As a pet owner, dealing with dog poop is an inevitable part of life. While accidents outside can be easily cleaned up, indoor messes on your carpet can be a nightmare. But don’t stress – with the right techniques and products, you can get even the toughest poop stains out of your carpets.
At Eagle’s Eye Carpet Cleaning, we’ve seen our fair share of dog accidents over the years. We know how frustrating it can be to discover that surprise your pup left behind. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on removing dog poop from carpets.
How to Clean Up Dog Poop from Carpet
When it comes to cleaning dog poop off carpets, time is of the essence. The longer the poop sits there, the more likely it is to soak deeper into the carpet fibers and leave a lingering odor.
Here are the basic steps you’ll want to take immediately:
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Pick Up Solids: If the poop is solid, use a plastic bag over your hand or paper towels to pick up as much of the solid waste as possible. Try to avoid smushing it further into the carpet.
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Blot Liquids: For runny poop or diarrhea, blot as much excess liquid as you can with paper towels or a soft cloth. Apply pressure without rubbing to lift the poop from the carpet.
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Remove Residue: Mix a solution of warm water and a small amount of dish soap or enzymatic cleaner in a spray bottle. Spray the area well and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Use a clean, damp towel or cloth to blot and lightly scrub the area to remove any residue.
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Deodorize: Sprinke baking soda liberally over the area and let sit for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming up. This will help absorb odors.
Removing the solid waste right away helps eliminate the amount of scrubbing and cleaning solutions needed. But don’t worry if you discover an old, dried poop stain. With a little extra work, even those can come out successfully.
How to Remove Dried Dog Poop from Carpet
Finding an old, dried up dog poop stain on your new carpet is upsetting. But before you panic, try these tips for removing dried poop from carpets:
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Break Up Solids: Use a dull knife, spatula, or old credit card to gently scrape and break up the dried poop. Go slowly to avoid damaging carpet fibers.
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Vacuum: Thoroughly vacuum up all of the broken-up bits of dried poop. This eliminates much of the stain itself.
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Pre-Treat: Apply an enzymatic cleaner or carpet pretreatment spray to break up any remaining stain and odor from bacteria. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes.
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Clean: Mix a non-bleach detergent with warm water and use a soft bristle brush to gently scrub the stain. Blot with clean towels to remove the detergent.
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Deodorize: Sprinkle baking soda over the area and let sit overnight before vacuuming up. The longer it sits, the more odor it will absorb.
With old, set-in stains, repeating this process 2-3 times may be necessary to fully remove the stain and smell. But be patient, and you can get even old dried poop stains out of carpet successfully.
Homemade Carpet Cleaners for Dog Poop
If you don’t have a commercial carpet cleaner on hand, don’t worry. You likely have some homemade solutions for dog poop cleanup right in your pantry. Here are some easy DIY carpet cleaner recipes for poop stains:
Dish Soap: Add a few drops of mild dish soap to warm water and apply to the stain with a cloth. Rinse thoroughly.
White Vinegar: Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Spray or blot onto the stain and let sit for 5-10 minutes before blotting up.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water and apply to the stain. Let bubble for 5-10 minutes before blotting up.
Baking Soda: Cover stain with baking soda and let sit for at least an hour before vacuuming up. The baking soda will help deodorize.
Enzymatic Cleaner: Mix an enzyme-based pet stain cleaner with water according to package directions. Spray onto stain and let sit before blotting up.
Test your homemade cleaner on a small, hidden area of carpet first to ensure it doesn’t discolor the fibers before using it on visible areas. With the right DIY carpet cleaner, you can get dog poop stains out without harsh chemicals.
Tips for Preventing Dog Poop on Carpets
While it’s handy to know how to remove dog poop from carpets, prevention is the best policy. Here are some tips to help avoid poop stains in your home:
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Stick to a schedule: Feed and walk your dog at consistent times each day to help regulate their bathroom habits.
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Restrict access: Block off rooms or areas where you don’t want your dog to have accidents, especially when you’re away.
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Use a crate: Crate training not only helps with housetraining, but keeps your dog from wandering off to go poop.
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Watch for signs: If you see your dog circling and sniffing, get them outside immediately to avoid an accident.
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Clean with enzymes: Use an enzyme cleaner on any previous accident sites to fully remove stains and odor that might attract your dog back.
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Talk to your vet: Rule out any medical issues if your house-trained dog suddenly starts pooping inside.
With vigilance and establishing a bathroom routine, you can help minimize unwanted indoor poop incidents. But if an accident still happens, now you’re armed with all the right techniques to get dog poop out of carpet for good.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Poop in Carpet
Still worried about how you’ll ever get those dog poop stains out of your carpet? Here are answers to some common questions we get about cleaning up dog accidents on carpets:
How do you get old, dried poop stains out of carpet?
For old, dried poop stains, break up and remove any solid chunks with a dull knife or scraper. Apply an enzymatic cleaner to break up residue. Let sit, then scrub with detergent and water. Repeat process if needed. Finish by deodorizing with baking soda. The combination of physical removal and chemical cleaners is key for dried poop.
What is the best home remedy for removing dog poop from carpet?
An effective homemade cleaner for fresh stains is a mix of dish soap, white vinegar, and warm water. For dried poop stains, first scrape off solids then clean with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to deodorize. Test homemade cleaners in an inconspicuous spot first.
How do you get the smell of dog poop out of carpet?
To get rid of odors, blot up as much of the dog poop as possible right away. Then apply an enzymatic cleaner to fully break down poop residue. Let sit, then rinse. Finish by sprinkling baking soda over the area and letting sit overnight before vacuuming up. This absorbs leftover odors trapped in fibers.
Can I rent a carpet cleaner for dog poop stains?
Yes, you can often rent carpet cleaners from hardware stores and supermarkets. Look for ones that use water and cleaning solution under pressure to extract dirt – this is ideal for drawing out poop stains. Make sure any cleaner is dog-safe. Pre-treat with an enzymatic cleaner before using a rental unit.
Will poop stains come out of carpet?
With the proper techniques, supplies, and a little elbow grease, you can fully remove dog poop stains and smell from carpet. For fresh stains, quick blotting and an enzymatic cleaner work best. For dried, set-in stains, break up solids and repeatedly clean and deodorize the area. Check our guide above for detailed steps. With patience and the right process, you can erase those nasty poop stains for good.
The Eagle’s Eye Carpet Cleaning Difference
While it is possible to remove dog poop yourself at home, for heavy stains or smells that persist, call in a professional carpet cleaner. At Eagle’s Eye Carpet Cleaning, we are experts at removing all kinds of tough pet stains.
Our powerful carpet cleaning solutions and hot water extraction methods can deep clean carpets right down to the base of fibers to extract poop residue and bacteria. We use pet-safe cleaners and deodorizers so carpets are fresh and clean when we finish without any lingering odors or stains from your dog.
In addition to carpet cleaning services, we also provide:
- Tile and Grout Cleaning
- Upholstery Cleaning
- Area Rug Cleaning
- Carpet Repairs
- Carpet Stretching
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