Having a pet at home is synonymous with finding accidental spots on your carpet every so often. The cozy and fluffy carpet of yours becomes the perfect spot for your furry friend to mark its territory. And when that happens, you’re left with an unsightly stain and a stinking smell from your once-fresh carpet.
While most pee stains are easy to tackle when fresh, it’s not that they are always spotted as soon as they occur. If you’ve missed a urine stain, that’s when it gets tougher. Not only does it seep deep into the carpet, leaving a stubborn stain, but also emits a stronger odor for you to deal with.
If that’s the case with you too, read ahead to learn some of the best and the most effective ways to get old urine smell out of carpet. Using these easy, useful cleaning remedies, you’ll be able to tackle the settled stains and their pungent odors to make your carpet fresh again.
5 Effective Ways to Get Old Urine Smell Out of Carpet
Old urine stains on your carpet are often not readily visible as they are dried and settled deeper. You can find them using a blacklight and mark them to ensure not miss the spots.
Additionally, removing stubborn pee smell from your carpet depends on the severity of the stain. We’ve provided different options, from mild to more powerful ones, that you can use to neutralize the settled stain and get old urine smell out of carpet.
1. Vinegar And Water
If the stain isn’t too old, merely a vinegar mixture should work to get it out from your carpet. To use it, begin by mixing equal parts of white distilled vinegar and water in a cup. You can, optionally, add 2 teaspoons of a mild dish soap too.
Take a clean, white cloth and dip it into the solution before applying it to the stained area. Blot the area properly through this mixture so as to allow the vinegar to help break down the tough urine molecules and the lingering smell. Repeat the dipping and blotting until the area gets cleaned and odor-free.
Once done, blot the area with a clean cloth dampened with plain water. This will remove any soapy residue before you blot it dry with a paper towel.
2. Baking Soda And Vinegar
Alternatively, you can also use a powerful combination of baking soda and vinegar to get old urine smell out of carpet. Amalgamate water and white vinegar in 1:1 portions and pour it into a spray bottle to use it later.
Begin by sprinkling some baking soda powder to thoroughly cover the stained spot. Now, spray that vinegar mixture over the spot to work it onto the stain. Remember not to oversaturate.
Take a small soft brush and use it to work it in to further break down the odor molecules. Once done, begin blotting up the moisture with fresh towels. Finally, give it a clean water rinse with a cloth before dabbing it dry.
3. Baking Soda And 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Another, more powerful, way to get old urine smell out of carpet is to use 3% hydrogen peroxide with baking soda.
Caution: Handle hydrogen peroxide carefully and patch test it on a hidden part of your carpet before using it since it is a mild bleaching agent. (Use it only on a light colored carpet.)
To use it, cover the stain with a generous layer of baking soda powder. Then, prepare a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water in a 1:4 ratio & pour it into a spray bottle.
Sprinkle this peroxide mixture over the stain that you covered with baking soda. Both will effectively work to break down and eliminate odor-causing old urine molecules, helping to dissipate the smell. For better results, work it in with a cloth or a gentle brush to ensure it seeps well. Let it stay there for about 12 to 15 minutes.
Thereafter, you’ll see the stain and the odor vanishing so you can clean the area by first blotting it with a damp cloth and then patting it dry using a paper towel. Vacuum to lift the fibers, if needed.
4. Enzymatic Cleaners
If you want to use a store-bought cleaner, a safe, non-toxic enzymatic cleaner would be another good way to get old urine smell out of carpet. These products have powerful enzymes that work to break down urine molecules and their lingering smells pretty effectively.
Before you use one, remember to do a patch test. If it seems to work well, follow the usage directions on the enzyme-based cleaner. Let the solution work on the stain for the mentioned amount of time and clean the stain accordingly. In most cases, your carpet will get rid of that old pee stain & odors thoroughly.
5. Shampooing
If spot-cleaning your stained spot isn’t helping you get old urine smell out of carpet, you can choose to shampoo your carpet too. Being a deeper approach of cleaning, shampooing will loosen the deep-seated odor and urine molecules from your carpet that spot cleaning can’t.
For that, you need to have a good quality carpet shampoo that’s safe for your carpet type and a shampoo machine. Clean the stained area thoroughly and ensure to rinse it with plain water after you finish.
Just remember not to make the carpet cleaning mistake of oversaturating it. Leaving excess moisture deep inside your carpet can make the stain worse and also invite mold later.
So, make sure to extract all the shampoo residue along with moisture before you fully dry your carpet later.
Essential Tips to Follow to Get Old Urine Smell Out of Carpet Effectively
- Do not rub the stains. Blot gently.
- Go from the edges towards the centre when spot cleaning.
- Don’t use hot water for old urine stains and smells on your carpet.
- Test the solutions before using them.
- Don’t try to mask the odors; treat them instead.
- Don’t overwet your carpet.
- Avoid using heat to dry the carpet. Air-dry it rather.
Seek Professional Help For Tougher Old Urine Smells
While the above ways, like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide, are effective in getting old urine smell out of carpet, some urine smells can be too tough to work with. If the stain has stayed there for long and the smell isn’t leaving that easily, your best bet is to allow a professional to help you.
If you are a resident of Charlotte, Best Steamer is one such reliable professional carpet cleaning company that can help you get old urine stains out of carpet using a thorough deep cleaning. They have the right solutions and powerful machines that can deal with tough stains and odors on your carpet, leaving it spotless and smelling fresh for a long.
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