How to Remove Old Urine Stains from a Carpet

Keep your carpet looking and smelling good by removing old urine stains.

Urine stains on carpet can be frustrating to remove, especially if the stains are old. As the urine soaks down into the fibers of the carpet, removal is more challenging than with fresh stains. Whether from a dog, cat or person, old urine stains on carpet will not only leave an unsightly mark but also an unappealing odor. Removing old urine stains will freshen the look and smell of the carpet.

Things You'll Need

• Clean spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Scrub brush
• Old rags
• Baking soda
• ½ cup hydrogen peroxide or laundry pretreatment spray
• 1 tsp. dish soap

Instructions

1. Fill a clean spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and lukewarm water. Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients.

2. Spray a generous amount of the solution directly onto the urine-stained area of the carpet. Apply enough solution so that the carpet is saturated, allowing it to reach the fibers deep into the carpet.

3. Use a scrub brush to work the mixture into the carpet. Apply force when scrubbing to ensure that it gets far down into the carpet.

4. Allow the mixture to set on the carpet for about 30 minutes. Blot the solution from the carpet using old rags. Allow the carpet to air dry.

5. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the affected area of the carpet once it has dried from the vinegar solution.

6. Mix ½ cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tsp. dish soap into a bowl. Pour the mixture on top of the baking soda. Test the peroxide solution on an inconspicuous area of the carpet prior to applying it to a more noticeable area, especially if your carpet is dark in color. Peroxide is a very mild bleaching agent and may discolor some carpeting. If the peroxide is not suitable for use on your carpet, apply a laundry pretreatment spray as a substitute.

7. Work the baking soda and peroxide (or laundry pretreatment spray) into the carpet using your fingers. Follow up by scrubbing the area with a scrub brush.

8. Allow the mixture to dry completely onto the carpet. Vacuum the carpet to remove the baking soda powder.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and skin during the urine removal process.

• Never try to remove urine stains with ammonia or products containing ammonia.

References

• House Cleaning Tips: Removing Urine Stain Problems and Odor
• Mrs. Clean: Pet And Urine Stain Removal
• Dog Chat: Dog Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Carpets

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Pet Education: How to Remove Dog Urine Stains from Carpet