How to Remove Pet Stains With Vinegar

We all love our pets and they are an integral part of my family unit.

There’s nothing quite like that look my little pooch gives when I’ve had a bad day and, somehow, he knows it.

Of course, not everyone appreciates those slobbery kisses or the endless barking for the ball to be tossed (especially when it’s the 12th time in a row!)

Unfortunately, some pets can be stubborn about being house broken and feel that they must mark their territory in some way. That’s when pets become worse than children. I just sigh to myself when I walk in the door and the dog is wagging while standing in front of a yellow puddle.

So much for sitting down to a glass of wine… Now my first task right when I get in the door is to clean up that pee!

I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to deal with pet urine stains. However, I’ve been able to find some safe and effective methods to remove the stains, as well as the odor that comes along with them, by just using plain white vinegar.

Here’s what I do when I’m dealing with a nasty puddle of urine!

Why Use Vinegar to Remove Pet Stains?

Vinegar is nontoxic, leaves no residue and is a natural deodorizer. It cleans and removes urine without leaving a trace and will not attract your animal back to the spot like other cleaners will.

NEVER use ammonia or ammonia based products on pet stains. Urine degrades/decomposes into ammonia and animals can easily smell it.

Ammonia sends out a scent beacon that signals that an animal has urinated in the spot, so if you clean the pet stain with ammonia based product your pet will be attracted to the spot again and again.

How to Take Out Pet Stains and Odor with Vinegar

Plain white vinegar is a natural deodorizer, mild antibacterial and a mold and mildew inhibitor which makes it perfect for getting rid of pet odors.

The only drawback is a very short-term vinegar odor. But don’t worry because the sour smell quickly dissipates.

If you don’t care for the vinegar smell when cleaning you can also sprinkle some baking soda on the area and let it set for a few hours or overnight then vacuum and this should do the trick.

New Pets Stains

1. Mix a solution of half a cup of white vinegar with a quart of lukewarm water.
2. If the area that you want to clean is still wet with urine, blot the area with a dry paper towel or cloth first to soak up any excess liquid.
3. Continue blotting until every bit of urine is gone and the paper towel comes back dry. You’re not done yet, though.
4. After getting up the excess urine, apply the vinegar solution and blot the area to take out the urine stain and odor.
5. If the stain is still detectable after the carpet is completely dry, repeat this process again. Taking care to blot and not scrub and fray the carpet fibers.

Old Pet Stains

There are times when we don’t always catch our pets in the act nor smell the odor until later. It’s almost like they’ve hidden it from you. Still, with kids and a home to care for, you’ll want to get rid of any pet stains lingering in the home.

Don’t get on your hands and knees smelling the carpet to find the odor (honestly, I’m sure many of us have done this, I have.)- use a black light. Yes, there really is a bit of CSI in this process!

1. Mix together one-cup vinegar and one-cup lukewarm water.
2. Pour the mixture on the area. Don’t be shy; really soak it then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. After you’ve allowed it to soak, use a clean towel to blot it up. Because you soaked the area, go ahead and step on the towel to help blot up the liquid.
4. Let the area dry completely.
5. Now, get out the box of baking soda and dump a generous amount on the spot.
6. Vacuum the baking soda up after it has set on the stain for 24 hours.

Heavy Duty Odor Removal

If you want extra odor removal, sprinkle baking soda on the dry carpet.

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and is a great way to take out any odor that remains.

I use an old toothbrush to carefully get the baking soda down into the carpet. Let this sit on the stain overnight, and vacuum the carpet thoroughly in the morning.

Pet stains can hide but you can find them and get rid of them for good.

Of course, your priority is to get those pets housebroken, too. But, until you can get the kids to let the dog out or to clean the litter box frequently enough, use these few natural remedies for getting rid of these types of pet stains. Plain white vinegar is all you’ll need.