How to get old pet urine stains out of carpet

You love your pets. You love your carpets. Unfortunately the two don’t always coexist well. Knowing how to get pet stains out of carpet is a key skill for dog and cat owners. Here's how to clean a few of the most common messes caused by your animals.

How to Clean Dog Urine From Carpet

Accidents happen no matter how well trained your furry pal is. You need to know how to clean dog urine from carpet.

  1. If at all possible, clean up urine as soon as it hits the floor and while the carpet is still wet. Once urine dries, the odor will set into the carpet fibers.

  2. Place a towel or a couple of layers of paper towels on the spot to absorb the urine. Stand on the towel so it pushes into the carpet and absorbs as much urine as possible.

  3. Next, mix up a solution of 2 cups of vinegar, 2 cups of warm water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda.

  4. Put solution into a spray bottle and spritz on soiled area.

  5. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

  6. Blot with a soft cloth.

For Heavier Stains

  1. Sprinkle baking soda directly on the stain.

  2. Pour a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water on the area and let it sit for 5 minutes.

  3. Blot up with a cloth.

How to get old pet urine stains out of carpet
How to get old pet urine stains out of carpet
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If you are selling your home, you will want to do this before you start showing to interested sellers. No one will envy the prospect of moving into a new home and then having to take on cleaning all the carpets.

Even if there are no obvious signs that your carpet has pet stains, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Long-time pet owners can get used to a mild smell of cat or dog urine or other stains until the point where they don’t notice it any longer. However, for new inhabitants, it will be very obvious. Even without stains, pets do carry a scent of their own, and you can often smell whether pets were living in a place or not.

Not only can pet stains result in an unpleasant smell, but it can also be harmful to the residents’ health. Cat urine is especially high in ammonia which can cause respiratory problems. Like any animal waste, it also carries a range of bacteria. There’s simply nothing good about it.

So, why should I clean if I am the one moving out?

The answer to this question is two-fold. One, it’s just common decency that you clean up after your own pets. Moreover, don’t leave the park or the next owner with an uncomfortable problem on their hands.  There’s no reason that you should end your stay on bad terms with the park management or new owners.

Secondly, you might be charged for any extra cleaning services required by the park. You will need to refer to your lease agreement as it should stipulate who is responsible for what when it comes to preparing a home for an exchange of hands.

Cleaning old stains

Now, let’s see how you can remove these pesky stains from your mobile home carpet. Remember to always be responsible when it comes to your health and hygiene. Always use gloves when handling excrement or urine, and if it’s particularly bad, use a facial mask.

These are general solutions that should work equally well for all kinds of pets. However, if you are looking for cat-specific cleaning solutions for the whole home, we have you covered here.

Find the stains

Once stains have dried up, they might not be so easy to find. The smell won’t be as easy to trace back to its source. Additionally, it won’t be as visibly apparent. Of course, you could deal with this by just deep cleaning the entire carpet. However, that will take a lot of time and effort if you believe there might just be one or two affected areas.

You should start by eliminating furniture from the picture. Go over your furniture, shelves or tables and make sure they are stain free.

Then, slowly scan the floor. You can identify an old stain by a slightly darker discoloration, a sudden musky smell or a greenish/yellowish tint. The carpet might even be a bit harder on the spot as the urine or leftover feces dried.

Be an “investigator” and search for the source of scents

If you are sure that you have cleaned up any obvious spots but there is still a scent, try any tight areas your cat might be able to squeeze into or under. Cats sometimes like to do their business where they feel isolated and safe.

If you have recently rearranged a room, it might now be the case that the pee is underneath a piece of furniture.

If you couldn’t find any stains but are sure there must be some around, consider using a handheld UV torch to find them. It might seem extreme, but you can buy them for as little as $10.

Can old dog pee stains be removed?

Fortunately, you may be able to get out old, dried dog urine stains using products commonly found around the house, like liquid dish soap and baking soda. If those methods fail, you still have a chance of removing the stain with commercial products or with the help of a professional.

How do you get old dried dog urine out of carpet?

Rewet the Urine Area With Diluted Vinegar. Start by mixing white vinegar with water (undiluted vinegar can damage carpet fibers). ... .
Soak Up the Vinegar Solution. ... .
Repeat as Needed. ... .
Apply and Vacuum Up Baking Soda. ... .
Refresh With Odor Eliminators..

How do you remove old urine stains?

Vinegar is an excellent urine stain remover; it breaks down the uric acid in urine and makes the stain easier to remove. When the cycle is complete, run the load again (this time adding detergent) and wash at the hottest water temperature recommended for the fabric.

Can you get old pet stains out of carpet?

To get pet stains out of carpet areas, make a solution of ½ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon dish detergent, and 1 tablespoon of salt. Apply this solution to the stained area with a sponge or washcloth. Blot with a dry towel and repeat the process if necessary.