Even the most well-trained dog might pee on the carpet sometimes. Dogs pee in the house for a variety of reasons — an infection, old age, boredom, marking, or anxiety — so the odds are high that you’ll have to deal with it at some point. Carpet cleaning solutions and tools are effective in combating dog pee stains and odors. For a quick fix, at-home remedies, such as hydrogen peroxide, Dawn dish soap, or baking soda can be a dog parent’s best friend (other than your dog, of course).

How do I get dog pee smell out of carpet?

To ensure that your dog doesn’t make peeing a regular thing, you need to get any underlying urine smell out of the pee spots. Male dogs in particular will pee on spots that other dogs have already peed on.

To prevent a lingering urine smell, treat the accident quickly. To clean up a new, wet dog pee accident:

• Use a towel to absorb any liquid and then spray a combination of 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water and a few drops of Dawn dish soap onto the spot. Another homemade option is spraying one part white vinegar and one part water solution onto the pee spot, according to S&S Rug Cleaners, Inc. The vinegar neutralizes the urine smell.
• Use a towel or carpet spotter machine to agitate the area and work the dog pee out of the carpet.
• Let it set for 20 minutes and then flush out the spot with a cup of warm water and soak it up with a towel or carpet spotter machine.
• Sprinkle baking soda over top of the dog pee spot and keep it on for several hours to absorb any lingering odor.

@Cleanthatup on TikTok has some helpful videos on cleaning methods using common household products.

How do I get dried dog pee out of carpet?

Although hydrogen peroxide, Dawn dish soap or vinegar can work in a pinch, having carpet-cleaning products on hand is a good idea for any pet parent – especially when a spot may already have dried into the carpet. When dealing with a dried-on dog pee stain, Hoover spokeperson Cierra Hannah recommends first dabbing the spot with a wet paper towel and then pre-treating the stain with a product such as the Oxy Pet Urine and Stain Eliminator. Let the solution sit on the stain for 5 to 7 minutes and then use a carpet/rug cleaner, such as the Clean Slate Pet Spot, with the concentrate solution that’s included with the carpet cleaner, to permanently remove pet stains and eliminate odors.

If peeing in the house is becoming a more frequent problem, or if it comes on suddenly, reach out to your veterinarian. Urination issues can be linked to a variety of different health issues, so rule out any underlying problems first. With the right products, you can eliminate even dried dog pee stains from your carpet or rug and remove odors so it doesn’t become an on-going problem.