Help! Best way to get rid of dog odor on carpet?

[gk90]

We have an old dog--the vet thinks she's 12+, she came from a shelter with no history. She has bladder problems so we walk her twice a day and send her out in the backyard at least 3 times a day, but still around 4-5 times she's done her business on the rug in the den. So finally after trying my best with spray carpet cleaners and Arm and Hammer powder odor remover and Febreeze, I borrowed my sister's Bissell Quicksteamer. I used the spot treatment spray and the Multiallergenic liquid cleaner. I steamed it once--it still smelled. Twice--I could still smell it. Three times--and it STILL smells!!!!!

So what ideas does anyone else have? It's an old rug...I may just get rid of it...but it still looks decent and has some life left in it and I hate to have to add another item to my budget! DH complains and says we should get rid if the dog...but we love her too...

TIA for any suggestions!

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Poor thing!

The best stuff in the world for any kind of messes like that is something called "nature's miracle." They sell it at Petco and the like.

The difference between it and what you've tried is that it's an enzyme cleaner that will break down the mess instead of covering it up. You may need to reapply a couple of times if it's really saturated, but it works and works well.
HTH!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and let it sit overnight then vacuum it. It will soak up the moisture and the smell.

 

[Swan]

I had an old dog that was having accidents and I used Simple Solution stain and odor remover. Pour it on let sit for 15 min. than place towel over to soak up. My house still smells great. I got it at petsmart. There are different sizes to buy.

 

[TheRatPack]

I watched a Mythbusters once that was trying to get the skunk smell out of stuff and they said mix water, couple drops of dawn dish detergent, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide? I tried it on our white/tan carpet and it worked. I think I'd be leary to try it on something darker though...but then again I don't think hydrogen peroxide bleaches things....does it? We've used Nature's Miracle too, but we live so far away from a pet store that carries it we needed something we could mix up with normal supplies.

 

[smfritz03]

White vinegar diluted in water is what my friend uses. Might give it a try before going out and purchasing anything.

 

[Ashley Kees]

I watched a Mythbusters once that was trying to get the skunk smell out of stuff and they said mix water, couple drops of dawn dish detergent, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide? I tried it on our white/tan carpet and it worked. I think I'd be leary to try it on something darker though...but then again I don't think hydrogen peroxide bleaches things....does it? We've used Nature's Miracle too, but we live so far away from a pet store that carries it we needed something we could mix up with normal supplies.

Of course hydrogen peroxide bleaches things!! That's how women used to bleach their hair, they were peroxide blondes! I would be very careful using peroxide on your carpet.

 

[surfergirl602]

nature's miracle ond odoban!!! The best!!! I had to get rid of a dog smell - had a crisis - and those are the only two that worked! you can get the nature's miracle at petsmart, etc, and odoban at wal mart.

 

[Jockaroo]

You need one of the enzymatic cleaners mentioned--Simple Solution or Natures Miracle. Personally, I like the Simple Solution and use it for doggie accidents, doggie laundry, and to steam clean the carpets in the house. It has a fresh clean smell, but isn't overpowering.

Has your dog been checked recently by her vet? I ask because if her accidents are a recent development, she could have a health issue. Urinary tract infections, diabetes, Cushings disease and many other health issues can make it hard for a dog to hold its urine.

Now, if your dog is going to the same spot on your carpet, you might want to put something waterproof over the area where she goes. I have used the waterproof baby changing pads or the waterproof non-fitted mattress pads when we've dealt with housetraining or health issues. I find these in the baby section at Wal-Mart. Also, you could try a baby gate in the den door, but it is possible your dog would just find a new spot to go. Good luck.

 

[lunalibre]

Definitely use Nature's Miracle or another enzymatic cleaner. I like Nature's Miracle because they have formulas specific for dogs. I have used it on all manner of carpet and fabric and never had any problems with it bleaching anything. I had a dog get diarrhea once while we were gone --- ewwwwwwwwww!!!!!! You talk about nasty. Anyway, we spot cleaned the worst places by hand with Nature's Miracle, then used a steam cleaner with Nature's Miracle instead of soap. It completely cleaned my light beige carpet -- no odor, no smell, no stains! Now, I did have to steam the worst spots a couple of times over a couple of days (steam the carpet, let dry, steam again)...but it worked.

Good luck. If you have a dog with incontinence problems, you might also want to look into "doggie diapers". That might be helpful for times when you're gone.

 

[MyZoeJane]

The only thing that will truly get the odor gone is to rip up your carpet and install something else. No amount of enzyme cleaner will remove the smell and unless you remove the smell, the dog will keep going there.

Back when I lived with my parents, they had a dog and I always thought her house smelled clean... but after moving out and living away from pet odors, I know now that it smelled like dog all along.

If your dog is elderly, I would wait til the dog passes (horrible thought, I know) and then put in new flooring. Til then, I agree with the previous posters who suggest enzyme cleaners and good carpet shampooing machines.

 

[cats mom]

I spent hours researching what to use when I needed something after Grandma & Grandpa brought their dog along one visit.

I decided on the stuff from Planet Urine (what a name for a company, huh?)
I don't remember now why I chose them over the others, it's been awhile, but we did have really good results.
I think a few retailers carry it, but very few. I just bought it online and had it shipped.

Good Luck!

 

[audrabolster]

nature's miracle, soak it overnight. Buy the big huge bottle of it. You have to make sure you soak it all the way through the carpet. A lot of times the urine leaks all the way through the padding. If your carpet still smells, it is probably still soaking underneath in the paddings. I steam clean my carpets, and when I do I have to go over the same spots 3 or 4 times to make sure the water runs clear!

 

[heartbeeps]

the heat has really made the dog smell surface so I'm getting my carpets professionally cleaned by http://www.oxifresh.com/CleaningMethod/. (I had called oxymagiconline.com first but they didn't have availability until the end of the month - it's obvious now that I can't wait that long!)

I'm going to have them do the upholstery too b'c the dog sleeps on the sofa sometimes (even tho we barracade him from it he finds a way on it). They guarantee any pet smells will be eliminated! We'll see.

 

[mikkishelles]

Of course hydrogen peroxide bleaches things!! That's how women used to bleach their hair, they were peroxide blondes! I would be very careful using peroxide on your carpet.

It's also one of the main ingredients in "Sun In', that godawful hair lightener.

 

[gk90]

Thanks everyone! I combined 1/2 a cup of white vinegar and a splash of dish detergent in a carpet cleaner bottle, sprayed it on the worst spots, let it soak for 15 minutes and then used the steamer to pull it up. It smells better already! It'll do until tomorrow when I can go out and find some of the products recommended above. Too hot to drive to the store right now--96 degrees according to the news but 105 according to my Weather Channel icon on my computer's status bar--and DH took my car to work and left his at home because his car airconditioner isn't working!

 

[Plantlady]

I feel your pain!

We have a 12 year old lab, who forgot all of her house training skills about 2 years ago.

My solution was to rip out the carpet. We now have stained concrete floors. Of course we also have floors I haven't gotten around to staining, and floors that have a ways to go.. it's a HUGE work in progress.. but, much easier to clean now.

We also had UGLY carpet from the 70s that came with the house when we bought it. We were not sad to see it go. We'll recarpet it when we sell it.

 

[Teacher03]

I watched a Mythbusters once that was trying to get the skunk smell out of stuff and they said mix water, couple drops of dawn dish detergent, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide? I tried it on our white/tan carpet and it worked. I think I'd be leary to try it on something darker though...but then again I don't think hydrogen peroxide bleaches things....does it? We've used Nature's Miracle too, but we live so far away from a pet store that carries it we needed something we could mix up with normal supplies.

This does work. We had a cat that was sick and picked one place on our new carpet to, well, you know, and it stunk terribly. I tried everything and finally tried this. It took several times, but it worked great.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Definitely use Nature's Miracle or another enzymatic cleaner. I like Nature's Miracle because they have formulas specific for dogs. I have used it on all manner of carpet and fabric and never had any problems with it bleaching anything. I had a dog get diarrhea once while we were gone --- ewwwwwwwwww!!!!!! You talk about nasty. Anyway, we spot cleaned the worst places by hand with Nature's Miracle, then used a steam cleaner with Nature's Miracle instead of soap. It completely cleaned my light beige carpet -- no odor, no smell, no stains! Now, I did have to steam the worst spots a couple of times over a couple of days (steam the carpet, let dry, steam again)...but it worked.

Good luck. If you have a dog with incontinence problems, you might also want to look into "doggie diapers". That might be helpful for times when you're gone.

This is the best product I've used too. Similar procedure.

Nothing will completely remove stains. Your best bet is to confine the dog off carpeted areas as much as you can. You may be able to buy gates. Crating usually helps. If your dog pees in a crate or on their won bed, then you KNOW you have a dog that REALLY can't help what they are doing.

I DO NOT suggest using a medication called Proin. It is really bad for the dog's overall health. It MAY help in certain situations.

Also, I highly suggest that if you haven't ahd a complete vet visit you also do that. Urinary tract infections are very common in female dogs and will lead to incontinence. Diabetes does also. If either of these go untreated the consequences are worse.

 

[semo233]

Nature's Miracle gets my vote!! Just make sure that you soak it and the pad underneath also!