How to Free the Carpet from Pet Urine Naturally

Last update: 2 years ago

Dog and cat urine problems
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Living with a furry friend can be both fun and beneficial. A common problem among pet owners is cleaning. Although you can tell a human to “do the business” at the right place, your dog or cat won’t agree with that rule.

Possible reasons for such behaviour could include health issues, psychological problems or marking of territory. No matter the reason, there is usually one “purrrfect” spot for the job – the carpet.

A wet stain combined with an unpleasant odour can turn the cleaning into a nightmare. Store-bought detergents can’t always help, and they tend to leave a distinctive chemical smell of their own.

There are, however, eco-friendly alternatives that you can consider. We are not talking about the costly “green” products that most stores are selling. There are all kinds of homemade cleaning recipes you can test instead. They require few simple ingredients, minimum effort and provide results that will make you want to try them again. Opting for this cleaning method comes with some benefits, too.

Why is it so important to use natural cleaning products instead of chemical ones?

Chemical products could be dangerous for people with allergies, sensitive skin and various health problems. No matter how threatening they are for humans, though, they are twice as threatening for pets.

A dog’s nose, for instance, can distinct smells much better than ours – 100 000 times better to be exact! This means our furry friends can detect chemicals like ammonia and chlorine days after the disinfection. Replacing hazardous detergents with eco alternatives is a good way to spare their health.

There are controversial opinions when it comes to the effectiveness of homemade detergents. Some people fear that making their own blends will save them money but won’t give good results.

The truth is they can be quite effective, especially with smelly urine spots on carpets. In case you’re still having second thoughts, consider the following:

  • Good results for less money
  • Protecting the environment
  • Not having to worry about your pet’s health
  • Thorough removing of dog and cat urine stains
  • Carpet disinfection and odour elimination at the same time
  • Sparing the fabric of your carpet from strong chemical cleaners

Before you become an eco cleaning pro, though, there is one more thing that needs to be considered:

Difference between cat and dog urine and how it affects the cleaning

Cats and dogs have many things in common. Shared belief is that one cleaning product can be equally effective for removing urine stains from both. That, unfortunately, is not exactly true. The type and quantity of elements in their urine can vary, which, on the other hand, could influence the outcome of the cleaning.

Cat owners will agree that there’s nothing that could compare to the cat urine smell. The reason for the unpleasant pungent stench is a component called uric acid. Male cats, for instance, tend to urinate more often than females. Those that aren’t neutered can produce urine with an even stronger ammonia smell.

As for dogs, the good news is that the main element in their urine is water. Although the powerful ammonia smell issue is missing, there is a problem with the amount. Big dogs consume more water which leads to bigger stains on the carpet. To make matters worse, the more liquid there is, the faster and deeper it penetrates into the fabric.

As professionals who deal with carpet cleaning on a daily basis, we know how stubborn these stains can get. We have some tips for immediate treatment that can help, so keep reading on.

Cat urine cleaning solutions that work

Let’s face it, cats are dominant creatures and marking their territory is something they love doing. The stubborn smell could last for months, and who wants a house that reeks of onions gone bad.

Do-it-yourself cleaning products that can come in handy include:

White vinegar and baking soda

Being a strong acid itself, vinegar can serve as an effective cat urine remover. Using a towel or paper, try to absorb as much of the urine as possible. It’s important to do this because it will prevent deeper penetration of the fluid into the carpet.

Once you’re done, mix together equal parts of vinegar and water, pour the solution into a spray bottle and start spraying. Don’t worry about the vinegar smell because it will fade after a good airing. Adding liquid soap to the mixture could reduce the strong odour.

Important: There are carpets with more delicate fibres like the Orientals, for which is preferable to lower the amount of vinegar in the mix.

Inexpensive but very useful, baking soda could do more than just double the size of your cake. Sprinkle some of it on the entire stain right after you’ve sprayed with the solution.

The white powder is a powerful home remedy that neutralizes cat urine odour without harming the carpet’s fabric. Leave the concoction to do its magic overnight and then vacuum the area.

Hydrogen peroxide

Another way to remove cat urine from the carpet is to combine a quarter of a cup of Hydrogen Peroxide (3%), 1 tbs of baking soda and 1 tbs of dishwashing product. This special blend can work very well for both old and new spots. Once the towel takes all the liquid in, you can start spraying.

Tip: Testing on a small area of the carpet first is a good idea, in case you are dealing with more delicate textile.

Ways to remove dog urine from carpets

While the “smaller evil” dog urine on a carpet can still give you a headache, trying the previously mentioned remedies is one option. However, they are considerably stronger due to the chemical structure of cat urine. You can treat with the one produced by dogs:

Dishwasher soap

The good old vinegar and baking soda can come to the rescue once more! What effectively neutralizes dog urine is a combination of both products (1 tbs each). In addition, put half a spoon of dishwasher soap, preferably with an orange or lemon scent. While the first two ingredients destroy the structure of the dog urine, the fruit aroma will substitute the unpleasant odour.

Vinegar and essential oils

When you catch your four-legged friend “in the act”, there’s one simple solution. Combination of vinegar, lukewarm water and essential oil! You can go with the citrus scent again, or you can try mint. For some reason, dogs can’t tolerate this particular odour.

As a bonus, the mint scent will make them think twice before marking the carpet again. Peppermint essential oil is quite strong even for humans, but spearmint is gentler and recommended for children, too.

Enzymatic cleaners – your new best friend

What is an enzymatic cleaner, and how does it work? This is a product that’s been gaining quite popularity among pet owners. Even expert carpet cleaners recommend it. It is a combination of biological elements that causes a quick chemical reaction. This makes it perfect for the destruction of grease, protein and other similar substances.

Enzyme based cleaners have the power to make dog and cat urine evaporate from the carpet’s textile.

As good as they sound, such products have one disadvantage – steep prices. That’s not a problem because making your own is a piece of cake. Just keep in mind that to work, the blend needs to ferment for about a month before you can use it.

The necessary ingredients are:

  • 1 big plastic bottle
  • half a cup of brown sugar
  • 1 small bowl citrus bits (pineapple, kiwi or papaya work best)
  • 1 small spoon of yeast
  • 1 litre of water

Mix all components into the bottle, following the order of the list. Once they’re all in, tighten the cap and start shaking until the brown sugar dissolves. All that’s left to do now is wait for your homemade enzymatic cleaner to be ready.

Tip: Write the starting date of the fermentation process on the bottle, so you can keep track. Also, loosen the cap of the bottle to prevent gas accumulation and following unexpected explosions.

After a month, the enzymatic cleaning solution will be ready, and you can apply it to any urine stain. For best results, leave it for a couple of hours. After all, this is not a chemical product and working its magic takes a bit longer. Cover the spot with an object or aluminium foil. This will save you from unexpectedly stepping on it.

In case you’re a tenant planning to move out and you don’t have a full month to wait for the enzymatic cleaner to get ready – you should consider professional end-of-lease cleaning. No need to make your landlord hate pets and prohibit them for future tenants, right?

In the end, just give it a good scrub and let the carpet dry. This easy enzyme cleaner will tackle both urine stain and smell problems while sparing the health of your favourite pet.

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