Accidents Happen: How To Properly Clean Up Pet Urine

Accidents happen. The reality is, at some point, all dog parents will deal with a little pee on the floor. As you potty train your puppy, proper clean up is essential. 

When a dog pees on the carpet, urine soaks down past the bristles and spreads into the padding. So, the spot’s size is much larger than what you see. If you’re not properly cleaning up urine, your dog will still smell the lingering odor and may continue to make accidents in that spot. Another issue: A strong urine odor will begin to fill the room. No one wants to take a big whiff of urine! 

Read on to find out how to properly clean up pet urine. Plus, scroll down to the bottom of this article to find out what not to do!


Step 1: Soak It Up Completely

Ideally, you want to clean up pet urine when it’s freshly served and still wet. Start by placing several layers of paper towels – or another absorbent cloth/towel – over the soiled area. Apply pressure to the wet area, absorbing as much liquid as you can. Depending on how much urine is in the carpet, you may need to repeat this step several times with fresh towels.

Step 2: Dilute It

Pour plain, cool water over the soiled area to help dilute the urine mess. Then, use more paper towels — or a clean absorbent cloth/towel — to pull out the excess moisture. Repeat until you don’t see any more yellow liquid left on the towels.

Step 3: Use an Enzyme-Based Cleaner

To blast away any lingering smell, use an enzymatic cleaner. Enzymes are proteins that break up urine molecules and dissolve odors. There are plenty of store-bought options — Nature’s Miracle, Simple Solution, and Urine Off are three trusted brands. Whichever you choose, just make sure it’s an enzyme-based cleaner that’s formulated for pet messes, eliminating odors, and destroying stains. Generously spray the store-bought cleaner on and around the soiled area and let sit for about 10-15 minutes, or the amount of time highlighted on the back of the bottle. Blot the excess moisture with paper towels, or another clean absorbent cloth/towel. Vacuum the area once dry. If needed, repeat this step.

Prefer to make your own cleaning solution? There are various DIY recipes — some use vinegar, while others use hydrogen peroxide. I personally find hydrogen peroxide solutions work best to blast away foul odors.

  • Liberally apply baking soda over the soiled area. 
  • In a bottle, mix 1 teaspoon of Dawn dishwashing liquid with 1/2 cup of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide.
  • Pour the mixture over the stain and baking soda, and scrub the area with a cloth or brush.
  • Let the mixture sit for about 10-15 minutes. 
  • Blot the excess moisture with a paper towel. Vacuum thoroughly once the area is dry.
  • Repeat for heavier soils.

Important Note: Test this solution on a small section first to ensure the hydrogen peroxide won’t discolor your carpet.


Cleaning Older Stains

It’s best to clean pet messes right away. But, sometimes, pee squirts go unnoticed and you don’t find them until later (that’s why I recommend once-a-week blacklight checks). If you discover a dried urine mess on your carpet, follow the same steps as above. But, keep in mind, when it comes to older messes, you may have to repeat the process several times before the stain and lingering odor are completely dissolved.

For extra help, consider renting or investing in a carpet shampooer. When my dogs went through the puppy phase, Bissell became my best friend. From large, corded shampooers to handheld, cordless devices, I quickly created my own arsenal of carpet cleaning products. Plus, there are carpet shampoos formulated specifically to tackle pet messes. You can also enlist a professional carpet cleaning service for help. 

Additionally, in certain cases, you may need to replace portions of the padding and carpet.


What Not To Do When Cleaning Pet Urine

Do not use ammonia-based products to clean pet messes. Since dog urine contains ammonia, these products can actually mimic the smell and make the area even more attractive to your puppy. This ultimately encourages future accidents (not what we’re going for).

Additionally, don’t ever combine bleach with ammonia. It’s extremely dangerous and fumes can be deadly.

Avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery, as the heat will permanently set the stain and the odor.