How to Clean Up Dog Diarrhea

Co-authored by Nat Ismaeil

Last Updated: December 2, 2024 Fact Checked

It's what any dog owner dreads: you get up in the morning only to discover that the dog has had an upset stomach overnight and there is diarrhea all over your floor. Cleaning up this kind of mess the correct way is very important because stains look unsightly and you don't want the bad smell to linger in your house. In addition, any lingering odor could draw the dog back to the same spot to use it as a toilet again in future. To avoid all these problems it is important to clean and deodorize the area quickly and effectively. ^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning Diarrhea From a Solid Surface

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Wear disposable latex gloves to protect your hands from getting soiled. Also, have an open plastic bag close by, so that you can dropped soiled items into the bag, rather than risking them dripping through the house on the way to the garbage can.
2
Clean the feces up. You want to remove it before it dries onto the surface, as it will be harder to clean up if it does. Wiping up the diarrhea is best done by mopping it up using disposable paper towels or old towels, which can be thrown away afterwards. .
- When removing the feces, always work from the outside in to not spread the contamination.
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3
Use a cleaner on the area. You need to disinfect the area and make sure that your dog doesn't think that it has a new bathroom spot. Use a cleaner that is safe for your floors first. This will make sure the area is physically clean. Then you need to use a pet odor neutralizer. This will get rid of any smells that might invite your dog back to the same spot. ^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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- Pet odor neutralizers are available at any pet store. Just make sure that the one you choose is safe for the surface you are cleaning.
- Avoid products that contain optical brighteners.
- Always test a cleaning product in an inconspicuous area.
- Follow the cleaning instructions on the label, and follow the mixing instructions for safe use.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cleaning Diarrhea From a Carpet

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Wear disposable latex gloves to protect your hands from contact with the feces. Get a plastic bag so that you can drop soiled items dirt into. The goal is to avoid spreading the mess anywhere else in the house.
You want to get to it before it dries onto the surface. This is best done by mopping up using disposable kitchen paper, or by using old towels which can be thrown away afterwards.
3
Remove as much of the feces as possible. If there is fecal matter caught in the carpet, try using the side of a butter knife or cake slice lifter in a sideways stroking motion to try and encourage the matter to the surface and pick it free.
- This should be done before you introduce any cleaners to the surface.
- When removing the feces, always work from the outside in to not spread the contamination.
4
Blot the area and rinse the area until you can't see the feces anymore. Once the bulk of the "spill' is gone, press down gently onto it with a paper towel, or other type of disposable towel, to mop up as much moisture as possible. Be sure to avoid excessive amounts of pressure, as this can push the debris deeper into the carpet.
- Then spritz the area with cold water and blot again, repeating until all visible signs of the feces are gone. The goal is to rinse the area without fully drenching the area with water, as this could drive the stain further down into the carpet and cause wicking issues. Always be conservative with fluid when cleaning carpets.
- Try to avoid rubbing the carpet where possible. This can damage the fibers, thus altering the texture and appearance.
5
Consider using a carpet cleaner. If you have a wet-dry carpet cleaner run that over the area. The cleaner will soak the area in carpet shampoo and suck it out again. Be sure to spend plenty of time concentrating on sucking up the soiled shampoo, so that you remove as much of the soiled water as possible.
- Repeat this several times for maximum benefit.
- If you do not own a wet-dry carpet cleaner then consider hiring one or employing a professional carpet cleaning company to do there best. However, be aware that diarrhea can and does stain, so if you cannot get the carpet cleaned swiftly, (before it dries fully) then consider using these alternative methods by hand.
- For every wet stroke, run 2-3 dry strokes to capture as much of the moisture and cleaning solution as possible.
6
Use a solution of biological washing detergent on the area. ^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} The dog mess contains protein and biological washing detergent is good at breaking this down because it contains enzymes.
- Spray the area with this solution and then soak up the excess.
- To clean the solution out of the carpet spray the carpet with clean water and then blot it up as you did with the solution.
- The benefit of this method is that it is good at removing odor, so even if the carpet is marked there is a reduced risk of odor attracting the dog back.
- Test any cleaner on your carpet before using it. Test the color-fastness of the carpet in a discrete spot, where you won't notice too badly if the color does run.
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Consider using a household product if you don't have a commercial product to use. You can sprinkle bicarbonate of soda into the carpet, then rinse with water. You can also use diluted vinegar to clean up the mess. ^{[4]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} This cleaning solution is approximately one to one mix of white vinegar and water. So to 1 pint of white vinegar add 1 pint of water in a bowl. Soak the area with the mix and then blot. Repeat as many times as needed.
- An alternative cleaning solution that has a strong deodorizing properties can be made by mixing 16 fluid ounces of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of dish-washing liquid and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Work this into the stain and leave it to soak in for 5 minutes. Absorb the excess with paper towel. Then use fresh water to rinse the area and gently mop up the excess with absorbent material.
- As a final step you can sprinkle the area with bicarbonate soda and let it sit for an hour or so. This will pick up any lingering scents. Simply use your vacuum to pick up the bicarbonate soda when it is done.