How to Get Dog Odor Out of Carpet

Dogs can make terrific, loyal companions, but owning these pets requires constant maintenance. In addition to the feeding, exercising and general cleaning, you may find yourself contending with the problem of stubborn carpet odors. Some dog-related carpet odors are related to household accidents, but even if you have successfully house-trained your beloved dog, it can still leave behind lingering odors just from rolling around and sleeping. You can keep your carpet smelling fresh if you take the appropriate measures to clean it as part of your regular household maintenance.

Things You'll Need

  • Lamp
  • Black light bulb
  • 2 soft cloths
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Baking soda
  • Wet dry vacuum
  • Pet deodorizer
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Look for signs of obvious pet stains. If the odor is especially strong, your dog may have had an accident. You can find old, faint urine stains by shining a black light bulb over your carpet.

    • 2

      Remove the old stains. For fresh urine stains, the Sacramento SPCA recommends that you place a layer of paper towels over the spot and weigh it down with newspapers for about a minute. Use gloves to remove solid waste. Dampen a soft cloth with cool water and blot the area. Use a second cloth to dry.

    • 3

      Sprinkle baking soda over your entire carpet and leave it overnight. Baking soda absorbs odors and poses no dangers to carpets, unlike many commercial cleaning products.

    • 4

      Vacuum your carpet thoroughly. This will remove the the baking soda from the surface, as well as the fur and dead skin cells that contribute to dog odor.

    • 5

      Apply a pet deodorizer product to your carpet. These products are marketed commercially in both powder and spray forms, available at pet supply stores, and can keep your carpet smelling fresh long after your initial cleaning.