Our pets are like family for most of us, but the pet odors they leave behind in the carpet can be challenging to handle. No pet parent wants their home to reek of pet odors! From accidents on the carpet to licking the floor and even food stains, it can become overwhelming trying to prevent the stains from happening and get the odors out.
Luckily, there are a few ways you can remove pet odors from your carpet. We’ll talk about five of them below.
Before You Begin
Before we give you our top five ways to remove pet odors from your carpet, there are a few things you should do first:
Remove Any Lingering Waste
The first thing you want to do is get some gloves and paper towels. and remove any feces, dirt, or grime left on the stain before moving on to the next step.
Soak Up Any Leftover Liquid
If you’re trying to get urine out of the carpet, you’ll want to take paper towels and blot up all leftover liquid you can find. Don’t rub the stain, as it could set it. Blot it gently with paper towels instead.
Rinse
You want to get as much dirt as possible out of the stained area before using any of the methods below. Then, rinse the stain with a paper towel dipped in cool water for the best results.
Now, you’re ready to try one of the ways below for getting rid of those nasty pet odors once and for all.
The 5 Possible Ways to Get Rid of Pet Odors in Carpets
1. Baking Soda
| What You Need | Baking soda, vacuum cleaner |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Safe for Pets/Kids | No |
One of the best ways to get pet odors out of your carpet is by sprinkling baking soda on the area. Baking soda is used as a cleaning solution and deodorizer for many household needs. The baking soda works by soaking up the moisture in the area and then removing the odors. The biggest plus is that it doesn’t contain chemicals that can harm your eyes.
Simply sprinkle the baking soda on the affected area, let it dry for several hours, then vacuum for the best results.
It’s essential to note that baking soda doesn’t work on all carpets, so make sure to do a small test first. You’ll also need to keep your pets and kids away from the area until the baking soda dries since it can be dangerous if they were to eat it.
2. Hire a Professional
| What You Need | A trusted professional |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Safe for Pets/Kids | Yes/No |
One of the easiest and most effective ways to get pet odors out of your carpet is by contacting professional carpet cleaners to come out and take care of the problem for you. They do all the work, and it’s a professional cleaning, which is always a good thing. Professionals are trained to clean carpets and have the right tools to remove any stains and odors the right way.
The downside to hiring a professional is that it can be expensive, and some people prefer not to have strangers in their homes.
All you need for this method is the phone number of a reputable carpet cleaning service and your credit card. It is best to keep your pets and kids away from the professionals when they’re cleaning and keep them out of the way until the carpet dries for the best results.
3. Enzymatic Cleaners
| What You Need | Enzymatic cleaner, paper towels |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Safe for Pets/Kids | No |
Enzymatic cleaners can also be used to remove those pesky pet odors from your home’s carpets. These are pre-mixed, easy to use, and contain enzymes that eat away at bacteria and odors, leaving your carpets fresh-smelling and clean.
These solutions are not safe for all carpets, and some of them do contain chemicals that can be dangerous to your pets and kids.
Most of these cleaners just require you to spray the area, let the cleaner sit for a bit, and then blot it up with paper towels.
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4. Dishwashing Detergent
| What You Need | Detergent, vinegar, vacuum cleaner |
| Difficulty Level | Medium |
| Safe for Pets/Kids | Yes/No |
Dishwashing detergent has met with quite a bit of success when it comes to removing pet odors from the carpet. However, it’s more effective if you mix it with vinegar to form a solution. Mix your solution with half vinegar and half detergent for the best results. This is a simple, easy-to-use option.
It’s essential to try it on an unseen area of carpet as it might not work on all types, and be careful when applying it as it could form bubbles and make quite a mess. After you let the mixture sit for a bit, vacuum it with a vacuum to remove all the moisture from the area.
5. White Vinegar
| What You Need | White vinegar, spray bottle, water |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Safe for Pets/Kids | Yes |
Believe it or not, white vinegar is used for cleaning a lot of things around the house. It’s a strong solution that will work wonders on pet odors. Don’t pour the vinegar directly on the area, however. Instead, make sure to mix it half and half with water in a spray bottle, then spray the affected area.
It’s an all-natural option and easy to use. However, vinegar does have a strong smell, so it’s not for everyone, though it should dissipate after a bit. It’s also not for all types of carpet, so test it first in an unseen area.
Conclusion
Whether it’s a DIY solution, over the counter, or calling in professional service, there are ways to get pet odors out of your carpet. Try one or all of them to determine which one works best for you. If your pet continues to use the carpet as a bathroom, you may need to make an appointment with your vet to ensure there’s no medical issue that needs to be treated. Once you’re sure there’s no medical problem, look into professional training if you can’t get the behavior to stop.
Featured Image Credit: Kristi Blokhin, Shutterstock
