If you share your home with a dog, you know that muddy paws and the occasional accident are part of the deal. What’s less welcome, though, is the lingering smell that seems to cling to your carpets. Thankfully, there are reliable and pet-safe methods that effectively eliminate unpleasant odours while keeping your carpet in excellent condition. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to get dog smell out of carpet using proven methods, what mistakes to avoid, and how to prevent odours from coming back.
Effective Methods for Removing Dog Smell from Carpets
Getting rid of dog odours in your carpet takes more than a quick spray of air freshener. Smells can sink deep into fibres and underlay, so you need the right approach. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to help you deal with fresh accidents, lingering odours, and every day “doggy” smells:
Act quickly on fresh accidents
If your dog has an accident, the faster you act, the easier it is to stop smells from setting in. Blot up as much liquid as possible with kitchen roll or a clean towel. Pressing firmly rather than rubbing. Rinse the spot with cool water and blot again.
Use an enzyme cleaner for urine smells
If you’re wondering how to get dog pee smell out of carpet, enzyme cleaners are your best friend. They break down the proteins in urine that cause that lasting smell and leave behind a fresh, clean scent on the carpet.
Look for non-toxic enzyme sprays that are approved by veterinarians, safe for children and pets, and specifically designed for use on carpets. Apply the product generously so it reaches the carpet backing and underlay, then let it sit for as long as the label recommends.
Enzymes need time to work, so don’t rush this step. If the smell lingers, repeat the treatment.
Natural remedies: baking soda and white vinegar
If you prefer a homemade solution on how to get dog urine smell out of carpet, baking soda and white vinegar are two simple, natural options that work well.
Baking soda
Baking soda is excellent for absorbing smells and dog odour. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the affected area, leave it overnight, and vacuum it up thoroughly the next day.
White vinegar
White vinegar works as a natural deodoriser. Mix one part vinegar with two parts cool water (or equal parts for stronger smells) in a spray bottle, lightly mist the carpet, and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Blot with a clean towel and ensure good airflow so the area dries quickly.
Neutralise everyday “doggy” smells with regular vacuuming
Not every odour comes from accidents. Dog hair and dander can build up over time, leaving carpets with a constant musty scent. Regular hoovering with the right vacuum cleaner is the simplest way to keep on top of this. For an extra boost, you can sprinkle bicarbonate of soda across the carpet, leave it overnight, and then hoover it up thoroughly to help lift trapped smells.
If you’d like a hands-off way to stay ahead of daily hair and dander, a robot vacuum can quietly handle the job for you.
If your home is mostly carpet and your priority is hair pickup with as little maintenance as possible, the eufy Clean X8 Pro with Self-Empty Station focuses on deep vacuuming. Its Twin-Turbine™ system (2× 4,000 Pa) is designed to pull pet hair from deep in carpet fibres, and the Active Detangling™ roller brush automatically clears wrapped hair so you’re not cutting it out by hand.
The Self-Empty Station seals debris in a 2.5L bag for up to about 45 days, and iPath™ laser navigation with AI.Map™ 2.0 lets you schedule daily runs or room-specific cleans to keep dander under control before smells take hold.
If you’ve got mixed floors, the eufy X10 Pro Omni adds proper hard floor mopping as well as strong carpet vacuuming. It combines 8,000 Pa suction with dual rotating mop pads that scrub hard floors at 180 rpm with firm downward pressure. When it moves onto carpet, the mop pads lift automatically by 12mm, so only suction is at work.
Its all-in-one station takes care of the upkeep by emptying dust, washing and drying the mops, and even refilling water, which means you can schedule regular cleans without extra effort.
By scheduling regular runs with either model, you’ll remove the hair, dander and tracked-in dirt that feed odours, keeping your home fresher and making any deeper cleaning far more effective.
Call in the professionals if needed
Sometimes, home methods just aren’t enough. If smells persist despite your best efforts, or if a large area of carpet has been affected, it’s worth calling an IICRC-certified carpet cleaner who specialises in pet odour removal.
If your dog spends most of its time indoors, scheduling a professional carpet cleaning session every six to nine months is highly recommended.
Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Smelly Carpets
When you’re figuring out how to get dog pee smell out of carpet, it’s just as important to know what not to do. A few common missteps can actually make odours worse or lock them in for good:
- Rubbing instead of blotting: Rubbing spreads stains and drives them deeper. Always blot firmly with a towel or kitchen roll to lift liquid.
- Using heat or steam on urine: Heat locks odours into carpet fibres. Skip steam cleaning until urine smells are fully treated.
- Soaking the carpet: Too much water pushes mess into the underlay and can cause mould. Apply cleaners lightly and extract well.
- Cutting short enzyme cleaners: Enzyme products need proper contact time to break down urine compounds. Spray, let sit, and only blot once the product has worked.
- Using harsh chemical cleaners: Cleaners containing strong or abrasive chemicals might promise quick results, but they can permanently damage carpet fibres and pose health risks to both you and your dog.
- Masking odours with fragrance: Perfumed sprays don’t fix the source and can actually tempt dogs to re-mark. Use products designed to neutralise odours instead.
- Ignoring the underlay: If the smell has seeped beneath the carpet, no surface clean will remove it. Professional cleaning or replacement may be required.
Tips for Preventing Future Dog Odours in Your Carpet
Once you’ve tackled the smell, a few consistent habits will help you prevent it from coming back.
- Properly toilet train your dog: One of the most reliable ways to keep carpets fresh is to ensure your dog is properly potty trained. Teaching them where and when to relieve themselves helps prevent indoor accidents that cause odours.
- Vacuum often: Target high-traffic spots daily or every other day, and give the whole house a weekly pass. A robot vacuum can make this much easier, quietly handling the day-to-day build-up that feeds odours.
- Groom your dog: Regular brushing keeps loose hair and dander off the floor. Wiping paws after walks stops dirt and damp from being tracked in.
- Wash soft furnishings: Beds, throws, and rugs trap odours. Wash them weekly where possible and dry them fully. Fresh air and sunlight help deodorise naturally.
- Deal with accidents straight away: Blot, rinse with cool water, then use an enzyme cleaner before smells spread deeper.
- Keep air moving: Good ventilation or a dehumidifier in damp rooms prevents musty smells from taking hold.
- Protect high-risk areas: Lay washable runners where your dog naps and place mats at doors to catch grit and moisture before it hits the carpet.
Conclusion
Learning how to get dog smell out of carpet is about acting quickly, using the right cleaning methods, and putting good prevention habits in place. From enzyme cleaners and natural remedies like vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, to regular vacuuming and grooming, each step helps stop odours from settling in. Avoiding common mistakes and scheduling the occasional deep clean will also keep your carpets fresher for longer. With a simple routine, you can enjoy a clean, welcoming home without the lingering reminder of pet smells.
FAQs
What takes dog smell out of carpet?
For light odours, combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray the solution onto the affected areas, and let it air dry. You can also sprinkle baking soda evenly across the carpet, leave it for several hours or overnight, then vacuum it up. These naturally absorb and neutralise smells. For stronger or urine-related odours, use an enzyme-based cleaner which breaks down odour-causing proteins. Regular vacuuming with a HEPA filter also helps reduce trapped hair and dander that contribute to smells.
How do I stop my carpet from smelling of a dog?
Tackle odours at the source: vacuum regularly (at least twice a week in key areas) to remove hair, dander, and dirt, which all contribute to smells. For accidents, act fast—blot, treat with an enzyme cleaner, and avoid letting scents settle. Improve airflow by opening windows and airing the room frequently. Regular grooming and washing your dog’s bedding also help prevent aromas transferring to the carpet.
How often should I clean my carpets to prevent dog smells?
To keep carpets fresh and prevent dog smells, vacuum at least twice a week and spot-clean accidents immediately with an enzymatic cleaner. Use baking soda monthly to neutralize odors, and deep clean carpets every 1–3 months with a carpet cleaner. For best results, schedule professional steam cleaning every 6–12 months, especially in high-traffic areas, and keep your dog’s paws and coat clean to reduce dirt transfer.
Will dog smell eventually go away?
No, dog smells will not fade on their own. Odours from pee, poo, or dander settle into carpet fibres and remain unless properly cleaned. You need to use appropriate cleaning techniques and products to fully remove the scent and ensure a fresh-smelling carpet for the long term.
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