Pet Urine on the Carpet?
We all love the way dogs play fetch and run and jump and roll around and lick us affectionately and pee all over the carpet and…
Pee all over the carpet? Well we don’t love that aspect of dog ownership, now do we?
Dogs can be housebroken and trained to let their owners know when they need to go outside and make a little weedle or some other bigger job, but before that happens – and sometimes afterwars – the interior of your home becomes Rover’s marked territory. The stains and smells of Phydeaux’s little mishaps and dishonorable discharges can leave a lasting impression on rugs and carpets, furniture, and other items in your home if they’re not taken care of immediately.
If you’re fortunate enough to catch Duke in the act of relieving himself all over the Persian rug that was a gift from your mother-in-law, take the steps that have to do with the dog’s training and then attend to the poodle puddle right away. Use a rag or some paper towels to soak up as much of the mess as possible and then clean the area with a mixture of cold or lukewarm (never hot) water and some sort of cleaning agent. Peroxide works well at removing the chance of a stain as well as the odor, but it should not be used on certain fabrics or dyes. A dab of dishwashing liquid (the kind you use in the sink, not the dishwasher) mixed with water can do a good job on these fresh marks as well.
For stains that have been allowed to sit for a time you’ll need to take slightly more drastic measures. Organic cleansers like Spot Shot work best on stains like these and should be chosen over chemicals. If you do use chemicals, peroxide is your friend once again as it can act as a terrific stain remover. Again you’ll want to dilute with warm water and apply it to the area. Some scrubbing will be necessary, but it should be done as gently as possible, depending on the type of fabric. If we’re talking about carpet, some vigorous scrubbing will probably be okay as the fibers are designed to take a bit of a beating.
If the dirtied items are washable fabrics like clothing, towels, or small throw rugs, the stains should come out in the wash. Put the item in the washer by itself with the regular laundry detergent that you would normally use and some color safe bleach (whites can and should be done with regular chlorine bleach).
The best way to deal with doggie urine stains is to avoid having them happen in the first place, which can be accomplished through training. If the occasional mistake does happen, don’t lose your head. Dogs won’t remember what they’ve done wrong if you chastise them after the event, so letting them know they have done wrong is only useful if caught in the act.
For more on how to remove pet urine, go to How to Clean Dog and Cat Urine