# How to Get Dog or Cat Urine Out of Carpet The Carpet and Rug Institute's order for fresh and dried pet urine, why the ASPCA says to skip ammonia, why steam sets the smell, and mixes to avoid. Canonical: https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/pet-urine-out-of-carpet/ Updated: 2026-10-02 Publisher: Klein's Carpet Cleaning Blot fresh urine until the cloth comes up nearly dry, then use the Carpet and Rug Institute's weak dish detergent solution, its white vinegar solution and a lukewarm rinse, and finish with an enzymatic cleaner made for pet odour, as the ASPCA advises. Skip the CRI's ammonia step: the ASPCA warns urine contains ammonia, so an ammonia cleaner can draw a pet back to the spot. No steam cleaner, no bleach. Klein's Carpet Cleaning, in Waterdown, treats pet areas separately. By Klein's Carpet Cleaning, Waterdown, Ontario. Last updated October 2, 2026. ## What is the right order for fresh and dried urine? The CRI's Spot Solver has two entries, one for [wet urine](https://carpet-rug.org/spot-solver/urine-wet/) and one for [dry urine](https://carpet-rug.org/spot-solver/urine-dry/), and the order differs. Use each solution only while it is still lifting colour onto the cloth, then move to the next. The ammonia row is the CRI's; for a pet accident, the ASPCA says to leave it out (see below), so this table marks where the enzymatic cleaner goes instead. The CRI's order for urine, adjusted for pets on the ASPCA's advice StepFresh (wet) urineDried urine FirstBlot until nearly dry, then detergent solutionDetergent solution SecondVinegar solutionWarm water ThirdWarm waterVinegar solution FourthCRI: ammonia solution. For pets: an enzymatic pet-odour cleaner insteadCRI: ammonia solution. For pets: an enzymatic pet-odour cleaner instead LastCall a professionalCall a professional ![Two hands pressing a folded white paper towel onto a damp spot on a light beige carpet, with a small dog in the background](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/photos/site/blotting-pet-accident-paper-towel.jpg) Blot first: press, lift, and press again with a dry part. Illustration. ## How strong should each solution be? Weaker than most people make it. The CRI's own mixes are: - **Detergent solution:** one quarter teaspoon of liquid dish detergent per cup of lukewarm water. The CRI's words: "NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION!" Never laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent. - **Vinegar solution:** one cup of white vinegar per two cups of water. The CRI also lists an ammonia solution (one tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water) and warns it "can cause a color change". On a pet accident, leave it out, for the reason in the next section. ## Why skip ammonia on a pet accident? Because to the animal it smells like urine. The ASPCA's guidance on [urine marking](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/urine-marking-cats) says: "Do not clean up accidents with an ammonia-based cleanser. Urine contains ammonia, so cleaning with ammonia can attract your cat that same spot to urinate again." Its advice instead: "Clean accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleanser designed to neutralize pet odors." The CRI's list is written for urine in general; the ASPCA's is written for pets, and on a pet accident the pet-specific advice wins. How to use one properly is in [do enzyme cleaners work](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/enzyme-cleaners-for-pet-urine/). Apply each with a white cloth, work from the edge of the spot toward the centre, blot rather than rub, and rinse with plain water before switching to the next solution. ## Why not use a steam cleaner on pet urine? Because heat fixes it. The CRI's [care advice for homes with pets](https://carpet-rug.org/carpet-for-homes/cleaning-and-maintenance/) says: "Don't use a steam cleaner when dealing with urine spots because the heat will set the stain and the smell. Instead, extract the spill with a wet vacuum and rinse with cool water to reduce the odor." That is why a professional clean treats urine areas on their own first, before the hot rinse of the rest of the room. ## Which mixes are dangerous? Two that turn up in home remedies. Transport Canada's [CANUTEC](https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/canutec/articles/improper-mixing-common-household-cleaning-products) warns that bleach mixed with ammonia-based cleaners "creates chloramine vapours, which are harmful when inhaled", and that urea, which is in urine, reacts with bleach the same way. It also warns against mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, which forms peracetic acid. So no bleach on urine at all, and use the solutions one at a time, rinsing between them, never mixed in one bottle. If a pet keeps going back to the same place, see [why a pet keeps using the same spot](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/pet-keeps-peeing-on-same-spot/). ## Why does the smell come back after the spot is gone? Because the urine went further than the carpet. A dog or cat accident that was not caught soaks through the carpet into the pad and sometimes the subfloor, and what stays there gives off odour again whenever it takes on moisture, which is why it is worse on humid days. Surface cleaning cannot reach it. The [pet urine and odour](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/residential/pet-urine-and-odour/) page explains how to tell a surface spot from a pad problem. ## When is it time for a professional? When the spot is old, large, or has been used more than once, and when the smell outlasts the stain. The CRI's own advice is to call in a carpet cleaning firm "that knows how to remove pet stains and odors permanently" when home treatment is not enough. Tell the cleaner where every pet area is when you book, so they are treated before the main clean. Homes with pets also belong at the short end of the cleaning schedule; see [how often to clean carpets](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/how-often-to-clean-carpets/). ## Get a free carpet cleaning quote Tell us which rooms, how many stairs, and about any pets or stains. We reply within one business day, by phone or email, and the quote is agreed before anyone starts. [Request a free quote](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/quote/) [Call 289-776-7299](tel:+12897767299) ### The short version - Blot until nearly dry - Detergent, vinegar, water, then enzyme - One at a time, rinse between - No ammonia, no steam, no bleach - Smell returning means the pad ## Pets and carpet - [Carpet care for pet owners](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/) The whole section: accidents, hair, fleas, mud and safe cleaning. - [Cleaning pet vomit out of carpet](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/pet-vomit-out-of-carpet/) Lift it first, then the solutions in order, and the spot kit mistake. - [Cleaning dog poop out of carpet](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/dog-poop-out-of-carpet/) Firm, soft and dried accidents, and what not to reach for. - [Pet hair and dander](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/pet-hair-and-dander/) Why the allergen is not the hair, and what actually removes it. - [Fleas in carpet](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/fleas-in-carpet/) What Health Canada says to do, and where carpet cleaning fits. - [Muddy paw prints](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/muddy-paw-prints-on-carpet/) Wet or dry first, the two-step CRI method, and stopping it at the door. - [Is carpet cleaning safe for pets?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/pets/pet-safe-carpet-cleaning/) Products, drying, birds, and when to keep pets out of the room. - [Carpet, dust mites and allergies](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/carpet-dust-mites-and-allergies/) Health Canada's steps for dust and allergens in carpet. ## Carpet stains, one by one - [Red wine](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/red-wine-out-of-carpet/) Blot, detergent, vinegar, then the steps most people skip. - [Coffee](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/coffee-out-of-carpet/) Black coffee and coffee with milk are different stains. - [Chewing gum and candle wax](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/gum-out-of-carpet/) Hard first, then a solvent that must never reach the backing. - [Winter salt](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/salt-stains-on-carpet/) The Carpet and Rug Institute's own salt steps, and why the mark comes back. ## More guides - [How often should office carpet be cleaned?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/how-often-to-clean-office-carpet/) Vacuuming, interim and restorative cleaning by daily foot traffic, from Interface's chart. - [Can carpet tiles be cleaned, or do they need replacing?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/can-carpet-tiles-be-cleaned/) What Interface, the carpet tile maker, recommends, and the machine that can void its warranty. - [What is encapsulation carpet cleaning?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/encapsulation-carpet-cleaning/) How the low-moisture crystallizing method works, how long it takes to dry, and its limits. - [How much matting does a building entrance need?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/entrance-mats-for-carpet/) Six feet as a floor, fifteen feet for 80% of soil, and how to look after the mats. [All cleaning guides](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/)