How to remove pet stains from carpet

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Pets are cute. Gross stains are not. Poop or pee can do a doozy on your carpet, leading to unsightly stains and lingering unpleasant smells. Since preventing your cat or dog from having accidents is a near-impossible task, the best thing you can do is address an accident as soon as it happens. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible — you may be away from home when it happens or simply miss it. Thankfully, even if a stain has set in, there are things you can do to treat it. 

“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to pet stains,” says Eliana Coca, owner of E.C. House Cleaning. “The appropriate approach really depends on the type of stain, how long it’s been there and your specific carpet.” To figure out the best approach for any stains you’re dealing with, we consulted with experts to get their best tips on tackling all types of pet stains.  

SKIP AHEAD What happens if you don’t properly clean pet stains? | How to treat dog or cat urine and vomit stains | How to clean pet poop stains | 5 highly rated pet stain cleaners

Sometimes, you can get away with doing a half-baked job cleaning things. Dealing with pet stains is not one of those times. When not treated properly, urine and vomit can cause carpet discoloration, says Muffetta Krueger, owner of Muffetta Domestic Assistants. The lingering smell can also encourage your pet to urinate in that same spot again, she adds. 

A stain that isn’t properly cleaned will also become more difficult to deal with as time passes. You’ll likely need to scrub a bit harder and may not be able to fully remove it if you leave it for too long. This is because liquids can seep deep into a carpet and be nearly impossible to remove completely after a certain time, says Krueger. Translation: It’s important to act fast and clean well. 

Moving quickly is the best thing you can do when it comes to treating pet stains, says Krueger. How you remove the stain depends on what you’re dealing with. If a pet has vomited, you’ll want to use a towel to lift any chunks off the carpet. From there, how you treat pee and vomit is very similar. “Blot up any liquid with a clean, absorbent cloth or paper towel — pressing gently to soak up as much as possible without rubbing the stain deeper into the carpet fibers,” says Krueger. Once most liquid is removed, you’ll want to apply a cleaning solution to lift any lingering stains and neutralize odor. 

In terms of the cleaning solution, you have a few options. You can mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray the affected area with it, says Krueger. Let it sit for a few minutes before blotting it again with a clean cloth. You can also do this process with a store-bought pet stain remover. “For urine stains, I highly recommend using an enzymatic cleaner,” says Coca, who says this type of cleaner can break down lingering stains and odors.

Once the vinegar solution or cleaner has been applied and blotted away, finish by rinsing the area with water and using another dry cloth to blot until it’s damp. “You can also use a wet/dry vacuum to extract any remaining moisture,” says Krueger, who also warns that for stubborn stains that have been there for some time, you may need to repeat this entire process multiple times.

You now know how to treat vomit and pee, but what about poop? “For poop stains, the key is to remove any solid waste first,” says Krueger. “Use a paper towel to gently scoop up as much as you can without pushing it deeper into the fibers.” If any poop has dried and adhered to carpet fibers, use something with a hard edge or even a fork to gently scrape up remnants.  Afterward, apply a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner specifically designed to break down organic matter like feces. You can also use the vinegar solution mentioned above to deal with poop. Whatever you use, let it sit for a few minutes, then blot the area dry and rinse with water, says Krueger. Finally, spritz on a disinfectant to kill any remaining bacteria and blot it up. Just ensure the disinfectant doesn’t contain bleach, which can cause discoloration.

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Eliana Coca is the owner of E.C. House Cleaning in Massachusetts. 
• Muffetta Krueger is the owner of Muffetta Domestic Assistants in New York.

Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed cleaning professionals on how to deal with pet stains.