How to Get Cat & Dog Urine Smell Out of a Carpet Using Household Ingredients

Getting cat and dog urine smell out of a carpet using household ingredients is possible, but not as easy as using commercial ingredients. It helps if you have a rug carpet steam cleaner. The best thing to use to dissipate the smell of urine is household vinegar. You can save your carpet, even if the urine has been sitting on the carpet for hours. Dogs and cats will have accidents when left alone for a long time, especially if your animals are older or if they are sick.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vinegar
• Shop vac (optional)
• Towels/rags
• Steam cleaner (optional)

1. Suck up all excess liquid with the shop vac. If you do not have a shop vac, soak up as much as you can with dry towels or rags.

2. Vacuum at least 24 inches around the spot to make sure you pick up any hair or dirt that will make cleanup more difficult or clog a steam cleaner. Even if you are not going to use a carpet cleaner (you can rent Rug Doctors at most grocery stores), you should vacuum a spot wider than the offending spot. If you are using a standard vacuum, be careful not to go over the wet spot.

3. Pour household vinegar on the offending spot (use as much as you need to cover the mess). Allow the vinegar to soak in for 10 minutes. You can use any brand of white vinegar. Fill the carpet cleaner with hot water and, if desired, your favorite carpet cleaner. Go over the spot with the carpet cleaner. If you do not have a steam cleaner, soak up the vinegar with towels. Standing on the towels allows them to soak up more liquid than just patting the spot.

4. Clean the steam cleaner out and fill it with plain hot water. Go over the spot with the clean water. Allow the spot to dry. If you have the air conditioning on, turn it off to allow the heat and humidity to build up in the house. The urine smell is much stronger when it is warm and humid in the house.

5. Sniff the air. If you smell urine, repeat Steps 3 and 4. Continue until you cannot smell urine. Depending on the size of the spot and how soon you found the mess, you may get it cleaned up with one try or it may take three or four tries to get all the smell out.

6. Sprinkle your favorite rug freshener (if desired) over the rug and vacuum the rug only after you have determined that there is no urine smell left.

Tips & Warnings

• Using vinegar on the carpet not only eradicates the smell of urine, but also encourages your pet not to make a mess in the same place again.
• Your house will smell of vinegar until you have completed the process. Even when completed, you might smell a hint of vinegar for a day or two.
• Vinegar is the only household product that removes urine smell from a carpet.