Methods to Avoid
You should avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery. The heat will
set the odor and stain in by bonding the proteins into any man-made fibers. You should also avoid
using cleaning chemicals, especially those with strong odors, such as ammonia or vinegar. From your
pet’s perspective, these don’t effectively eliminate or cover the urine odor and may actually
encourage your pet to urinate in the area again.
To Clean Carpeted Areas and Upholstery
Soak up as much of the urine as possible with a combination of newspaper and paper towels. The
more fresh urine you can remove before it dries, especially from carpet, the simpler it will be to
remove the odor. Place a thick layer of paper towels on the wet spot and cover that with a thick
layer of newspaper. Stand on this padding for about a minute. Remove the padding and repeat
until the area is barely damp.
Rinse the “accident zone” thoroughly with clean, cool water. After rinsing, remove as much of the
water as possible by blotting or by using a “wet-vac,” “shop-vac,” or “extractor”.
Once the area is really clean, you should then use a high-quality enzymatic cleaner available at
pet supply stores. Read and follow the instructions carefully, testing the affected area for staining
first.