How to Get Dog Poop Out of Your Carpet in 8 Easy Steps

Co-authored by Belgin Altundag and Nihal Shetty

Last Updated: January 24, 2022 References

Dogs might be our best friends, but they can be messy ones too. Accidents happen, and if your furry companion relieved themselves indoors, you might be wondering how to get dog poop out of the carpet. To help you out, we’ll walk you through how to clean, disinfect, and deodorize your carpet. Your carpet will be fresh and stain-free again in no time at all.

1

Remove as much solid poop as possible.

Pick up any larger pieces of solid waste to make cleaning easier. Wear gloves to limit your exposure to germs, or use plenty of paper towels to handle the poop. You can also turn a plastic bag or a poop bag inside-out, grab the poop with your hand inside the bag, then turn the bag the right way again, so the poop ends up inside the bag. ^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Belgin Altundag
Certified Dog Trainer

Expert Interview. 26 February 2021.} Dispose of the poop outside to keep the smell from lingering. ^{[2]
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Research source}
- It is better to throw it out in the trash because it may carry diseases. ^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Belgin Altundag
  Certified Dog Trainer
  
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2021.}
- You can even put a disposable diaper on your dog to avoid getting the poop on the carpet. ^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Belgin Altundag
  Certified Dog Trainer
  
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2021.}
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2

Wipe the area with wet paper towels or baby wipes

Wet a paper towel with water, and blot away at the poop residue. Alternatively, you can use a baby wipe in the same way: just blot at the affected area until you get as much poop out as possible. ^{[5]
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3

Spray soapy water or an enzyme cleaner onto the stain.

Enzyme cleaners are preferable when cleaning up pet accidents since they eat away at the markers that pets leave in their waste, but soapy water will also work in a pinch. Just spray your cleaner on the leftover stain until it’s fully saturated. ^{[6]
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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} ^{[7]
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Research source}

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4

Let the cleaner sit for 5 to 10 minutes

If you’re using an enzyme cleaner instead of soapy water, follow the instructions on the bottle if they specify how long to let the cleaner sit. ^{[8]
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5

Blot the carpet with paper towels to dry it.

Press clean paper towels against your carpet to blot up the leftover liquid. Don’t be afraid to press hard: you want to remove as much moisture from the carpet as possible. ^{[9]
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Research source}

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6

Disinfect your carpet with rubbing alcohol.

While cleaning will remove the poop, it won’t get rid of all the germs found in dog poop that can make you sick. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean rag. Then, dab the parts of the carpet exposed to poop. The rubbing alcohol will kill any germs, and should air dry quickly. ^{[10]
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7

Use hydrogen peroxide to remove leftover stains.

A handy and easily found stain remover is hydrogen peroxide. You might end up with stains if the poop has had time to set in. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to avoid accidentally whitening your carpet, and spray or pour it onto the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then place a clean cloth over the area and press it into the carpet to soak up the liquid. ^{[11]
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Research source}
- Stains can also be taken care of with a store-bought carpet stain remover. Different carpet stain removers will have slightly different processes when being used, so follow the product instructions. ^{[12]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  The Humane Society of the United States
  National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
  Go to source}
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8

Deodorize the carpet with baking soda.

Baking soda is a simple and powerful deodorizer. Thoroughly sprinkle baking soda all over the affected part of the carpet and leave it overnight to sit. Then, the next day, vacuum up the baking soda. The smell should be virtually eliminated. ^{[13]
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Research source}
- Another option is to use a pet odor neutralizer, which should be sold in most pet supply stores. These products are specifically designed to deal with these kinds of smells, and are worth investing in, especially if this isn’t your dog’s first accident. ^{[14]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  The Humane Society of the United States
  National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
  Go to source}

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How can you dispose of dog poop?

Belgin Altundag
Certified Dog Trainer
Belgin Altundag is a Certified Dog Trainer and the Owner of Happy Doggies Day Care/Day Camp in West Hollywood, California. A passionate animal lover, Belgin is knowledgeable about multiple training styles, including obedience training, problem-solving, activity training, and behavior modification. In addition to being an Animal Behavior College’s Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), Belgin has also completed the Training Cesar's Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training Programs 1 and 2 and is certified by the American Red Cross in Cat and Dog First-Aid.

Belgin Altundag

Certified Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

You can use a poop bag to collect the poop. Then throw it out in the trash because it may carry diseases.

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Question

How can I avoid dog poop getting onto the carpet?

Belgin Altundag
Certified Dog Trainer
Belgin Altundag is a Certified Dog Trainer and the Owner of Happy Doggies Day Care/Day Camp in West Hollywood, California. A passionate animal lover, Belgin is knowledgeable about multiple training styles, including obedience training, problem-solving, activity training, and behavior modification. In addition to being an Animal Behavior College’s Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), Belgin has also completed the Training Cesar's Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training Programs 1 and 2 and is certified by the American Red Cross in Cat and Dog First-Aid.

Belgin Altundag

Certified Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

You can make your dog wear a disposable diaper. It will prevent your carpet from getting dirty.

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How to Get Dog Poop Out of Your Carpet in 8 Easy Steps

Steps

Remove as much solid poop as possible.

Wipe the area with wet paper towels or baby wipes

Spray soapy water or an enzyme cleaner onto the stain.

Let the cleaner sit for 5 to 10 minutes

Blot the carpet with paper towels to dry it.

Disinfect your carpet with rubbing alcohol.

Use hydrogen peroxide to remove leftover stains.

Deodorize the carpet with baking soda.

Expert Q&A

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