How to Clean Dog Diarrhea from Carpet: Easy & Effective Methods

We love our dogs and everything that comes with them! However, sometimes, they make a mess that requires more than soap and water to clean. When your dog has diarrhea on your carpet, you might be tempted to throw it away, but we have some solutions you can try to remove the stain and odor.

So, without further ado, here are a few practical methods for removing the diarrhea stain and odor from your carpet.

Preparation

First, you need to clean the stain as soon as possible. The longer the diarrhea sits, the harder it will be to remove the stain and smell.

Next, be sure you have the appropriate supplies.

You might want to grab your face mask or wear a clothespin on your nose while you’re at it (helpful but not necessary).

Now you’re ready to tackle the mess! Before you start cleaning up the diarrhea, you should take your dog into your backyard. You certainly don’t want multiple messes while you’re trying to clean up the first one!

This first method is for any carpet material (nylon, acrylic, polyester, etc.) except wool. We’ll give you instructions for wool carpets afterward.

The 6 Steps to Clean Dog Diarrhea From Regular Carpet

1. Remove the Excess

Put on your gloves, and start by carefully removing the waste without pushing it further into the carpet fibers. You can use a paper towel or anything you have on hand. Try to pull the pieces up and away without pressing them further in, and dispose of the diarrhea in a plastic garbage bag. Keep the bag handy; you’ll throw out other dirty paper towels as you clean.

If the diarrhea is old and has dried, you can use a dull knife to lift the mess out of the carpet.

2. Blot

Once the excess has been removed, you should blot it with paper towels to remove the last of the mess. You can also use wipes or a cloth and press lightly into the stain. Avoid rubbing, or you will end up rubbing it into the carpet fibers. Again, dispose of dirty paper towels in the garbage bag you have on hand.

3. Spray with Cleaning Solution

You can use a commercial formula designed to lift pet stains. We like to use enzyme-based cleaners because they're incredibly effective.

Our favorite enzyme cleaner for eliminating pet smells and stains is our very own Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.  It makes clean-up a breeze because it permanently removes even the very worst smells and stains (urine, feces, vomit, you name it!) from basically any surface you can imagine. 

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You can also make your own cleaning solution:

Mix together the three ingredients in a clean spray bottle. Spray on the solution and let it sit for about 10 minutes, then blot until the liquid is absorbed. Continue adding cleaner and blotting until the stain has disappeared.

4. Stubborn Stain

If the stain is still present after doing this several times, you can try applying hydrogen peroxide. Just sponge it off with cold water and blot it gently until it’s dry. Do not follow this last step if your carpet is made of wool.

5. Cold Water

Once you’ve removed the stain, spray or sponge the area with a small amount of cold water and blot it up with a new paper towel or cloth. This will remove the remaining cleaning solution from your carpet.

6. Baking Soda

The last step involves sprinkling baking soda over the area and letting it sit for at least 10 minutes or possibly overnight. Vacuum it up, and you should be all done! The baking soda will help eliminate the odor, so you’ll want to leave it on longer if the smell is particularly pungent.

How to Clean Dog Diarrhea From Your Wool Carpet (6 Steps)

Wool carpets need slightly different ingredients for cleaning. Otherwise, they are more likely to be damaged or discolored.

1. Remove the Excess

This is the same as the first step for other carpets. You must remove as much of the excess diarrhea as possible and place it in a plastic garbage bag.

2. Blot

Again, like the second step above, carefully blot away any excess diarrhea. Do not rub the stain; you will push it further into the fibers.

3. Spray with Cleaning Solution

This homemade cleaner differs from the solution we provided previously. For this you’ll need:

• ⅓ cup white vinegar

• ⅔ cup cool distilled water

Mix the two ingredients and pour them into a clean spray bottle or container. Spray the stained area and blot with a clean cloth or paper towel, and remember, don’t rub! Continue blotting and spraying until the stain disappears.

4. Stubborn Stain

If the stain doesn’t come out using this method, add dish detergent or a laundry detergent that is safe for wool to your mixture. If you use dish detergent, ensure it doesn’t contain bleach or ammonia. Try testing this mixture in a small, inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t discolor your carpet.

5. Cold Water

Spray or pour a small amount of water on the area and blot dry to help remove the excess cleaning material.

6. Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda over the area and let sit for at least 10 minutes or as long as overnight if the odor is particularly bad. Once it’s done, vacuum up the baking soda, and your carpet should be almost as good as new!

A Few Notes

Now that it’s clean, let your carpet dry completely and check it again. You might need to repeat the process a few more times to completely remove the stain.

The process will be much simpler if you already have a steam cleaner. Just follow the instructions for your cleaner, and you’ll have a sweet-smelling, sanitized, and clean carpet!

You might also want to invest in a pet spray that breaks down the enzymes to prevent a repeat occurrence. If you can’t smell the poop, your dog might still be able to, thanks to his amazing sense of smell. Just be sure to check that it’s safe for the fabric of your carpet (especially if it’s wool).

Conclusion

Unfortunately, part of owning a dog also includes cleaning up occasional messes. As long as you act quickly, your carpet should survive, but of course, make sure your pup is okay as well. You can spend money on a commercial product or save some and make your own, but with a little elbow grease, you should have your carpet looking (and smelling) back to normal.

See also:

• Oriental Rug Pet Stain Removal (3 Potential Methods)

• How To Get Rid of Pet Odors in a Carpet (4 Potential Methods)

Featured Image Credit: ALEX_UGALEK, Shutterstock