Removing Urine, Feces and Vomit Stains From Carpets

I absolutely love my pets. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them and I think I will always be a pet owner.

It’s unbelievable how disheartened and disappointed I get when seeing urine, feces or vomit from my pets on my clean, beautiful carpeting. Thank goodness it doesn’t happen all that often.

And, it seems to always happen at the wrong time – like when the kids come running in the door after school and step in the “present” the dog left. What kind of “sicko” would nick name dog poop a present anyway?

But there’s some good news. You’ve come to the right place. I’ve been there and done that! I know how to clean up even the worst urine, feces and vomit stains from your furry little friends, and I know how to clean it up right the first time too!

So are you ready then? Let’s get cleaning!

How to Remove Pet Urine from Carpets

Though I like to use natural remedies first, sometimes it’s just nice to grab a bottle of one of these sprays and get the job done.

Based on my experience (and by experience I mean my stepping in, using them and cleaning the urine up) these commercial products work.

Commercial Products

Who has time to mess with pee when dinner needs to be cooked?

• OUT! Pet Stain and Odor Remover. It is an advanced stain and odor remover that contains natural, enzyme cleansers.
• Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover, a highly, absorbent sponge-flake like substance that is great for absorbing liquid messes.
• Urine Off Odor and Stain Remover is great for furniture, carpets, and rugs. It works great and is completely safe.

Homemade Urine Removal Remedies

Ingredients you’ll Need on Hand

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• A truckload of paper towels

Blot Like There’s No Tomorrow

To effectively clean urine from carpet, you need to remove all, not just most, of the urine. Paper towel’s are absorbent and a great option for this kind of “soak me up” kind of cleaning.

When the paper towels are soaked, be sure to replace with new ones. This part of the task is complete when you lay the paper towel over the area, press down and the paper towel comes up dry.

Throw the urine soaked paper towels in a bag and be sure to take it out to the trash so it doesn’t further stink up the house.

Add Plain White Vinegar to the Stained Area

To clean urine stains and odors from carpet, apply vinegar to the area. Vinegar will help deter your pet from using this same spot again because it will neutralize the odor.

Further, it will work its way into the carpet pad and prevent mold, mildew and bacteria from growing and causing additional foul smells.

Simply pour a small amount or spray the vinegar on the area. Massage into the fibers for five minutes and let stand overnight.

Sprinkle the Area with Baking Soda

If there is still odors coming from the area you just cleaned, sprinkle with baking soda. Don’t be stingy with this, either.

You can carefully work it in the carpet by using your fingers.

Baking soda will absorb any remaining moisture and odor.

Let it stand a few hours or even overnight then vacuum well.

Apply Hydrogen Peroxide

Like many of the other products I’ve listed so far, hydrogen peroxide is another staple I keep in bulk because of it’s many uses.

After you’ve completed the steps above and if there is still a little stain remaining, pour 3 percent hydrogen peroxide on the area.

Once the hydrogen peroxide is on the carpet, cover it and let it stand until it naturally dries. If hydrogen peroxide is exposed to light, it will eventually turn to water, that’s why we have you cover it. Repeat as necessary.

To check for color fastness, I would also do a spot check in an inconspicuous area first.

Removing Feces Stains from Carpet

This is the worst of the worst jobs.   But just stick to it. Hold your breath and follow these steps for getting feces stains out of your carpet.

Resist the urge to scrub vigorously (even though your time on your knees with poop in your face isn’t your favorite part of the day) because scrubbing it will fray the carpet fibers and drive any poop on the surface of the carpet down in deep into the carpeting. Keep dabbing until the poop stain is no longer visible.

In a bucket: 

• Mix 2 quarts cold water
• 1 tsp of dish washing liquid (such as Dawn)
• 2 cups of plain white vinegar

Here’s what I do from my personal, numerous experiences:

1. Get rid of the majority of the poop. Wear rubber gloves and scrape up as much of the poop as you can.
2. Take a damp paper towel and wipe any excess poop,but be careful not to spread the stain further.
3. Pre-treat the stain with a stain remover. I like the organic pet stain removers, Or, use plain household strength hydrogen peroxide.
4. Let the stain remover sit for about 1 hour before proceeding further.
5. Alternate between dabbing at the stain with your cleaning solution and a clean white towel.
6. Blot the stain with a paper towel to remove as much remaining moisture as possible.
7. When the carpet is only just slightly damp, take about
8. 1 cup of baking soda and sprinkle lightly on the damp, clean spot.
9. Let the baking soda sit undisturbed until completely dry- approximately 24 hours.
10. Then thoroughly vacuum the carpet to pick up the baking soda residue.

There’s no smell and no visible stain left to deal with – and the neighbors didn’t even see it. That’s a plus!

Removing Vomit Stains from Carpeting

OH! That terrible sound. no matter how hard you try and shoo your pet out of the door, I’ve never been able to get there in time. Can there be anything worse? I mean really. (Makes me feel just a little like gagging myself right now!)

Oxiclean: (Oxygen Bleach/ or Hydrogen Peroxide)

• I swear by Oxiclean. It’s pretty darn good at getting the vomit stains out. Prepare it like the manufacturer directs.
• Remove as much vomit as possible with paper towels.
• Apply the oxiclean per the mfg instructions. If using 3% hydrogen peroxide, you can pour this directly on the stain and let it dry (do not dry in direct sunlight- it inactivates hydrogen peroxide, hence, the brown bottle it comes in).

Table Salt

• Sprinkle salt onto the area and cover with a damp cloth.
• Leave this alone for about two to three hours and when you remove the cloth, the stain should have lightened considerably.
• This particular pet stain tip works incredible on yellow bile.

A Job Well Done!

So, there you go! A regurgitation removal professional. (Well, you know- whatever you want to call it)

Just follow a couple rules and those nasty stains won’t have a chance. Good Luck.