How to get rid of cat urine smell and dog urine on the carpet

Many of us enjoy having pets around the house. They’re a loving addition to the family, but even the best-behaved of pets can have accidents on the carpet. If you have a dog or a cat, you may very well be familiar with urine odour so let’s learn how to get rid of urine smell from the carpet with a few different options.

If you don’t have a specialised carpet cleaner, a homemade solution with washing-up liquid, such as Sunlight, can also work!

How to get urine smell out of carpet**: a step-by-step guide**

Your favourite household pet has not quite made it to the litter tray or designated space? Here’s a step-by-step guide to remove dog urine smell or remove cat urine smell:

1. Soak up the urine with towels or kitchen paper. Use a clean piece of towel each time you blot to avoid spreading dirt.

2. Apply your preferred cleaning solution. You can make your own cleaners with household ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda. See below for more detail.

3. Let it sit on the carpet for 5 minutes or so.

4. Blot the area with clean towels again.

5. ‘Rinse’ with warm water by dipping a clean towel in water and blotting the area.

6. Pat dry once you’re sure the stain – and smell – have been removed.

What neutralises dog urine and cat urine? Cleaning solutions

Now that you know the step-by-step process of removing urine smells, it’s important to choose an effective cleaning solution to use. Here are a few options to try:

• Make your own cleaning solution by mixing white vinegar and water half and half.

• For something stronger, try mixing one cup of hydrogen peroxide with two tablespoons of baking soda and a drop of washing-up liquid, such as Sunlight. This will make a potent, fizzy mixture. It’s important not to put this concoction in a spray bottle or any sealed container as pressure might build up!

• Try commercial pet stain removers. Always read the pack instructions.

Always patch test cleaners on a small area of the carpet first and read the label fully. Make sure pets are not around when using cleaners to avoid them ingesting it.    

How to get dog pee out of carpets and get rid of cat pee smell for good

Now that you’ve got the stain out properly, you’ll want to make sure the odour doesn’t linger. Here’s how to get rid of cat urine odour in the house with some simple after-treatments:

• Use baking soda to absorb any remaining odour. Sprinkle over the affected area, leave for 15 minutes and vacuum up.

• Try a fabric deodoriser. Spray onto the fabric and repeat until the smell goes.  

• Use germ-busting sprays to avoid bacteria build-up. Urine doesn’t just smell bad, after all.

Those are the key things to know when it comes to how to get rid of cat urine smell or dog urine smells at home. A nasty whiff is the last thing you want around the house, so follow these simple techniques and your house should always remain sweet smelling!