How to Remove Stains and Odors Caused by Puppy Waste

There's a technique to removing stains and odors caused by puppy waste. If done properly, your carpet can look and smell as good as new.

When you're dealing with urine, the first step is to sop up as much of the liquid as possible. Keep a supply of ratty old towels on hand for this job. When you've absorbed as much moisture as possible, saturate the spot with the cleanser of your choice. Many pet owners find success using products such as Resolve, OdorMute, Nature's Miracle, Simple Solution, and Anti-lcky-Poo. Others simply use white vinegar. Avoid using ammonia or any cleansers that contain ammonia; ammonia is a component of urine, and its scent will draw your pup back to that spot again and again.

Once you've applied the cleanser, use a clean towel or rag to blot the area again. Then get a dry towel, place it over the area, and pile some heavy books on top of it. No, your puppy won't read them while he's on the toilet, but the weight of the books presses the towel into the carpet drawing out more moisture. Leave the books on the spot overnight or until the area is dry. Sprinkle the spot with baking powder to help wick away moisture and vacuum it up when the spot is dry. You can soak up moisture with a wet vacuum, too.

If you can smell that your pup has had an accident but can't find the spot, use a black light to find the stain on the carpet. Saturate the area with your chosen cleanser and follow the steps described above.

For solid waste, use a towel or rag to pick up as much of the mess as possible. Dump the stool in the toilet, and toss the towel in a bucket for a hot-water wash later on. Just as parents keep diaper pails, many pet owners keep a bucket handy to hold all the towels and rags used to clean up urine, stool, and vomit.

When you've removed as much waste as you can, apply your chosen cleanser and use another rag to get up any remaining bits. Enzyme-based cleansers that digest waste such as OdorMute are especially good for this purpose. Then get a clean towel and use a wet vacuum or the book technique described above until the spot is dry. Until your pup is fully house-trained, it's a good idea to have your carpet professionally cleaned periodically.

Most important, be patient. Taking the time to train your puppy properly early in his life will pay off many times through the years.