Pet urine on a rug

Right after the accident

Blot up as much as you can with white towels, standing on them to press the liquid out. Then pour a little cool water on the spot and blot again. Repeat a few times to dilute what has soaked in.

Do not use hot water, steam or a hair dryer. Heat can set the stain and the smell.

Treating the odor

A mix of one part white vinegar to two parts cool water can help neutralize the smell. Dab it on, wait a few minutes, rinse with plain water and blot dry.

Pet odor cleaners that use enzymes break down the residue that causes the smell. Wool is a protein fiber, so choose one labeled safe for wool, test it on a hidden spot, and rinse afterward.

Dry the spot quickly with a fan. Lift the corner if you can so air reaches the back of the rug and the floor.

Why urine is hard on rugs

Urine soaks through the pile into the foundation, the pad and the floor below, so the surface can look clean while the smell stays.

As it dries, urine changes chemically and can loosen or shift dyes, leaving faded or discolored patches. Repeated accidents can also weaken wool and cotton fibers over time.

Finding old spots

In a dark room, an ultraviolet flashlight makes dried urine glow. It is the easiest way to find spots you did not see happen, and to check the pad and floor underneath.

When a professional wash is needed

Spot cleaning reaches only the top of the rug. If the smell comes back on humid days, if there are several spots, or if colors have started to run, the rug needs a full wash that flushes urine out of the foundation. Ask for a cleaner who washes area rugs in a plant, rather than cleaning them on the floor.

A rug pad that has been soaked usually holds the smell. Replacing it is often simpler than cleaning it.

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