Removing Urine Smell from Carpet
It’s bound to happen at least once. Pets have accidents. If you have carpet, urine stains and odors can be challenging. Here’s what you need to do to remove the stain, neutralize the odor, and prevent it from happening in the future.
Cautionary note: Always test any cleaning method in an inconspicuous area before proceeding. What works for one situation may not work for another.
Jump Ahead
- Clean Up the Urine
- Treating a Urine Stain
- Homemade Urine Carpet Stain Treatment
- Neutralizing Urine Odor
- How to Find a Urine Stain
- References
Clean Up the Urine
When attempting to get the urine smell out of the carpet, the first line of defense is to clean up the mess thoroughly before it has time to soak into the carpet and padding. Once it reaches the padding and subfloor, it will be nearly impossible to get rid of the smell and may ultimately require replacement of the carpet.
- Use absorbent paper towels on the urine site and blot until they come up dry. Blotting from the outside of the stain inward rather than scrubbing the spot will prevent it from spreading.
- Once the urine is cleaned, use a sprayer to mist the area with cool water and continue to blot until the paper towels are clean and dry.
Treating a Urine Stain
An essential step to treating any stain is to understand what type of stain it is. Bodily fluids such as saliva and urine contain protein, which must be considered before treatment. [1]
The best solutions for a protein stain are protein digesters or enzyme treatments. How the stain is treated will depend on the manufacturer’s instructions. [2]
Do not use hot water when attempting to clean a protein stain. Hot water sets a protein stain. [3]
Homemade Urine Stain Carpet Treatment
A homemade treatment from The Carpet and Rug Institute is to mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water. They further advise applying a small amount of the solution to a white cloth, working from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent spreading. Allow it to sit on the stain for a few minutes, and blot until dry. Once the stain is removed, rinse with cold water and blot until dry. [4]
Interestingly, the Humane World for Animals advises against using ammonia or vinegar if your pet causes a urine stain. “Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area,” they warn. [5]
Neutralizing Urine Odor
The most important step in cleaning pet urine stains is completely neutralizing the odor. Even if you can no longer smell traces of urine, your pet can. The Humane Society warns, “As long as your pet can smell his personal scent, he’ll continue to return to the ‘accident zone.'” Rather than trial and error with homemade remedies, they recommend using a high-quality pet odor neutralizer available at pet supply stores. [6]
If you are in a pinch and don’t have professional cleaners on hand, the American Kennel Club suggests spreading baking soda thinly (less than 1/4 of a cup) and evenly across the damp spot. Let it sit overnight, and vacuum it in the morning. [7]
How to Find a Urine Stain
If you smell urine but see no visual signs of a stain, you may need a black light to help you locate the urine site’s exact origin. In a darkened room, a black light highlights urine deposits, even older stains.
References
- [1] Phillip B. Danielson, Ph.D. – “Isolation of Highly Specific Protein Markers for the Identification of Biological Stains: Adapting Comparative Proteomics to Forensics.”
- [2] Cleaning & Maintenance Management – “How to Remove Different Types of Stains from Carpeting.“
- [3] Iowa State University Extension Outreach – “Answer Line: Laundry Stains.“
- [4] The Carpet and Rug Institute – “Spot Solver.“
- [5] Humane World for Animals – “Get the Smell of Urine Out of Carpet.“
- [6] The Humane Society of the United States – “Removing Stains & Odors.“
- [7] American Kennel Club – “How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet: Smells and Stains on Fabric.“
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