by Dolores Moore

Created on: December 07, 2009

Every dog owner knows that even the best-trained, most well-behaved dogs sometimes have little "accidents." Being confronted by a puddle of dog urine, with its attendant doggy pong, is not a happy event at any time. Dog urine and carpeting have the potential to be a very smelly combination. You will want to deal with it fast. However, there is no need to panic, as you are bound to have the cleaning materials to hand, once you know how to clean dog urine from carpeting. Here are a few tips that should help:

1. Never, ever use disinfectant. This always reacts adversely with the ammonia in the urine, and will leave nasty stains and smells in the carpeting.

2. Never clean up dog urine with any ammonia-based cleaner. All that will happen is, the dog will be attracted to the ammonia smell and is very likely to urinate in that same place again, something you really do not want.

3. Spray the puddle with a soda syphon, or put soda water into a plastic spray bottle and cover the urine with this. Keep on blotting it up with clean cloths or old bits of towelling, until the area is completely dry. Sprinkle baking soda over this, leave for about 20 minutes, then sweep or vacuum it up.

4. Another method is to use bicarbonate of soda, in powder form, sprinkled straight onto the urine. Sweep this up once it has absorbed the offending liquid, getting up as much of it as you can. Wash the carpeting in a mild solution of warm water and bicarbonate of soda. Leave it to dry completely before you vacuum up any powdery residue. This also helps to disperse the smell.

5. Get rid of the smell of dog urine in your carpeting by using equal amounts of cornflour and bicarbonate of soda. Last thing at night, sprinkle this on the areas in need of treatment, and all over the carpeting, because it will help remove the smell and hopefully, leave the whole carpet smelling fresh, without the need for chemical air fresheners.

All dog-lovers know to expect some toilet-type accidents at some stage. One last important point to remember is - never punish the dog for making a mess or urinating on the carpet. This only makes the poor animal nervous and more likely to have further "accidents." Instead, take it out for exercise at regular times, which I am sure you do already. This actually helps to stimulate the dog to perform its bodily functions. Keep it one the lead till it does so, then praise and play with it. Hopefully, you can avoid those unexpected, unwanted puddles, but if they do happen occasionally, at least now you know how to clean that dog urine from carpeting.

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