How To Get Urine Smell Out of Carpets Ultimate Guide

Here's How to Get Urine Smell Out of Your Carpet

Accidents happen, even with well-trained pets or little ones and although they could unpleasantly surprise you, it's completely natural when it happens and if you should be prepared for things like that to happen. A sudden slip-up can leave your carpet with an unpleasant urine smell and stains that are tough to tackle and if your pet is on medication for example, the smell could be very repulsive and noticeable, so much that some people can't stand it and leave the room when they feel that. As a professional cleaner and pet owner, I’ve dealt with these situations more times than I can count. Today, I’ll guide you through practical, effective methods to remove urine odors from carpets, ensuring your home smells fresh and clean even if such events transpire and you'll find some practical advice and tips I haven't seen online myself. Things I've learned through my years dealing with the problem. After raising a beagle and currently raising 2 children, no smell can surprise or disgust me, I've seen things...

Table of Contents

1. How to Get Urine Smell Out of The Carpet

2. Cleaning Fresh Urine Stains

3. Neutralizing Urine Odors

   • Baking Soda

   • Vinegar and Water

4. Cleaning Old, Dried Urine Stains

   • Finding the Dried Spot

   • Cleaning the Area

5. Dealing with Stubborn Stains and Smells

6. FAQs

7. Conclusion

1. How to Get Urine Smell Out of Carpet

Act fast! Carpets act just like a sponge and the thicker the carpet, the more absorbent it is, consequentially the longer urine sits, the deeper it seeps into the fibers, making it much harder to remove, so when I say act fast, I mean it.

• Human urine: Often from young children or infants during accidents, these are the ones you wouldn't be that surprised to find. Older people, especially really elderly people could also pee themselves and as unpleasant as that sounds it's natural and expected with age. There are plenty of options to avoid having that happen repeatedly, but the most important thing to note here is that they definitely wouldn't act fast and as some people get old, they could forget or at the very least hide that it happend and take responsibility. This of course depends on the person, but for any person it's very uncomfortable if this happens and if it's uncomfortable and shameful for toddlers, you can imagine how and older person feels.

• Pet urine: Dogs and cats, despite their training, occasionally have mishaps. You might get held up at work or could get stuck in traffic and if your dog has a very strict schedule, they might be unable to hold themselves. My beagle has had this happen to him occasionally and although it was never a case of me being late or anything like that, it did in fact happen more than once and it wasn't when he was just a puppy. The most common reason was him catching a cold. There were a few other occasions when it was also a medical problem. You can find a lot of information about it here.

2. Cleaning Fresh Urine Stains

As soon as you spot the stain, grab tissues, a cloth, or paper towels, anything that can absorb liquids basically. The goal here is to prevent the carpet from soaking up the urine and soaking it yourself with the absorbent cloth or whatever you managed to find. Place a thick layer of tissues on the stain and press down with something heavy, perhaps your hands, but you need to stay there for a bit to absorb as much liquid as possible.

• Tip: Avoid rubbing the stain, as this pushes urine deeper into the carpet. Blotting is always the proper technique when it comes to soaking something out of the carpets, rubbing is always the wrong technique to use. This is basically a life skill that you should have for life and once you learn that you never rub carpets or upholstery. It's like learning how to screw and unscrew screws.

• Wear gloves to protect your hands, and wash thoroughly afterward. This isn't absolutely necessary, but getting your hands soaked up in urine is very unpleasant. Especially if we're talking about the urine of an elderly person like in the example mentioned above.

Once you’ve absorbed as much as possible, rinse the area with water and use a wet vacuum if you have one, to help speed up the process. I get it that a wet vacuum isn't present in every household and no one would lend you theirs if urine is involved, but some people have iRobots and other robot vacuums, even they can help in that situation. This method prevents any residual urine from settling and helps limit odor.

3. Neutralizing Urine Odors

After you’ve cleaned the initial stain, the next step is to eliminate the lingering smell and although it sounds easy, that's probably the trickier part. The two best household items you can use, which almost every household has at their dispose at any time are baking soda and a vinegar solution. We will cover each option below with details on how to mix them up and everything, so read on.

Baking Soda

• Instructions: Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the stain and let it sit for at least six hours (overnight is best), if it's not your bedroom or a room that you need to sleep in, that shouldn't be a problem.

• Vacuum thoroughly afterward to remove any residue.

• If odor persists, combine a solution of hydrogen peroxide and mild dish detergent, diluted with cold water. Apply, scrub gently, and rinse. The downside here is that you might need to repeat the process a couple of times and you need to wait it dry out between each try, but nothing good ever comes fast. Don't try to force it to dry as you might set in the smell that way.

Vinegar and Water Solution

• Preparation: Mix equal parts white vinegar and tap water. It's that easy - yes, nothing else is required.

• Application: Pour or spray on the affected area and let it sit for around 30 minutes.

• Drying: Dab with towels or tissues to absorb moisture. Repeat it as it'll be necessary to do that for quite a few times.

4. Cleaning Old, Dried Urine Stains

Finding an old urine stain can be frustrating, as the odor often clings to carpet fibers. If you’re unsure of the exact location, try a black light (there are many options available on Amazon and some pet stores) to detect the stain, or sniff around for areas with a stronger odor. Be careful with it though and try not to use it in the bedroom as you might find some things in locations you woudln't necessarily want to see them (if you know what I mean).
This is the cheapeast one I managed to find on Amazon and although it probably isn't the best black light ever, how often would you use it anyway?

Finding the Dried Spot

• Use a black light to scan your carpet in a dark room. Urine stains will glow under UV light, making it easy to locate them. Urine contains phosphorus which glows under a black light, so it's relatively easy to spot even older stains, as tphosphorus won't leave the carpets even if the pee dries out.

• Real-Life Tip: I’ve had clients surprised by how many old pet stains they find with a black light. It’s a helpful tool for anyone with pets. Sometimes it's just drops and other times it could be full on pee that just dried out. Sometimes the urine doesn't smell that bad and if it's more of a hidden place it could remain unseen.

Cleaning the Area

• Apply a vinegar-water solution or enzyme cleaner to the stain.

• Scrub gently with a soft brush (a stiff brush can damage carpet fibers).

• Use a damp cloth to remove any residue and blot dry.

5. Dealing with Stubborn Stains and Smells

For especially tough stains or if odors persist, enzyme cleaners are a game-changer. These cleaners break down the proteins in urine, eliminating both the stain and smell. This is basically the equivalent of flight aerobatics when it comes to removing urine from your carpets. An enzyme cleaner is definiely not found in any old home and you need to specifically go out and buy it.

• Instructions: Spray enzyme cleaner on the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, or as directed (works both for fresh and out urine stains).

• Blot the area afterward and allow it to air dry. Some enzyme cleaners may require a second application for best results or a third one perhaps, use it at your own discretion.

• Hydrogen Peroxide Solution: Mix with cold water for a powerful stain remover. Apply to the stain, then blot dry. This solution can fade darker carpet colors, so test in an inconspicuous area first to avoid discoloration of your carpet.

Real-Life Example:

One client’s golden retriever had left a tough stain on a cream carpet. After multiple DIY attempts, we used an enzyme cleaner that broke down the lingering odors and removed the stain entirely. Since then, they’ve kept enzyme cleaners on hand for any future mishaps. We recently visited the same customer for a different type of professional cleaning service, namely end of tenancy cleaning and he mentioned this enzyme cleaner and our guide for pets helped him save a lot of money on his security deposit.

6. Frequently Asked Questions I get from Clients about Urine Smell Removal
This is basically a TLDR; of the whole article, so if you didn't get anything so far, this section should help out.

Question: What neutralizes the scent of urine?
Answer: Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and enzyme cleaners are effective at neutralizing urine smells.

Question: What if the urine smell doesn’t go away?
Answer: If odors persist after multiple cleanings, consider booking a professional carpet cleaning service for a thorough deep clean.

Question: Can I use bleach to remove urine stains and odors?
Answer: Using bleach is not recommended for urine stains on carpets. Bleach may damage carpet fibers, discolor the area, and it doesn’t neutralize the proteins in urine that cause the lingering smell. Instead, stick to enzyme cleaners, vinegar, or baking soda, like we discussed above.

Question: How long does it take for the urine smell to go away after cleaning?
Answer: It depends on the severity of the stain and the cleaning method used. For light stains, odors may dissipate within a day or two. For older, deeply set stains, it may take multiple cleaning sessions over a few days to fully neutralize the smell. The better cleaning products you use, the easier it is and fewer courses of the treatment will be necessary.

Question: Can essential oils help remove urine odor?
Answer: While essential oils like lavender or tea tree oil can mask odors, they won’t neutralize the source of the smell, so you basically end up with a mix of flowery smells and pee. One might be more prominent then the other, but you'll still feel the pee regardless. Essential oils are better used as a final touch for a fresh scent after cleaning with baking soda, vinegar, or an enzyme cleaner and after the smell of pee has been removed entirely. Think of it as the cherry on the top of the cake.

Question: Should I let the carpet air dry after cleaning, or use a fan?
Answer: It’s best to help the carpet dry quickly by using a fan or opening windows to increase ventilation. This prevents any remaining moisture from seeping into the carpet padding, which could lead to mold growth or reactivated odors. This might sounds like it contradicts some of the information mentioned above, but in fact it doesn't. Read above in more detail to understand the difference. In one case we're talking about helping the smell set in and in the other we do the opposite.

Question: Are enzyme cleaners safe for all carpet types?
Answer: Most enzyme cleaners are safe for synthetic carpets, but it’s always wise to test on a small, inconspicuous area first, especially on delicate or wool carpets. Follow the product’s instructions closely to ensure compatibility. Like it was mentioned above, darker carpets, especially ones from natural wool or cotton could get discolored, so use with caution.

Will the smell come back after cleaning?
If the odor returns, it’s often because some of the urine has seeped deep into the carpet pad or backing. You may need to reapply an enzyme cleaner, and in extreme cases, professional carpet cleaning may be necessary to reach the odor source.

Final TLDR;

Removing urine stains and odors from carpets can be challenging, but acting quickly and using the right techniques makes all the difference. By following these steps—blotting, cleaning, deodorizing, and drying—you’ll ensure your carpet is left fresh and free of any lingering odors. For tougher stains or if you’re pressed for time, consider hiring a professional cleaner for a deep and thorough solution.