How To Get Dried Dog Pee Out Of A Carpet: 5 Practical Options
- Pete Ortiz
- Last updated:
Urine stains can be a common problem in pet households, especially in those with young puppies that are still being house trained or senior dogs that might have the occasional accident. Unfortunately, stains can be unsightly, smell bad, and are quite unpleasant. Dog urine is also an irritant and can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. It also contains Leptospira and other bacteria, so it is especially important to remove urine and urine stains if you have children that play on the carpets.
How To Get Dried Dog Pee Out Of Carpet
Unfortunately, dog pee is also notoriously difficult to eradicate from surfaces. The best approach is to remove the urine as soon as it hits the floor and when it has a relatively neutral pH of about 6. Once it dries out and stains, the pH rises to 10 or more and is highly alkaline, which makes it even more challenging to properly remove.
Read on to learn how to get dog pee stains out of carpet. We have provided 5 methods to beat dog urine, but the best results are usually obtained by combining them all.
1. Blot It
- Old towel or paper towels
- Heavy weights
If any of the urine is still wet, you should blot it up, rather than rub it. Use plenty of paper towels or an old towel that you don’t mind throwing away afterwards. Place the towel on top of the damp spot and apply pressure. The more pressure you can apply, the more the liquid will wick into the towel, so stand on it or add heavy weights for a few minutes.
Be aware that as you apply pressure, it will force some of the liquid outwards so the damp spot will grow and you will need to work outwards from the middle to ensure you get all of the liquid urine.
2. Use Diluted Vinegar
- Water
- Vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Cloth
The smell and the stain from dog urine is caused by ammonia, which is an alkali. In order to counteract the properties of the solution, we need to apply an acidic solution, but we also need to ensure that the acid doesn’t damage the carpet or do more damage than it prevents. Vinegar is readily available. It is safe to handle, can easily be diluted with water, and it is easy to apply to the affected area.
Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle and cover the area with the solution. Use a cloth and gently scrub the wet area before allowing it to dry completely.
3. Apply Baking Soda
- Baking soda
- Vacuum
Baking soda is another item that is commonly found in peoples’ homes, and another weapon in the battle against dog urine stains and smells. It is an amphoteric powder, so it neutralizes pH values and removes the smell and staining.
Be generous with the baking soda and sprinkle it all over the affected area. Leave the powder to soak up the urine overnight or, ideally, for 24 hours. After 24 hours, vacuum up the baking soda.
4. Use A Hydrogen Peroxide Mix
- 3% Hydrogen peroxide
- Water
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
- Cloth
- Towel
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer and bleaching agent. It doesn’t really eliminate the urine from carpet, but it does hide it and help get rid of the ugly blotches. Although it is used in high concentration in industrial settings, it needs to be diluted for use on household carpets but is used in much the same ways as vinegar.
Mix equal measures of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water and add a drop or two of dish soap that will create a lather and help activate the hydrogen peroxide. Spray the solution on and around the affected area, gently scrub it in, and blot it dry using a towel.
5. Use Enzymatic Carpet Cleaner
- Towel
- Enzymatic cleaner
- Paper towels
- Vacuum
Enzymatic carpet cleaners work by breaking down the protein in the urine. As the protein is broken down, it removes the smell and prevents the area from becoming badly stained. However, the enzymes take time to work, which means that you may have to leave the solution on the carpet for up to 72 hours.
Ensure you have removed as much of the wet urine as possible by blotting the area with an old towel or paper towels. Buy a decent quality enzymatic cleaner, spray or pour it on the affected areas and then place damp paper towels on top. The paper towels will protect the enzymes while they do their work and may need replacing with fresh damp paper towels over the course of the cleaning. After 72 hours, remove the paper towels and vacuum the area dry.
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Why Does Dog Urine Smell So Bad?
Dog urine, just like our own urine, is a combination of components. It contains bacteria, hormones, uric acid, and ammonia. Ammonia, in particular, is what gives dog urine its pungent smell. Unfortunately, ammonia’s properties mean that rather than go away over time, its smell will only get worse. The ammonia becomes more concentrated and eventually converts to mercaptan, which gives off a really strong aroma.
Because you are trying to eradicate the ammonia in dog urine, it is important that you do not use ammonia-based cleaning products to try and combat the problem. They will make matters worse, rather than better.
Why Does Dog Urine Stain?
Dog urine can stain quickly, and it may cause permanent damage to some carpets and rugs. It is warm and acidic, creating the perfect home and nest for bacteria. When bacteria break down, they create thioalcohols and it is these that carry the unmistakable smell of sulfur and other aromas. The urine also starts to react with the dyes in the carpet, which can cause the colors to change. If this happens, and you are unable to get the urine out of the fabric soon enough, the change can become a permanent stain.
It is best to blot up urine as soon as it occurs and to act quickly to avoid this permanent damage.
Conclusion
Dog urine is not only a nuisance, but it smells bad, can cause permanent stains on fabric, and it encourages bacteria formation that can make people ill. When it comes to urine stains, prevention is better than cure, so you should try to remove the urine as soon as you see it. Blot away the liquid, use a series of diluted vinegar, baking soda, and an enzymatic cleaning solution to enjoy the best chance of successful stain removal.
Featured Image Credit: Bonsales, Shutterstock
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