Removing Dog Pee from Carpet: 5 Simple and Effective Methods

Written by Amber LaRock
Updated: August 7, 2023
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Dog urine can lead to pesky stains and odor your favorite rugs and carpet. Not only are the spots of urine unsightly, but improperly cleaned accidents can encourage your dog to pee in that same spot again.

Let’s discuss how you can banish those dog urine stains in your carpet once and for all!

Why Do Dogs Pee On The Carpet?

Dog laying on rug

Dogs pee on carpet due to not being potty trained, underlying urinary conditions, and behavioral struggles.

©N K/Shutterstock.com

Before we dive into the most effective ways to remove dog pee from your carpet, let’s first discuss the potential reasons why your dog is having accidents inside!

They are not yet potty trained: Many dogs will have occasional accidents inside when they are in the process of being potty trained. Ideally, if you are consistent with your training methods, these accidents should be few and far between.

They are not going outside enough: Some dogs will pee inside if they are being forced to hold their bladder for long periods. This is especially common in small breed dogs, as their bladders are much smaller than other canine friends.

They have an underlying medical condition: Your dog could be struggling with an underlying medical condition if they suddenly begin to pee inside, especially if they are fully potty trained. Some of the medical conditions that can lead to accidents inside include urinary tract infections, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease, and more.

They are struggling with anxiety or fear: Fear and anxiety can lead to a variety of strange symptoms in dogs, and peeing inside is one of them. Some factors that lead to fear and anxiety in dogs include loud noises, storms, changes in routine, moving into a new home, new pets in the home, and the loss of an owner.

5 Ways To Clean Dog Pee Out Of Carpet

what smells do mice hate

Enzymatic cleaners contain bacteria and enzymes that work together to break down difficult stains and odor.

©Sergio Rojo/Shutterstock.com

One of the most effective ways to prevent future accidents from your dog is by cleaning their previous accidents diligently. Here are five effective ways to remove dog pee from your carpet!

#1 Enzymatic Cleaners

Enzymatic cleaners help to prevent lingering odor after your dog pees on the carpet. Enzymatic cleaners contain bacteria and enzymes that work together to break down waste. The enzymes break down the stain and odor itself, while the bacteria comes in afterward to consume it all. This helps to ensure that there are no odors left behind to encourage future accidents.

#2 Carpet Cleaners

Carpet cleaners can be used to target those difficult to remove urine stains! Carpet cleaners rely on powerful cleaning solutions and warm water to pull the urine from your carpet fibers, sucking up all the dirty liquid as it washes. This means that instead of swirling around any loose urine and dirt as you clean, the machine gets rid of it for you! You can even purchase carpet cleaning solution that targets pet odors specifically.

#3 Baking Soda

If you don’t have any enzymatic cleaner on hand, baking soda can be a wonderful option to remove urine odor as well! All you need to do is sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on top of the urine stain, and leave the baking soda there for 10-20 minutes based on the severity of the odor. You can then vacuum up the baking soda and treat the area with any liquid cleaner.

#4 White Vinegar

If you want to step up the baking soda odor-removing method, just add a dash of white vinegar! Just be sure to dilute your white vinegar with a one part water to one part vinegar ratio, and then sprinkle in a quarter of a cup of baking soda. You can use this homemade solution just like any other liquid cleaner!

#5 Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is not as effective as the other cleaners on this list when it comes to removing odors, but it does a great job of removing pesky stains. Just be sure to dilute your hydrogen peroxide at a 1:10 ratio with warm water, and if you need a bit of extra cleaning support, you can add in a 1/2 cup of dawn dish soap as well.

How To Prevent Your Dog From Peeing On The Carpet

Cute dog on carpet

Previous urine stains that are improperly cleaned may encourage your dog to pee in that same spot again.

©Africa/Shutterstock.com

Once you spend your time cleaning up a difficult urine stain, you will not want to do it again! Here are some of the ways you can prevent future accidents in your furry friend.

  • Clean any previous accidents thoroughly, being sure to eliminate any lingering odor
  • Make sure you are taking your dog outside frequently
  • Be consistent with your potty training process
  • Try to prevent any stress or anxiety in your canine friend
  • Take your dog to the vet if they suddenly begin to pee inside

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing worse than a urine stain on your favorite rug. Be sure to review the information we discussed above on removing dog pee from your carpet, and you will have the tools needed to banish that pesky urine stain once and for all!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © New Africa/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Amber LaRock is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics surrounding pet health and behavior. Amber is a Licensed Veterinary Technician with 12 years of experience in the field, and she holds a degree in veterinary technology that she earned in 2015. A resident of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Amber enjoys volunteering with animal rescues, reading, and taking care of her two cats.

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