How to Clean Dry Dog Urine From Carpet

Untreated dog urine stains can damage carpet.

While indoor dogs provide homeowners with companionship and a sense of security, they also can urinate on carpet and other household surfaces to mark their territory. Failure to promptly and thoroughly clean fresh urine causes the stains to dry onto carpet fibers and become more difficult to remove. The distinct odor of dried stains encourages dogs to repeatedly urinate on untreated areas. Thoroughly clean dried urine stains with common solutions to restore the carpet and prevent further urine stains.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• Cool water
• Wet vacuum
• Pet odor neutralizer with enzymes
• Soft cloth

Instructions

1. Dampen a sponge with cool water. Blot the stain with the sponge to rinse out the dried urine.

2. Vacuum the affected carpet with a wet vacuum attachment. Follow the vacuum manufacturer's directions for proper use.

3. Apply pet odor neutralizer to affected areas of the carpet. Use a high-quality product containing enzymes specifically for dried pet stains. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the product's label. Enzymes are natural organisms that actually eat away or digest the odor-causing bacteria, according to PetEducation.

4. Rub the neutralizer into the carpet fibers with soft cloth. Allow the neutralizer to absorb into the carpet for the recommended amount of time.

5. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly with the wet vacuum. Extract all neutralizer and moisture from the carpet.

6. Repeat the entire process after 24 hours to ensure all traces of odor and urine are completely removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the pet odor neutralizer on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to ensure no damage or discoloration occurs.

References

• The Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals: Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains
• The Humane Society: Removing Pet Stains and Odors
• Pet Education: How to Remove Dog Urine Stains From Carpet