Not only is dog poop disgusting, but it also stinks and is filled with nasty bacteria and parasites that pose threats to our dog’s and family’s health in general. Getting it on the carpet could ruin it entirely if you don’t work fast enough to clean it. Apart from being unsanitary, letting dog poop dry out on your carpet or any fabric surface, for that matter, makes for one of the toughest stains out there. Poop stains aren’t just unsightly. They also leave smells that are far too potent to describe.
But, should you find yourself faced with the task of cleaning up a dog poop stained carpet, you don’t have to fret. There are several solutions available that could soften up those stains and make it easier to get that beautiful carpet back to its original form. This article will discuss how to remove old dog poop stains using easy-to-find household items like paper towels, warm and cold water, laundry detergent, and dishwashing soap, among others.
How to Get Dog Poop Out of the Carpet Using Good Ol’ White Vinegar
Before anything else, one important thing to make sure is that you are wearing proper gloves, so as not to transfer the bacteria from the stain to your hands. Cleaning poop is not a joking matter. If you fail to clean it off your hands, your whole body, and surfaces on your house, you run the risk of spreading parasites and bacteria everywhere.
With that said, using industrial disinfectants and cleaners to remove pet stains, although useful, may also be harmful, as the fumes are toxic to both humans and dogs. Not to mention, it can also ruin that gorgeous carpet you’ve had at home for a while. Using vinegar is one effective and affordable way to get pesky poop stains out of your favorite rug or carpet. Here are the steps, from HouseCleaningAdvice.Com:
- As a fantastic home cleaning solution, not only can it soften or dissolve poop stains, it can also eliminate the odors that come with it.
- Using two cups of warm water, combine a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to a tablespoon of white vinegar.
- Use a sponge or cloth to dab the solution onto the stain. Keep on doing this step until the carpet fully absorbs the liquid. You will see the stain disappear gradually.
- When you see the stain starting to lighten or fade, you can proceed with cleaning the carpet using water.
- Do not forget to blot the area with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, to ensure that it gets dried off completely.
You can also create the same cleaning solution, this time using cold water instead of warm. And substitute a bristled brush for a sponge. Once entirely blotted, you may dab the solution onto the stain using a cloth. Then, you can proceed to scrub the poop stain gently using the brush. Gentle strokes serve to protect delicate carpet fibers.
Do this step continuously until the stain visibly lightens. After this, you can sprinkle and rub baking soda onto the area using your fingers. Leave the baking soda overnight. The next day, use a steam or carpet cleaner or a vacuum to remove the leftover baking soda altogether.
Because vinegar is an effective stain remover, it doesn’t just soften dried up feces; it works on other tough stains as well. Here is another way to use the sour agent in rehydrating dried up stains on your carpet:
- Combine equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. This solution will make it easier to scrub away the harsh residue.
- Using the spray bottle, soak the stained area, and let the solution sit there for at least 10 minutes.
- Once you see that the liquid is fully absorbed in the spot, use some paper towels to blot the liquid up.
- After doing so, get a dash of hydrogen peroxide and pour the chemical onto the area.
- Allow the area to dry. However, if you still find the stains hard and stubborn, you can add some baking soda again on the spot, this time, using a brush to loosen up the stains stuck to the carpet fibers. Leave the baking soda on the carpet for a few hours, and return to blot the stain away using a paper towel.
How to Get Stubborn Pet Stain Out of the Carpet Using Soda
Stain removal on the carpet need not be a daunting and frustrating task. Apart from those mentioned above, there are so many other active agents known to remove old stains out of a carpet, rug, or fabric. Of course, you can try a mixture of laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, and oxygen bleach to scrub away at the stain. You can also make use of a commercial cleaning solution specially formulated to get rid of tough pet stains. But if you’re looking for something more accessible, Oprah Winfrey shares her favorite stain remover.
In Vanity Fair’s Secret Talent Theater, Oprah Winfrey shows how to get a stain out of the carpet. In the YouTube video, she goes to share that having 21 dogs has made her an expert in cleaning dog poo out of her carpets.
Winfrey goes on to demonstrate how to get the poop out of the carpet using clear soda. She doesn’t add anything and allows her chosen stain remover to bubble up, soaking the area a bit. She then goes on to blot the wet area using a cloth. The stain is visibly gone, even without much effort.
However, even after successfully getting rid of the stain, it’s still possible for some of the smell to be left behind. Effective ways to get rid of such odors include baking soda, lemon juice, or a disinfecting spray.
Also, by making sure that your room is well-ventilated, you can avoid the accumulation of bad smells in an area. Lastly, make sure to clean up after your dog immediately to lessen the possibilities of poo drying up on your carpet and other areas of your home. Also, always be quick to disinfect spaces where your dogs are known to relieve themselves. As a pet owner, it is crucial to stay on track of these areas, so that you can also routinely check if there are any droppings that your pet may have left for you.
Related Topic: How to Get Rid of Dog Poop Smell in House Using (Simple Items)
