Get Rid of Carpet Pet Odor For Good

Cat sitting in front of a litter box
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 0-50

Learn to identify and get rid of embarrassing and offensive carpet pet odor and stains caused by urine.

Step 1 - Blot the Urine

The scent of pet urine is unpleasant. Your first step to cleaning a stain is to blot the liquid with paper towels until the towels no longer show any discoloration. If you cannot locate the stain—like if it is on dark or multicolored carpet—or to find dried patches, a handheld blacklight will help.

Step 2 - Use a Brush

Use a small bristle brush and paper towels for cleaning carpet stains. It may be necessary to scrub the carpet. Start from the outside of the stain and move to the center. Never scrub outward as you may spread the odor further out in the carpet.

Step 3 - Natural Pet Urine Remover

natural cleaning products

Try using a natural pet urine remover with an isolated incident. Some natural things to use are rubbing alcohol, white and/or distilled vinegar, baking soda, club soda, or lemon. Many of these methods for carpet pet odor may have to be repeated until the lingering odor is gone.

Rubbing alcohol can be applied directly to the stain. Allow it to soak, and then rinse the spot with cool water.

The acidity of white vinegar kills bacteria that causes odor, making it a good choice for a cat urine remover. Mix three parts water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the stain. Rinse the area with soap and water.

Baking soda with water works as well. Apply the mixture to the carpet and rinse with soapy water. You can also sprinkle the baking soda directly onto the carpet to absorb the odor and liquid, let it dry, and vacuum it up.

Lemon also works since the acid eliminates odor causing bacteria. Squeeze lemon juice in some water and then scrub the soiled carpet with a cloth or brush. Rinse the carpet with soap and water.

Step 4 - Stronger Solutions

After trying a natural pet urine remover, you may need something stronger. An enzyme neutralizing product contains live bacteria and enzymes that digest protein and bacteria found in cat urine. Shake it on the carpet, leave on for eight hours, then vacuum. Repeat if you continue to smell an odor. You can purchase cleaning solutions with neutralizing enzymes at the pet store or at your veterinarian’s office. The following are some of the commonly available commercial products:

Simple Solution

Nature’s Miracle

Complete Pet Stain and Odor Remover by 8in1

Capture Pet Stain and Odor Neutralizer

Another way to get rid of stains and odor is with a steam cleaner, which allows you to clean all of the soiled areas on a carpet at once. Replace the standard cleaning solution with white vinegar to kill odor-causing bacteria.

Step 5 - Cat Urine Remover

Person petting a cat

Don’t ever use a cleaning product that contains ammonia on a cat urine stain because it will make the odor worse. Immediately clean up cat urine until there is no odor left, or the cat will continue to urinate in the same spot. Problems associated with a cat frequently urinating on the carpet are a dirty or inaccessible litter box, a dislike for certain kinds of litter, or stress due to separation anxiety, loneliness or illness.