels or a wet vac. (If you use a towel, make sure it has been washed multiple times, so the dye from the towel is not transferred to the carpet.)
After the area is dry, vacuum the carpet.

How To Get Dog Pee Smell Out Of Carpet

If you're wondering how to get rid of dog pee smell in carpet or how to get old dog urine smell out of carpet, the best way is with a pet odor neutralizer and stain remover. These pet carpet cleaning solutions use natural enzymes that are activated on contact with odors and stains, feeding on ammonia crystals and organic matter until they're eliminated. See below for our top picks.

Best Carpet Cleaner For Dog Urine

All of our top picks are dual-action, so they work as both a pet odor neutralizer and a pet stain remover. Plus, they're all affordable. Read on to find out how to get urine smell out of carpet next time there's an accident.

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator Review

Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator #1

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Contains natural enzymatic bacteria that are activated on contact with odors and stains
Pet and child-safe (no chlorine or hazardous propellants)
Safe for any surface (carpet, floor, pet bedding, furniture, etc.)
100% satisfaction guarantee
32 fl oz
Learn more in our interview with Rocco & Roxie's Co-Founders

Price

$19.97 ($0.62 / Fl Oz)

Nature's Miracle Advanced Pet Trigger Sprayer Review

Nature's Miracle Advanced Pet Trigger Sprayer #2

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Oxygen-infused, bio-enzymatic formula
Fast drying
For use on carpets, furniture, floors, clothing, and more
Guaranteed to permanently eliminate stain and odors
35 fl oz

Price

$13.69 ($0.43 / Fl Oz)

Sunny & Honey Professional Pet Stain And Odor Eliminator Review

Sunny & Honey Professional Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator #3

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Natural bio-enzymatic formula
Children and pet safe
Multi-surface formula for carpet, rugs, furniture, hardwood, leather, pet beds, crates, and car upholstery
Made in the USA
10% of profits donated to animal rescues and shelters
100% full refund if not satisfied
32 fl oz

Price

$16.97

Other Items You'll Need

As we mentioned above, there are some other items you'll want to have on hand if you're working on old, dry urine stains. Here are some of our recommendations.

Armor All Wet Vac

Armor All Wet Vac View on Amazon

This 2-1/2 gallon wet vac is great at saturating your carpet and sucking up the dirty water. It's even powerful enough to suck up solid materials (like pet vomit!). This wet vac is easy to use and small enough to store in a closet. It also makes a great car or workshop vacuum.

Price

$59.18

Vansky UV Flashlight

UV Flashlight View on Amazon

This Amazon bestselling ultraviolet black light can help you spot hard-to-see pet urine stains on carpets, curtains, furniture, rugs, or any type of fabric. It takes three AA batteries, which aren't included.

Price

$12.99

I Shampooed My Carpet And Now It Smells Like Urine

This can happen sometimes with old, dried urine stains that you didn't even know were there and didn't smell before shampooing. When the water and carpet shampoo solution hit the stains, it can reactivate the ammonia in the old urine stain and spread the urine around. And if the shampoo you were using doesn't contain a pet odor neutralizer, you end up in a frustrating situation.

If this happens, you can use an ultraviolet light to identify where the urine is located in your carpet. And then treat it with one of the products we review above. However, if your carpet cleaning has spread the urine too far to a wide area, you may want to seek the help of a professional carpet cleaning service.

How To Get Dog Poop Out Of Carpet

If your dog poops on your carpet, follow these steps to remove all the poop and poop stains.

Try to remove the poop as soon as possible.
Using a moist paper towel, pinch the carpet fibers to pick up as much excess poop as you can.
Mix two cups of cool water, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and one tablespoon of liquid non-bleach dish soap.
Spray or pour a small amount of the solution into the stain.
Blot the stain with a rag until the carpet absorbs the solution and repeat until the stain has disappeared. Tip: Blotting, not rubbing, is key. Rubbing the stain can make it worse.
Once the stain is gone, spray or pour a small amount of cold water onto the area and soak it up with a new rag. This helps remove any excess cleaning solution from your carpet.
When it's dry, sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it sit for 10 minutes or so. Then, vacuum.

Oprah, A Pet Stain Removal Expert?

Oprah Winfrey is an expert on many things, including the best stain removers. Who knew?! Check out her advice on how to get pee smell out of carpet on Live with Kelly & Michael (now Live with Kelly and Ryan).

How To Remove Dog Pee Stains From Carpet Infographic

Here's a handy graphic with step-by-step instructions, should you need it.

How To Remove Dog Pee Stains From Carpet Infographic