How to Get Old Pee Stains out of Carpet

Everyone knows that to keep a carpet looking clean it’s important to vacuum it regularly. But what do you do when your carpet has nasty stains on it, like urine stains? You need to know how to get old pee stains out of your carpet.

This happens often and is something that can be fixed. Perhaps your pet entered the living room or bedroom and for whatever reason, has peed on the carpet. This can sometimes happen with older pets. Or your baby or toddler had a mishap. This is a common occurrence too. 

You may have just moved into a house where the previous owner had pets, and the carpets are not looking their best. Whatever the reason for the stains, they are ruining the look of your home and you want to remove them. Fortunately, it is possible to remove old pee stains, even from light carpets. 

What this article covers:

How To Get Pee Color Out Of Your Carpet

how to get yellow pee stain out of carpet

One of the main problems with urine stains is the color. This can be a real problem if your carpets are white or cream. But you want to do more than just clean the surface of your carpet. The aim is to completely remove the urine stain to avoid bacterial growth and lingering odors. 

Always try to treat dog urine stains as quickly as possible. They are warm and acidic, and the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Some carpets and rugs may suffer permanent damage if not treated as soon as possible. 

Distilled White Vinegar & Baking Soda Method

Old stains can be difficult to remove as they’ve had time to set in. Worse still, your previous carpet cleaning attempts may have set the stains in. If you follow the easy steps below, you will get the pee color out of your carpets. This method will be more effective on fresh pet stains though.

You will need the following items:

  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Tepid tap water
  • A spray bottle
  • Baking Soda

Mix equal parts of the vinegar and warm water in the spray bottle. Spray the stained area, but do not soak the carpet. Spread a thin layer of baking soda over the sprayed stain. When the baking soda interacts with the vinegar, it will foam, lifting out the stains. 

how to remove yellow pet urine stains from carpet

Allow the carpet to dry naturally, and then vacuum up the powdered residue. If you’re wondering how to clean baby urine from the carpet, this will also do the trick. 

If you have pets, your carpets will get soiled more frequently. Therefore, we recommend that you regularly deep-clean your carpets to keep them looking and smelling good. You can choose to have your carpets cleaned by professionals, but you can also hire or purchase a machine and easily do it yourself.

How To Remove Old Pet Urine From Your Carpet

how to get old urine stains out of carpet

When you want to remove old pet stains from the carpet, the main problem is old urine. Old pet urine stains not only look bad, but they also smell really bad too. To get your carpets smelling fresh and clean again, you may be tempted to use one of the most common stain removal hacks, hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a highly effective pet stain remover and disinfectant. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen, and during this process kills bacteria and lifts stains. 

You will need:

  • Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution)
  • Warm, but not hot, water
  • A spray bottle
  • A soft, clean white cloth for blotting

Fill the spray bottle most of the way with water. Add hydrogen peroxide at a ratio of 1:4 (1 part hydrogen peroxide for every 4 parts water). Spritz the old urine stain liberally and leave it to work for 10 minutes. Then using the cloth, blot it up. Allow the carpet to dry naturally. 

Hydrogen peroxide may be the best product for the job, but if you are not careful, you could cause more harm than good. It can bleach a carpet, especially at higher concentrations. Rather trust in our specialized hydrogen peroxide formula, which offers the safest solution to the problem of old pet urine stains. 

The best product for unsightly yellow pet urine stains is our USOR Unchained urine and stain remover. It combines top-grade hydrogen peroxide with other penetrants and Ecocide Extreme. This product lifts pet urine stains and instantly kills odor-causing molecules, replacing foul odors with a fresh, clean scent. 

 how to get yellow pee stains out of carpet

This is an effective method to remove the throw-up smell from a carpet too. Just remember to do a test patch to check your carpet for colorfastness, first. This stain remover is not, however, recommended for wool carpets. 

While our hydrogen-peroxide-based treatment works great for pet urine stains, we recommend pairing it with a deep clean with a professional machine.  Regular deep cleaning is essential for the carpets of all pet owners. 

But a counter-rotating brush carpet cleaning machine is a terrific investment for anyone who has a carpeted home or business. This machine cleans residential and commercial carpets, and even hard floor surfaces. Your floors will also be dry again in much less time than with other carpet cleaning methods.

how to remove old dog urine from carpet

What If There Are Pee And Poop Stains?

The distilled white vinegar & baking soda method listed above can be used for both pee and poop stains. But first, remove the poop before proceeding with this method. The baking soda will neutralize the odor of both pet urine and poop. It can also be the answer for those of you struggling with cleaning barf out of a carpet.

If left untreated, pet urine and feces can damage certain carpets and rugs. This is because the acidity in pet urine in particular can cause carpet discoloration. But this is not the worst that can happen if you leave such stains for too long. They can pose a health risk too, especially if you have young children.

Some diseases can be transmitted to humans through dogs' poop, which is why you should never pick these up from the carpet without protecting your hands. But the main issue is that pet feces can transmit worms to your carpet. If you have a baby crawling around, this can pose a health risk to your child.

Clean up these types of messes as soon as possible, and treat the stains with professional products for the best results. Home remedies and hacks may remove the color and odor of pet stains. But they are not always effective at killing the germs that accompany them. 

Deodorizing Treatment For Pet Pee & Poop Odors

how to remove set in urine stains from carpet

Always remove feces from the carpet as soon as these messes occur. This will lower the health risk that they pose and reduce the smell. However, if the mess has sat for a while, more action may be necessary. You may need to give your carpet a thorough clean afterward with a carpet cleaning machine.  

Any lingering smell will also be removed with deep cleaning and a deodorizing product. We have several deodorizing carpet products to choose from, but you may like our Ecocide Beachy Peachy odor remover. It eliminates both urine and feces odors instantly, leaving behind a pleasant scent.

how to clean old dog urine from carpet

Conclusion

As you can see, stains don’t have to remain on your carpet forever. Almost any stain can be removed with some effort and the right products. No matter the issue, whether it's stains, odors, or general dirt from regular use, we’ll have your carpets looking great again.

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