How to remove dog pee from a rug

Accidents happen, especially if you have a new puppy who you’re just getting house trained. As much as puppies are cute, they can cause absolute destruction to your home and with rugs placed on the floor there’s a risk that they end up using one of them as their doggy toilet. This is a big issue when it comes the the odour which can be left, and the bacteria which can grow on the rug can mean that it will be irreparable. Unfortunately, this also means that there is no quick solution to removing this type of stain so you need to get straight to work on an immediate clean-up.

Soak up the Liquid

As soon as you spot the stain, you need to use a paper towel or cloth to absorb as much as possible. It’s best to use something like a paper towel when you can use a high volume of it and dispose of it, rather than something super absorbent like a towel. Hopefully you can get this process done before there is too big a risk of bacteria growing into the rug.

Following the removal of the liquid, there are two solutions to soak and scrub the rug with in order to fully clean it, but remember there are different cleaning techniques for each material.

Start with Vinegar

Begin by mixing white vinegar and warm water in a bowl, these should be mixed about half and half so it will smell relatively strong. Vinegar is great for cleaning up a urine stain from a dog because it works to neutralise the ammonia which is present. The next step is to soak the stain fully with the vinegar solution.

Let the solution absorb slightly and then use a scrubbing brush on the rug to really work the solution into the stain. Scrub vigorously for at least a few minutes to cover the entire stain. When you’re finished, use paper towels to blot the area firmly, try to soak up as much of the vinegar as possible and then leave to dry.

Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Once the stained area has dried, sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the top of it. Then you need to take a mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of washing up liquid, stir together thoroughly and apply the solution to the stain. Repeat the scrubbing process, by using the brush in a circular motion to thoroughly scrub every part of the stain and move the rug’s pile around enough to get every aspect. Remember to be careful with how long you leave the hydrogen peroxide on for as it can bleach dark colours, like black rugs and brown rugs.

Once you’re done rinse the area with cool water and allow to dry, then give the area a final vacuum to return the rug to its original state. Once the rug is all better, it’s time to focus your attention on that house training to ensure you don’t spend all your time scrubbing up these sorts of stains. 

Disclaimer:  Although these tips are tried and tested, they may not remove every stain from every rug and carpet. If you are in any doubt then call up a professional carpet cleaner for advice. Rugs Direct takes no responsiibility for trying any of our ideas