How to Clean All Types of Dog Poop Out of Your Carpet

From puppies to full-grown dogs, accidents can happen. But why always on the carpet?

In this mini-guide, we explain how to clean dog poop out of your carpet and we break down the best methods based on whether you’re dealing with diarrhea, soft dog poop, or dry dog poop. We always explain how to get rid of that smell.

If cleaning dog poop out of your carpet is something you’d rather leave to a cleaner, you can always book a professional, affordable cleaner on Homeaglow. 

Materials you’ll need

You’ll need the following items for cleaning dog poop out of your carpet.

• Distilled water 
• Gloves 
• Baking soda 
• Dishwashing detergent 
• Wiping material 
• White vinegar 
• Vacuum or steam cleaner 

How to clean dog diarrhea from carpet

When it comes to dog diarrhea, it’s always best to clean it as soon as you can. The longer diarrhea sits, the trickier it gets to clean out of your carpet.

Step 1: Clean up the excess mess 

When cleaning up your dog’s diarrhea, be cautious not to massage the feces deeper into the carpet. Instead, use a fork to scrape it off carefully. If the mess is still new, wipe it away with a paper towel. 

Step 2: Blot

After removing the excess feces, blot the carpet with fresh paper towels to ensure you remove the last of the poop. You can use wipes or a soft cloth if you don't have paper towels. The idea is to press lightly on the stain and not to rub, as that could cause the mess to enter the carpet fibers. When you finish doing this, dispose of whichever material you used to blot.

Step 3: Use a cleaning solution

Next, mix 1½ tbsp of dishwashing soap with 1 tbsp of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle.

Vinegar is great for carpet spills and can also handle other mishaps like removing chocolate and ash stains from your carpet.

• Spray your solution on the carpet and wait for about 10 minutes. (Remember to test on an inconspicuous patch of carpet first.)
• Then blot until the stain is removed.
• If the stain doesn't remove after doing this, apply tiny amounts of hydrogen peroxide or ammonia on the carpet. 
• Then wash it off with cold water on a cloth and blot gently till the carpet is dry. 

Step 4: Apply Baking Soda

Another amazing cleaning product is baking soda. There is no better odor-removing agent than baking soda. This is due to the moisture-absorbing starch it contains, which makes it a wonder worker at removing dog diarrhea odor, coffee stains, nail polish, chewing gum, and other liquid accidents from your carpet.

• Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area of the carpet and let it rest for at least ten minutes. 
• Afterward, vacuum up the baking soda.  

If the diarrhea smell remains, sprinkle a fresh round of baking soda on the area and leave it for up to a day. 

How to clean soft dog poop from carpet

Step 1: Remove the poop

Put on your gloves and clean up the poop immediately to prevent stains that will be hard to remove. Alternatively, you can pick up the soft poop with a large plastic spoon or some baby wipes. Afterward, scrape any leftovers with a fresh wipe or paper towel. As you do this, pinch the carpet fibers to collect as much feces as possible.

Step 2: Use a cleaning solution

You can choose to use a ready-made cleaning solution or a homemade cleaning solution. If you decide to use a ready-made solution, use the ones for removing pet stains, like enzyme-based cleaners. 

However, if you choose a homemade cleaning solution, mix 1½ tbsp of dishwashing soap with 1 tbsp of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. 

Ensure that your dishwashing detergent doesn't contain bleach, as it can create toxic fumes when mixed with vinegar. To avoid ruining your carpet, test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of your carpet. If it doesn't cause any discoloration or stain, use it on the wider affected area. 

• Spray the cleaning solution on the affected area. 
• Wait for ten minutes. 
• Then blot the solution into your carpet. Continue doing this until the carpet absorbs all the solution.

Step 3: Rinse with cold water 

Put cold water onto the treated, stained area with a saturated cloth and blot it with a clean cloth. Use a paper towel to absorb extra moisture. 

Step 4:  Apply baking soda 

Dog poop has a lingering smell, so you need to eliminate it.

• To deodorize the stained area, sprinkle baking soda and leave it for ten minutes or overnight. 
• After the foul odors of the poop have been absorbed by the baking soda, use a vacuum cleaner to clean the particles and other debris.

How to clean dry dog poop from carpet

Step 1: Remove the mess 

Pick up the dry poop and place it in a disposable bag. Be careful not to rub the poop into your carpet fiber. 

Then proceed to vacuum away all the tiny particles that might be left on the carpet. 

Step 2: Use a cleaning solution 

Make your own cleaning solution by mixing 1½ tbsp of dishwashing soap with 1 tbsp of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle.

Next, spray the area and blot it with paper towels to remove the stain and absorb any excess liquid.

Be sure to test an inconspicuous area of carpet before you begin. 

Step 3: Apply baking soda 

Sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let it sit overnight. Then vacuum the area to remove all traces of the baking soda. 

How to remove the smell of dog poop from carpet

The above techniques should get out dog poop and the smell. If you find you’ve got an odor lingering, here are some ways to remove it from your carpet and get it smelling fresh again. Whichever technique you try, be sure to test it on a small inconspicuous area of carpet first. 

Solution 1: White Vinegar and Tea Tree Oil 

To make this odor remover, you will need

• 4 oz of distilled white vinegar and 4 oz of hot water 
• Tea tree oil

The combination of white vinegar (a great cleaner with deodorizing properties) and tea tree oil results in a lovely, scented solution that can help remove the odor of dog poop. 

• Mix your solution and put it in a clear spray bottle. 
• Spray your solution on the affected area and allow it to sit for ten minutes. 
• Then remove any excess with a clean cloth. 

Solution 2: Baking soda 

Baking soda is a great and affordable way to remove the smell of dog poop from your carpet. 

• Sprinkle a little baking soda over your carpet and let it sit for an hour or more. 
• Once the baking soda has done its job, vacuum it away. 

For a more pungent odor, let the baking soda sit for longer. 

Solution 3: Enzymatic cleaners 

These cleaners are created to remove pet odors. Once you apply it to your carpet, the active compounds deconstruct the particles associated with the dog smell and leave no traces of the scent.  

Clean dog poop out of your carpet in no time

Whether it’s recent dog diarrhea or old poop on your carpet, baking soda and vinegar can get your carpet looking great and smelling fresh again. 

If you’d prefer not to get your hands dirty, book an affordable, experienced cleaner with Homeaglow.