How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Carpet: A Step-by-Step Guide

You've scrubbed that spot three times. Used vinegar. Baking soda. That spray from the pet store. The smell keeps coming back.

Here's the thing:

Regular cleaners can't break down the uric acid crystals in dog urine. They just push them deeper into your carpet. That's why the smell returns every time it's humid.

I've cleaned hundreds of accidents with my three senior rescue dogs. This 5-step process works. Every time. The key is enzyme cleaner—not soap, not vinegar, not baking soda—and patience.

Why Regular Cleaning Fails (Quick Science)

Dog urine contains uric acid, which forms crystals that bind to carpet fibers and padding. Water and soap can move these crystals, dilute them, or push them deeper—but they can't break the molecular bonds.

Enzyme cleaners contain bacteria that produce uricase, which literally eats the uric acid and converts it to carbon dioxide and water. No uric acid = no smell.

What You'll Need

• Enzyme-based cleaner (I use Naturally It's Clean or Sunny & Honey)
• White cloths or paper towels (lots of them)
• UV/black light flashlight (to find hidden spots)
• Optional: wet/dry vacuum

→ Get Naturally It's Clean on Amazon

Pro tip: A UV flashlight is $15-20 and worth every penny. You'll find stains you didn't know existed.

Step 1: Find Every Spot

Before cleaning anything, find everything. Dogs return to the same spots. You probably have accidents you don't know about.