Need to get dog urine stains removed form carpet? We’ll show you the best way, but we’re also going to show you how to put a stop to marking! While some dogs can be trained to let their humans know when they need to go outside and do their business, but before that happens – and sometimes after as well – the interior of your home becomes your dog’s marked territory. This is how to stop marking and how to clean up if it happens.
Dog Urine Stains and How To Remove them
Notice here, we didn’t write: “…remove urine stains for good” .. Because you’ll never get the stain out unless you rip out the carpet, underlayment and sometimes, even the wood floors (or subfloor). We actually had a dog that would urinate in the vents. For weeks we smelled dog pee, but couldn’t find the spot. It was until the drywall ceiling in the basement had fallen in did we figure out was what happening.
The stains and smells of your dog mishaps and dishonorable discharges can leave a lasting impression on rugs and carpets, furniture, and other items in your home if they’re not taken care of immediately.
If you’re fortunate enough to catch Duke in the act of relieving himself all over the Persian rug that was a gift from your mother-in-law, take the steps that have to do with the dog’s training and then attend to the poodle puddle right away. Use a rag or some paper towels to soak up as much of the mess as possible and then clean the area with a mixture of cold or lukewarm (never hot) water and some sort of cleaning agent. Peroxide works well at removing the chance of a stain as well as the odor, but it should not be used on certain fabrics or dyes. A dab of dishwashing liquid (the kind you use in the sink, not the dishwasher) mixed with water can do a good job on these fresh marks as well.
For stains that have been allowed to sit for a time you’ll need to take slightly more drastic measures. Organic cleansers like Spot Shot work best on stains like these and should be chosen over chemicals. If you do use chemicals, peroxide is your friend once again as it can act as a terrific stain remover. Again you’ll want to dilute with warm water and apply it to the area. Some scrubbing will be necessary, but it should be done as gently as possible, depending on the type of fabric. If we’re talking about carpet, some vigorous scrubbing will probably be okay as the fibers are designed to take a bit of a beating.
If the soiled items are washable fabrics like clothing, towels, or small throw rugs, the stains should come out in the wash. Put the item in the washer by itself with the regular laundry detergent that you would normally use and some color safe bleach (whites can and should be done with regular chlorine bleach).
The best way to deal with doggie urine stains is to avoid having them happen in the first place, which can be accomplished through careful and meticulous training. If the occasional whoopsie does happen, don’t lose your head. Deal with the dog in the appropriate manner and rest easy in the knowledge that, in most cases, pee washes out.