The spot fades, but the smell returns—that’s wick-back from padding and subfloor. Here’s how to clean dog pee out of carpet the right way. First, map the real spill zone. Next, saturate with an enzymatic dog urine cleaner, keep it damp long enough to digest the source, extract thoroughly, and dry fast. If odor lingers, lift the carpet, treat or replace the padding, and address the subfloor. With a reliable pet stain and odor remover for carpet, you remove the cause—not just the scent—and stop repeat marking. Follow this simple plan to fix the source the first time. What you will do:
1. Confirm the full affected area (start here)
- Use a UV Black light to map beyond the visible spot; check under edges and near baseboards.
- Blot with white towels to gauge moisture and odor perimeter.
- Mark boundaries with painter’s tape so treatment covers the whole zone.
2. Fresh accidents: stop deep soak
- Blot—do not rub—until towels lift most moisture.
- Saturate immediately with an enzymatic dog urine cleaner to reach the pad depth.
- Keep damp for label dwell time (e.g., 30–60 minutes); re-mist if it starts to dry.
3. Set-in odors: remove from carpet and padding
- Pre‑vacuum dry soils.
- Saturate 10–20% beyond the taped perimeter to match the spill spread.
- Maintain dwell per label; enzymes require moisture and time.
- Extract with a wet/dry vac or carpet extractor; avoid steam that can set odor.
- Repeat saturate–dwell–extract cycles until no odor remains when fully dry.
- Dry fast with fans and a dehumidifier to prevent wick‑back.
4. When to lift carpet and address padding
- If odor persists after two full cycles, pull carpet gently at an edge or seam.
- Inspect padding; replace sections that are saturated, brittle, or still odorous.
- Treat the carpet backing with an enzymatic cleaner; allow dwell and dry before re‑laying.
- Replace tack strips if contaminated.
5. Treating the subfloor (wood vs. concrete)
- Wood: apply enzymatic cleaner, dwell, extract, and dry thoroughly. If odor remains, apply an odor‑blocking primer/sealer once dry. Reinstall only when the area is odor‑free.
- Concrete: saturate, lightly agitate, allow extended dwell, extract; repeat as needed. Ensure complete dry‑down before reinstall.
6. Tools and products notes
- UV light, sprayer, microfiber/terry towels, wet/dry vac or extractor, fans, dehumidifier.
- Choose a pet stain and odor remover for carpet with bio‑enzymatic action; avoid harsh oxidizers that can bleach fibers.
- Test colorfastness in a hidden area before large‑area treatment.
7. Prevent re‑soiling and wick‑back
- Treat the full mapped area, not just the center; edges hold residues.
- Re‑scan with UV after drying; spot‑treat any remaining glow.
- In multi‑pet homes, schedule weekly checks in marking zones.
- Consider moisture‑barrier padding if replacing sections.
Also Read: How to Choose the Best Enzyme Cleaner for Stubborn Cat Odors
Buy Enzymatic Cleaner for Dog Urine
Stop the cycle of recurring odors with a source-first approach. URICIDE® is a pet stain and odor remover for carpet that penetrates deeply to neutralize urine in carpet, padding, and subfloor. Use our enzymatic dog urine cleaner to saturate mapped areas, keep them damp for full dwell, and extract thoroughly for lasting results. Start with a UV light to reveal hidden stains, then finish with URICIDE® Laundry Boost for rugs and mats. Browse through our collection to choose the right URICIDE formula and follow this simple process for how to clean dog pee out of carpet—once, and for good.