Urine smell in a rug - what to do

What to do in the first minutes

1. Blot Put a clean cloth or paper towel on it and press until it no longer soaks anything up. Do not rub, because rubbing pushes the liquid deeper and spreads the stain.
2. Cover it and weigh it down Put clean, absorbent material on the spot and press it down with something heavy until it dries.
3. Find the whole area Smell around the stain too and lift a corner of the rug. A damp or dark area on the backing shows how far the urine has gone.
4. Test the product If you use a product, first try it on a hidden spot, because it can change the colour.
5. Take photos Photos of the top side and the underside will be useful if you have the rug cleaned later.

Why urine smell in a rug comes back

A rug has several layers: the pile, the backing, and the underlay or the floor under it. Urine can reach all these layers, but home cleaning usually reaches only the surface. So the smell can come back, especially if the urine has reached the backing.

What not to do, and why

• Products containing ammonia: Feline VMA warns that to a cat they smell of urine and can attract the cat back.
• Hot water and a hair dryer: on wool, hot water together with rubbing causes felting, and the rug can shrink; this usually cannot be reversed.
• Chlorine bleach and strong products: they can change the colour.
• Soaking the rug in the bath or using a lot of water: moisture goes into the backing and the floor, and the area of the smell can become larger.
• Carpet shampoos on a valuable rug: conservators write that after them dirt sticks to the fibres faster.

Home recipes with baking soda, vinegar or ammonia differ between sources, and none of the sources shows that they are safe for a particular rug. If you still try something, test it on a hidden spot. Veterinary organisations, such as the ASPCA, mention enzyme products for pet urine. Test those on a hidden spot first too.

How to remove dog urine from a rug

The steps are the same: blot, do not rub, no heat, no ammonia, test the product on a hidden spot. If there have been accidents in several places, photograph each spot while they are still visible.

If the cat urinates repeatedly

For repeated urination or marking, the MSD Veterinary Manual advises first ruling out health causes with a vet. International Cat Care writes that a heavily soiled material stays attractive to a cat for marking even after cleaning, and if possible it is thrown out. An underlay that urine has reached may also have to be replaced.

When to have the rug professionally cleaned

It is worth having the rug professionally cleaned if the smell stays after first aid, if the urine has reached the backing, if the rug is wool, silk or hand-made, or if the stain is large. Urine or odour treatment, extra: from €3/m², added to the cleaning price. Example: a 2 × 3 m synthetic rug at home with urine treatment is €36 and €18, so from €54 in total. The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45.

More on the job and prices: rug cleaning for urine and urine smell. If the urine is also on the floor and walls and the whole room smells, see: smell treatment for the whole room.