How to Remove Dog Urine

Part of being a pet owner is knowing how to remove dog urine from carpets. The tell-tale odor is hard to mistake, and if left untreated, will grow worse. It’s always easier to find the messes when they are fresh, but there is also a way to find the stains after they are dry. Urine stains will show up in black light, allowing the carpet to be cleaned in those places.

Cleaners that contain ammonia should not be used to remove dog urine. The urine itself contains ammonia, so if the dog or puppy continues to smell ammonia, it may be encouraged to continue relieving itself on that section of the carpet.

Step 1 – Blot the urine

If the urine is fresh, cover it with rags or paper towels and use the pressure of your foot to press the towels into the carpet to absorb the urine.

Step 2 – Neutralize the ammonia

Combine equal parts of water and white vinegar and apply liberally to the stain. Use gloved hands or a scrub brush to work the vinegar down into the carpet fibers. Don’t brush the carpet fibers too roughly or the fibers will separate. Use the same method as listed in Step 1 to blot the excess vinegar and water from the stain.

Step 3 – Treat the stain

When the stain is almost dry, cover it with a handful of baking soda and then mix one half cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Using gloves or the brush, work the liquid and baking soda down into the carpet fibers and allow it to dry completely.

Step 4 – Finishing up

Slowly vacuum the area to remove all of the baking soda mixture from the carpet.

It may be necessary to repeat this process a few times. If the carpet has many stained areas, it may need to be professionally cleaned.