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Carpet cleaner pet stain: The 6 Best Carpet Cleaner Solutions for Pets in 2023

The 6 Best Carpet Cleaner Solutions for Pets in 2023

By

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim

Ashley is a product reviewer who is passionate about writing service-focused content that brings joy into people’s lives. From home decor to pets, she loves to cover everything lifestyle. Her over 10 years of experience has included writing for TIME, AOL, and Fundera.

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Updated on 03/06/23

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The Spruce/Jhett Thompson

To help you erase any evidence of your pet’s organic messes—muddy paws, pee, poop, and puke—from carpets and rugs, we purchased 31 popular and bestselling stain and odor removers for testing in our New York Lab.

During testing we stained beige carpet squares with mud, wolf urine, and a simulated vomit mix that included a vinegar component for easy smell identification. Each cleaner was tested on all three stains, with our testers following the cleaner’s instructions then taking notes about how effectively stains were removed and odors eliminated. Each test was conducted twice too, once with fresh stains and once with stains that were allowed to set-in overnight.

Our overall favorite is OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover which is easy to apply and primarily uses Safer Choice ingredients—sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate—to lift stains and remove odors.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

OxiClean Carpet Stain Remover at Amazon

Best Enzymatic:

Kids ‘N’ Pets Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover at Amazon

Best Budget:

Woolite Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover at Amazon

Best Scented:

Angry Orange Ready-to-Use Citrus Pet Odor Eliminator Spray at Amazon

Best Enzymatic Carpet Shampoo:

Nature’s Miracle Carpet Shampoo at Amazon

Best for Fresh Stains:

Woolite INSTAclean Permanent Pet Stain Remover at Amazon

 Amazon

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Our Ratings

  • Effectiveness

    5/5

  • Ease of Use

    5/5

  • Value

    5/5

  • Scent

    5/5

  • Odor Elimination

    5/5

What We Like

  • Removed odors and stains in ten minutes

  • Inoffensive fresh scent

  • Most effective in tests

What We Don’t Like

In our lab testing OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover was our top-performing carpet cleaner in every evaluative category, from its effectiveness to its odor elimination. This stain treatment makes it easy to address messes quickly, and its effectiveness is hard to overstate.

During testing, OxiClean was the most effective cleaner against fresh stains and accompanying odors from mud, urine, and simulated pet vomit. It was still effective against set-in stains, but took two treatments before eliminating a stain fully. It has a light, fresh scent that smells clean, and the nozzle on the bottle is easy to adjust, allowing you to efficiently mist a target area.

OxiClean combines sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, surfactants, and polymer to remove oils and lift stains. Both sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate are on the EPA’s list of safe chemical ingredients for use in the home. The formula is colorfast, but we recommended testing in a small, discreet part of your rug or carpet to see how the dye reacts.

The instructions are very easy to follow: simply spray, blot, and vacuum, and most stains and odors will be eliminated within ten minutes. Once you are done using the cleaner in your home, the areas you treated are safe for pets and kids, though you should never expose either to a spot that is actively undergoing treatment.

Price at time of publish: $18 (2-pack of 24-ounce bottles)

Safe Around Kids & Pets: Yes | Enzymatic Cleaner: No | Sizes: 24 ounces | EPA Safer Choice Standard: Yes

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  • The Spruce/Jhett Thompson

  • The Spruce/Jhett Thompson

  • Jhett Thompson

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 Amazon

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What We Like

  • Uses enzymes to break down stains made from biodegradable matter

  • Cruelty-free, Non-toxic

  • Light fresh scent

  • Best cleaner for removing urine odors

What We Don’t Like

Enzymatic cleaners like Kids ‘N’ Pets All-Purpose Stain + Odor Remover use the same class of chemicals as your body does for breaking down organic components in food. Since bodily fluids like feces and urine also contain organic proteins, they can be effectively countered by enzymatic cleaners, which break down complex organic molecules into their constituent parts. This makes them especially useful for tackling pet urine, since enzymatic cleaners can break apart uric acid and ensure that smell is gone for good.

For vomit and urine, full saturation from the spray cleaner paired with hands-on agitation was able to eliminate the odor and their associated smells. The spray has a light and fresh scent that dissipates. But while enzymatic cleaners are best at breaking down organic messes, we were surprised to find that Kids ‘N’ Pets All-Purpose was also great at tackling mud stains—though it did require two treatments to fully remove,

Kids ‘N’ Pets is never tested on animals and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals. In addition to rugs and carpets, it can be used to clean most water-safe surfaces such as clothing, bedding, and mattresses. The look of the label has been slightly updated since we tested it (it’s now blue and yellow without any red), but the product formulation is the same.

Price at time of publish: $14

Safe Around Kids & Pets: Yes | Enzymatic Cleaner: Yes | Sizes: 27, 128 ounces | EPA Safer Choice Standard: No

Jhett Thompson

 Amazon

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Our Ratings

  • Effectiveness

    5/5

  • Ease of Use

    5/5

  • Value

    5/5

  • Scent

    4/5

  • Odor Elimination

    4/5

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize came very close to receiving a perfect score, coming in second to our pick for Best Overall, OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover. It removes stains, kills 99.9% of bacteria, and deodorizes smells. It has a thicker consistency which made it more difficult to spread over treatment areas, but it’s an effective cleaner across all categories and safe for use in a home with pets and kids.

The bottle has two spray settings to help you target the mess with enzymes to dissolve proteins in the organic matter left behind by your adorable pet. It has an artificial fragrance that provides a fresh scent that we did not find overwhelming.

Price at time of publish: $5

Safe Around Kids & Pets: Yes | Enzymatic Cleaner: No | Size: 22 ounces | EPA Safer Choice Standard: Yes

Jhett Thompson

Amazon

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What We Like

  • Light citrus scent

  • Paraben-Free, Sulfate-Free, Phthalate-Free

  • Safe to use on most household surfaces

  • Fully removes detectable odors overnight

  • Available as ready-to-use spray and concentrated formula

What We Don’t Like

The Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator Spray is safe to use on a variety of surfaces where you may encounter a stain and odor left behind by your furry friend including carpet, hardwood floors, tile, upholstery, car interiors, and more. It is made with real oranges, including the peel, and leaves behind a sweet citrus scent that we found appealing.

As with most cleaners, fresh stains from urine, vomit, and mud were easier to get out, with set-in stains requiring a second pass. Angry Odor was particularly useful for saturating a stain overnight, with a strong scent that overpowered even wolf urine effectively.

We did find, however, that using Angry Orange took a little more elbow grease, since the instructions call for working the cleaner into a lather once its been sprayed on to a surface. Despite that, we did not find it overly foamy.

Price at time of publish: $20

Safe Around Kids & Pets: Yes | Enzymatic Cleaner: No | Sizes: 2, 24, and 128 ounces | EPA Safer Choice Standard: No

Nature’s Miracle Carpet Shampoo.

Amazon

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Our Ratings

  • Effectiveness

    5/5

  • Ease of Use

    3/5

  • Scent

    5/5

  • Odor Elimination

    3/5

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

We found Nature’s Miracle Carpet Shampoo to be extremely effective in our testing trial, but the scent of the product, while it was foaming up and getting to work, smelled worse than the stain. Thankfully the unpleasant smell was temporary, while its deep cleaning effectiveness fully and permanently eliminated both fresh and set-in stains. The shampoo can be used on its own (like we did for testing) or with a steam carpet cleaner to clean carpets and upholstery. The formula is color-fast and our test carpet looked as good as new after cleaning, but we always recommend testing in a hidden spot before a full application.

Price at time of publish: $17

Safe Around Kids & Pets: Yes | Enzymatic Cleaner: Yes | Size: 65, 256 ounces | EPA Safer Choice Standard: No

Jhett Thompson

 Amazon

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Our Ratings

  • Effectiveness

    4.5/5

  • Ease of Use

    5/5

  • Value

    5/5

  • Scent

    4/5

  • Odor Elimination

    5/5

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Eradicate fresh stains and odors in under a minute with the Woolite INSTAClean Permanent Pet Stain Remover. This cleaner comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle to quickly saturate messes from pets on rugs and carpets.

During our lab testing, new stains and odors were easy to remove with very little manual agitation needed. For set-in stains, allowing the product to sit for five minutes, as stated in the instructions, brought about the successful removal of the mess. An older, impacted stain from mud was the most challenging stain for this product but we did see noticeable improvement after two treatments.

The product has a delectable scent that we felt was more manageable than many of the other cleaners we tested, not too sweet or too powerful. Once the cleaner is dry, the surfaces cleaned are safe for kids and pets, and we did not witness any discoloration.

Price at time of publish: $17 for a pack of two, 22-ounce bottles

Safe Around Kids & Pets: Yes | Enzymatic Cleaner: No | Size: 32 ounces | EPA Safer Choice Standard: Yes

Jhett Thompson

Final Verdict

OxiClean Carpet & Area Rug Stain Remover is our top recommendation for removing pet stains and odors from carpets and rugs. Set-in stains may require more than one treatment, but the effectiveness of this cleaning spray is reliable and the formulation is color-safe. If you are looking for a cleaner with fewer chemicals, our pick for best scent Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and has a natural citrus scent. It effectively removes odors and stains but might require more treatments.

Before testing, we consulted with Jessica Ek of the American Cleaning Institute, who advised that cleaners used around pets should primarily use ingredients identified on the Safe Chemical Ingredients List created by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The agency evaluates cleaning product ingredients for human and pet health for factors including carcinogenicity, reproductive/developmental toxicity, toxicity to aquatic life, and persistence in the environment.

The EPA also provides a searchable database of products that meets their Safer Choice Standard. We’ve noted in product descriptions when products we’ve tested meet this standard. Also look for the Safer Choice logo on the label of your pet cleaners.

Testing the Best Carpet Cleaner Solutions for Pets

We purchased 31 carpet cleaners for testing in our New York Lab. Each cleaning solution was paired with a dedicated 24 by 24-inch square of beige carpet that was divided into six quadrants. We tested three different types of stain twice each, once cleaning up a fresh version of the stain, and the second time by allowing a stain to set-in overnight.

Carpet squares with fresh and set-in stains.

Jhett Thompson

Our organic matter consisted of:

  • Diluted wolf urine to substitute for pet pee
  • Food broth mixed with vinegar to mimic pet vomit
  • Soil mixed with water to create mud

Before applying any cleaning solution, excess solid waste from any of the stains was removed by hand or vacuum.

Removing solids from test surface.

Jhett Thompson

We then followed the instructions for each cleaning product setting a timer to record how the product activated upon contact and the duration of the treatment.

Blotting carpet cleaner.

Jhett Thompson

Our methodology instructs testers to make their own observations in a variety of categories: Ease of Use, Odor Elimination, Scent, Effectiveness, and Value.

Sniff test for detectable odor.

Jhett Thompson

This roundup was written by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. When Gidget was potty training, Nature’s Miracle Carpet Shampoo helped Gidget learn where not to pee by eliminating the urine scent (and saving Anna’s sanity). Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, she embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.

A previous version of this article was written by Ashley Knierim, a freelance writer who resides in Columbus, Ohio with her two crazy rescue dogs. 

The 8 Best Cat Pee, Odor, and Stain Removal Products of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

How to Clean Pet Stains From Carpet

 Stain type  Protein-based
 Water Temperature  Room temperature

Before You Begin

The site of a pet accident often will be fairly apparent visually. If not, you can typically locate the affected area by smell. If both of these processes fail, you can use a black light to detect areas where accidents have occurred. Unless you remove all traces of the stain, your pet might continue to use that spot to relieve itself.  

If you spot the accident while the area is still wet, then immediately try to soak up as much of the moisture as possible. The more liquid you can get up before it dries, the easier and more successful the entire process will be.

  1. If there are pieces of vomit or feces, use a plastic bag to pick them up off the carpet, being careful not to further embed anything into the fibers. Work especially fast with vomit because the acid in vomit can quickly discolor carpet fibers. 
  2. Drop paper towels onto the affected area, and firmly blot the carpet. Rags can be used for this as well, as long as you later sanitize them in the wash.
  3. Remove the paper towels. Then, put a fresh set down, and press firmly once more. Repeat this process until a dry paper towel is no longer picking up much moisture.
  4. Place a final layer of paper towels over the stain, and apply heavy foot pressure for at least a minute. (Make sure you are wearing shoes for this!)
  5. Remove the paper towels. Now, you are ready to apply a cleaning solution to lift the stain and odor.

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

The 9 Best Carpet Stain Removers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Equipment / Tools

  • Spray bottle
  • Soft-bristle brush
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Carpet cleaner machine (Optional)

Materials

  • Paper towels
  • White vinegar
  • Water
  • Hydrogen peroxide (Optional)
  • Baking soda (Optional)
  • Liquid dishwashing soap (Optional)
  • Carpet cleaner shampoo (Optional)

Remove Pet Stains With Vinegar

  1. Mix Ingredients

    Mix a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% lukewarm water in a clean, empty spray bottle. The vinegar will act to neutralize the stain and eliminate much of the odor. Make enough solution so you’ll be able to thoroughly soak the pet-stained section of carpet.

  2. Spray the Stained Area

    Apply the solution liberally to the stain. Spray enough so that it soaks down into the carpet and the pad underneath.

    Warning

    If treating a pet stain on an area rug that’s over a wood floor, move the area rug off the wood before saturating the stained area with liquid.

  3. Scrub the Stained Area

    Work the solution thoroughly into the stained carpet fibers. Use a soft-bristle brush to prevent damage to the fibers. An old toothbrush is good for small spots, but you’ll want a larger brush if the pet stain is extensive.

  4. Blot Dry

    Blot the area dry with a clean cloth or paper towels. Allow an area rug to dry completely before laying it flat on a wooden floor.

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Remove Pet Stains With Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

If there is still staining or an odor after cleaning with the vinegar solution, you can try a combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. These products will break down the stain, kill bacteria, and absorb odors.

Tip

Before getting started, you might want to test this process on a small, discrete section of the carpet first to ensure that it won’t discolor the fibers.

  1. Apply Baking Soda

    Sprinkle a generous handful of baking soda on the stained area, making sure it covers all the affected carpet fibers.

  2. Mix Your Solution

    Mix 1/2-cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 cups of water in a clean, empty spray bottle. You can also add a teaspoon of plain dishwashing detergent if you wish for extra cleaning power.

  3. Spray the Stain

    Spray this solution over the baking soda, saturating the area well. Be sure the entire stained area is covered with both baking soda and the spray solution. You’ll see some bubbling action as the vinegar reacts with the baking soda. Again, if the stain is on an area rug over a wood floor, remember to lift the rug to prevent floor damage.

  4. Scrub the Stain

    Work the solution into the carpet using a soft-bristled brush. An old toothbrush is good for a small spot. Use a larger brush for more extensive stains.

  5. Let Dry Before Vacuuming

    Leave the solution to dry for an hour or two. Once it’s dry, you should just see dry baking soda on the carpet. Vacuum up the baking soda.

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Additional Tips for Cleaning Pet Stains From Carpets

If the stain persists despite cleaning with vinegar and the hydrogen peroxide/baking soda treatment, you may want to try using a carpet cleaning machine, which can be rented from most home improvement centers or even many grocery stores if you prefer not to purchase one, or don’t already own such a device.

These machines forcefully flush the carpet with clean water, along with added detergent if you choose, and then vacuum out the resultant dirty water. This is particularly useful for pet stains, as the water can reach deep into the carpet fibers and then draw out any residual waste particles along with odor. However, when using this type of machine, it’s best to clean all of the carpet in the room, rather than only the stain, as otherwise you could be left with a noticeably cleaner section of carpet than in the rest of the space.

Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for using the carpet cleaning machine. Generally, you’ll need to hook it to your sink with the included water hose or fill a reservoir with clean water before getting started. Once the machine is prepared, you use it much like a regular vacuum cleaner, working your way in one direction and then the other across the entire area of carpet.

Let the carpet dry completely before walking on it or replacing moved furniture.

Warning

Never use a steam cleaner to deal with pet odors and stains. The heat from this process will set the stain on the carpet, making it permanent.

How to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet for Good

Carpet cleaning if there are animals in the house

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04.02.2022

In most cases, pets live with us in houses and apartments. Cats and dogs bring a lot of positive emotions, but they require special care and attention. To maintain cleanliness, cleaning must be carried out regularly and more thoroughly. This is especially true of carpets, in which, in addition to dust and dirt, pet hair accumulates. Here are some valuable tips for quick and efficient cleaning.

We clean the carpet from wool

Regular dry vacuuming prolongs the life of carpets. It removes the main dust and wool from carpet surfaces. Most often, carpets in the living room or bedroom need to be vacuumed at least once a week. More polluted places in the apartment are recommended to be vacuumed more often. Rugs in the hallway or on the stairs, mats in the kitchen get dirty much faster and require more frequent cleaning.

Before vacuuming the carpet, you can spray a 1×1 solution of water and fabric softener onto the carpet surface. This procedure will make the villi stick together a little, which will facilitate further cleaning with a vacuum cleaner.

During cleaning, you can use several simple “traps” for wool: the adhesive tape will stick hairs and dust particles on itself. Also on sale you can find brushes for collecting wool.

Removing stains and odors from the carpet

A fresh stain from a beloved pet should be thoroughly blotted several times with a paper towel. When the pile of the carpet dries, soak it locally with a solution of vinegar with the addition of water and blot it again with a dry cloth. Repeating the procedure will improve the effect. Then, to eliminate the smell, sprinkle the place with soda or citric acid, let it dry, then vacuum it. You can apply a special carpet cleaner, let it dry and vacuum again.

We strongly advise you to provide your pets with their “private” places for sleeping, playing and toileting. The mode of hygiene, walks and regular combing is also important. In combination with our simple cleaning secrets, you will maintain freshness and cleanliness in the house, and the carpet will bring joy to all household members for a long time!

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Odor Removers

We all love our pets, but sometimes even the best pet can ruin your carpet. Despite the effort we put into training, unpleasant surprises can happen in the house, especially when it comes to kittens and puppies, as well as older animals. Cat and dog urine stains are problematic for two reasons: first, they contain germs and bacteria that cause disease; and secondly, ammonia leaves an unpleasant odor even after everything has already been washed. The ideal way to clean is to use a pet odor remover that not only removes bad odors but also provides a hygienic cleaning.

How to get rid of cat urine smell and stains from carpets?

Cleaning cat stains can be divided into three separate steps: remove urine, remove solids and get rid of odor. There are some great ways to help you.

Urine removal:

1) Take an old bath towel and blot up any excess liquid. It is best to do this as quickly as possible while the stain is still wet. Use a white or light colored towel to prevent the carpet from discoloring.

2) Use a special cleaner purchased from a pet store. Apply it directly to the carpet and leave to dry. Don’t Use Regular Carpet Cleaners: Cat and dog urine cleaners contain special chemicals designed to break down the stubborn substances in your pet’s urine.

3) You can try cleaning a fresh stain with a solution of one part water and one part vinegar or a colorless mouthwash containing alcohol. Leave one of the solutions on the stain for 30 minutes, allowing the product to absorb.

4) If you use an electrical carpet cleaner, use it to remove moisture. Or you can remove it with a clean bath towel.

5) Let the carpet dry and vacuum as usual.

Solid soil removal:

1) Some animal soil is very easy to remove with a paper towel or disposable gloves.

2) Unfortunately, some of these dry soils are not completely dry. In this case, take a piece of cardboard and try to remove as much dirt as possible, especially from the fibers of the carpet. It’s best to always do this right away, before everything has dried.

3) Mix dish detergent or laundry detergent in warm water and gently work on the remaining stain. Shake the solution well: the more foam, the better!

4) In both cases, before blotting, drying and vacuuming, you can apply pet odor remover, mouthwash or a homemade mixture of water and vinegar.

Odor Removal:

1) The smell of cat urine, and what is there, and dog urine too – cannot be pleasant. After removing stains, you will always need to use a pet odor remover.

2) To solve the problem quickly, naturally and effectively, sprinkle the cleaned stain with baking soda or unused coffee grounds. Sprinkle the entire surface well, without missing a centimeter.

3) Leave the mixture on the stain for several hours – preferably overnight. Vacuum in the morning and the smell will disappear.

How to remove animal hair?

Of course, not only cat urine or dog feces spoil the look and smell of the house. Often, wool comes to the fore. In spring and summer, when dogs and cats shed after winter, she is literally everywhere! Here are some tips for getting rid of hair and fluff.

● Vacuum the carpets and furniture thoroughly first to collect as much hair as possible.

● The best way to get rid of hair is water. Use a damp sponge, or even baby wipes, to gather the fur in one place so it’s easier to pick it up and throw it away.

● In small areas, can be cleaned with Velcro or adhesive tape, which perfectly cling to hairballs.