How do you get old urine stains out of the carpet?

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We just took down our Christmas tree and realized that our newly adopted dog had been sneaking behind the presents to do her business. The pee stains are at maximum three weeks old. We’ve tried everything; Nature’s Miracle, part water part vinegar, all commercial cleaning products, hydrogen peroxide. We rent an apartment and don’t want to pay to replace the carpets when we leave. Help!

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  1. ACECOWBOY says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    There are 2 different options you can try but be cautious. Always test products in a hidden area before using.

    1.) Hydrogen Peroxide based cleaners. Which you’ve already tried.
    or
    2.) Enzyme based cleaners.

    A HYDROGEN PEROXIDE based cleaner will break down the molecules of urine destroying any odors and will eventually break down into water and oxygen meaning you don’t have to rinse the cleaner out of the carpet unless it contains added detergents. I’ve used a product before called PROXI from RochesterMidland and it worked. Here’s a link: http://www.rochestermidland.com/pdfs/2245%20Proxi%20Spray%20walk%20away.pdf

    An ENZYME based cleaner contains enzyme producing bacteria that will actually digest any organic material as long as they are kept moist and warm. ie covering stain with damp cloth after application.
    after a few days it would be recommended to extract the carpet to remove any residue left by the cleaner. (Extraction cleaning is wetting the carpet and sucking the liquid out. You can usually rent one for a day for $20-$30 at your local supermarket. ie RugDoctor)

    WARNING: Avoid buying cleaners from a local grocery or hardware store. They are often so watered down they don’t work or they make the stain worse. Look online for a local Janitorial Supplies Store. They should know what to give you and should be able to explain the proper use of the product so you don’t ruin your carpet. Expect to pay $10-20 for a Litre/Quart size bottle of Ready To Use (RTU) product with a sprayer (Trigger Sprayer)

    REMEMBER
    Before proceeding always try a test area of the carpet like in a closet. I would also wait for a day to see what happens to the carpet. Some cleaners I have found to yellow a carpet after a day.

    Good Luck

    ADDED NOTE:: I have made a few phone calls to find out about dealing with a stain like yours that has been sitting so long and I have the following recommendation for you:
    the product is called HOST. Here’s a link: http://www.hostdry.com/chlRetail.htm

    It is an enzyme based product but is unique in that it is a ‘dry’ cleaning process. The product is contained in a ground corn husk powder that you sprinkle on the carpet, cover with a towel and simply pound it into the carpet with a brush or whatever you have. leave it for a while and it eats up the stain, then you simply vacuum it up. Yes it seems weird but I have just talked to a lady who swears by it so I thought I should pass it on.
    Here is the link to their site. Warning, you will see a big article about Martha Stewart on this site. Apparently she is promoting the product. Anyway, check it out & let me know how it works out. I wish you success.
    ACECOWBOY

    Disclaimer: I work for a company that currently sells some of these products so my product recommendations may be biased because of the brands I am exposed to. However I am not soliciting business and I will try to be as objective as possible.

  2. sweetpea says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Did you soak the area with Nature’s Miracle and allow it to dry naturally? Put aluminum foil over it until it is dry. You may need to apply more than once.

  3. mjefferson96 says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    spot shot worked for me

  4. viggo.blixen says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Rent a carpet Shampooer. They are much cheaper than hiring a professional cleaning company. If you have a new animal who isn’t really comfortable with the new routine there will be more…incidents. You might consider spending $60 at a big-box retail outlet on a little shampooer. You just fill them with water and cleaning product and set them on the stain for a while. Built in brushes scrub the fabric as it sits there. It’s a beautiful thing.

    If this doesn’t work, find someone who works for a professional cleaning company ask them for advice.

  5. StephReynolds says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    If the stain is fresh: first, some sort of blotting–a towel, powder or absorbent applied immediately (Nature’s Miracle makes a granular product that works unbelievably well for this purpose. Don’t use flour or powder, as you will have a mess. I’ve heard diatomaceous earth works well for this, but have not tried it.) Next, a 50:50 mixture of good old vinegar and water, doused on and blotted, blotted, blotted up. Also, depending on the size of the rug, a simple run under the faucet or hose with plenty of water usually works quite well. If the stain is not fresh, there are several options. Laundry detergent designed for baby diapers (Dreft) is good to wash out urine if the rug is washable; if not, apply an enzymatic cleaner as mentioned below, and keep the dog away for a week or two (can be done with foil). Finally, a last resort for us (due to the cost) is Simple Solution Carpet Shampoo (NOT liquid or concentrate Simple Solution). This will emulsify the stain and make it blottable, wipeable, or extractable, as mentioned below. It got green dog poop out of a rug.

    Miscellaneous tips:
    Simple Solution Carpet, Nature’s Miracle, etc are all $$$ if you get them at the pet store. However, from RC Steele, a catalog company, they are quite reasonable (maybe 40% cheaper), especially when you consider the investment you have in your carpet.

    If you are fortunate enough to have access to a small, extractor-type carpet cleaner, these work unbelievable wonders for pet stains. My friends have used all of the above formulas on their wall-to-wall carpet in the extractor and have had success removing diarrhea, urine, throw-up, etc. from light colored carpet.

    Here is another link to remove urine from most any surface including different types of carpet. So some may work for you dog urine stains. Good luck
    http://www.home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-urine-stains.htm

  6. ♥Shortstuff13 ♥ says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Nothing really destroys dog urine in carpeting, especially if it’s gone through to the padding below.

  7. ♥♥♥mom3ღ says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    My daughter moved into an apartment that had cat urine stains on the carpet that were 1 yr to 10 yrs old. All I did was spray them wet with Oxi Clean laundry stain remover spray and then placed a white towel on top of it,stepped on the towel for a bit, then let it set there for about 3 hours. When I checked it the stains were gone!!!

  8. Ken Diamond says:
    January 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    The only way to fully & effectively get rid of urine stains is………..to replace the carpet. Pull up the piss-stained rug & get it to a dumpster.
    Within 24 hrs, you’ll be forever glad you did.
    OK……..take a box-cutter razorblade (whatever), and neatly cut out the pee section. But cut a sqaure or rectangle, it’ll make this easier. Now, go out and find some carpet remnants that look pretty close to your carpet. Cut it to proper size, and use duck tape, upside-down on edges to hold it in place. VOILA!

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