How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Carpets

Odor comes standard with pets. Outdoor cats track mud in from outdoors. Dogs shake themselves dry on your living room rug. Or, even worse, relieve themselves on your plush, high-pile carpet.

Urine is a difficult pet odor to eliminate, especially after it settles into rug and carpet fibers. But with a little bit of elbow grease, common household products, and Fresh Wave’s plant-based Pet Odor Eliminating Spray, you get dried dog pee out of carpets and rugs. Just follow this step-by-step guide.

7 Steps to Get Dried Dog Pee Out of Carpets & Rugs

1. Rewet With Vinegar Solution
2. Absorb the Vinegar
3. Repeat as Needed
4. Apply Baking Soda
5. Vacuum Up Baking Soda and Extra Odors
6. Follow-Up With Fresh Wave Pet Spray
7. Bonus Step: Give Your Dog a Thorough Clean With Fresh Wave Dog Shampoo

1. Rewet the Urine Area with Diluted Vinegar

Start by mixing white vinegar with water (undiluted vinegar can damage carpet fibers). Soak a rag in the solution or pour a small amount directly onto the dried urine spot. Allow the solution to sit for 2-5 minutes to ensure it soaks into the fibers. You may even see wetness on the rug’s backing, and that’s ok.

White vinegar’s acidic properties break down alkaline stains like urine, allowing you to soak up and remove (see step 2).

White vinegar will not leave a stain or cause discoloration, especially when diluted with water. You can even test a small, discrete section of the rug to make sure.

2. Soak Up the Vinegar Solution

Once you’ve saturated the area with diluted vinegar, it’s time to soak up as much of the vinegar and urine as you can.

Cover the old patch with a clean, dry rag (one that you don’t mind throwing out). Apply pressure, either with the palms of your hand or by stepping onto the towel. More pressure means more liquid will be soaked up.

4. Apply and Vacuum Up Baking Soda

Baking soda is a powerful, odor-eliminating solution that has many versatile uses like getting rid of odors in boots and deodorizing a gym bag. It will not cause discoloration and is effective against odor in carpet fibers and other porous surfaces around the house.

To use baking soda to get the dog pee smell out of a rug, sprinkle a generous amount onto the area and allow it to sit for several minutes. Vacuum up the baking soda and the odors it absorbed. To prevent vacuum exhaust odors, add some Fresh Wave Odor Eliminating Vacuum Beads to the canister or bag.

The secret to baking soda’s effectiveness lies in its crystal-like structure. Volatile molecules bind to its surface and neutralize without leaving an unpleasant residue or causing a smell.

When combined with Fresh Wave odor eliminating products, this duo can effectively fight odors in a variety of applications.

5. Refresh with Odor Eliminators

After you’ve vacuumed up the baking soda, mist the rug with Fresh Wave Odor Removing Pet Spray. This powerful odor remover absorbs and eliminates dog smells with natural plant oils (including zesty orange oil).

You can also light a Fresh Wave Odor Removing Candle or use the original or lavender Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray to eliminate lingering urine smells released during the cleaning process.

Unlike some air fresheners or scented candles, Fresh Wave’s ingredients are safer for pets and people. They rely on natural plant oils to absorb and neutralize smells instead of masking them with fake perfumes.