There is no doubt our dogs, cats, and other furry friends bring a lot of fun and excitement into our lives. But if there’s one thing every pet owner wishes they could do without, it’s that distinct pet odor that lingers around the house—starting with their favorite rug.
While pungent pet odors and unsightly stains come with the territory of having four-legged family members, all is not lost. Of course, nothing beats the convenience of tossing your rugs into the wash right after a major pet accident. But if you don’t have a washable, pet-friendly rug yet (it’s never too late to get one!), here we have some tips on how to get dog smells and other pet-related accidents out of your rugs and carpets.
1. Clean the rug or carpet before it dries
Photo by: @thehylandhomestead
Your first instinct may be to run as far away from the stench as possible, but not acting fast will leave stains on your rug and encourage bacterial growth, which causes the lingering smell.
If you can, attend to the rug or carpet right after your pet pees or throws up on it, preferably while it’s still wet. For starters, blot the soiled area with a few layers of paper towels. You can also stand on top of the layers to accelerate absorption.
2. Spray the soiled spot with a mixture of dish detergent and water
Photo By: @expectinganything
Sadie Cornelius of CanineJournal.Com says cleaning your pet’s crime scene with water will typically get the job done, especially if you don’t want to use any form of chemical. But if that’s not enough, try mixing water with a few drops of dish detergent and spray it on the rug before blotting the surface with paper towels. Rinse the soiled spot with water and blot until dry.
3. Opt for a chlorine-free pet odor neutralizer
Photo by: @mod.touch
Pet accidents are not the only things that can cause that funky smell. Some pets, especially those with health issues or poor diet, can give off strong, undesirable odors that can cling to your upholstery and rug. In this case, you might want to turn to pet sprays or odor neutralizers. These concoctions come in ready-to-spray bottles and work by breaking down organic waste and killing odor-causing bacteria. Some can even remove tough stains, purify the air, and leave a nice-smelling scent in its wake.
While some deodorizers contain harsh chemicals like chlorine, there are nontoxic options that use ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, natural enzymes, charcoal, and essential oils. Be sure to follow the instructions and test a hidden area of the carpet or rug first to make sure the neutralizer doesn’t stain.
4. Treat the soiled rug with baking soda
Photo by: @maggieandherdads
If you still can’t get rid of pet urine smell out of your rug even after cleaning it, try treating it with baking soda.
“Leave the baking soda on the rug for at least two hours, if possible,” says interior designer Laura Suglia-Isgro, ASID, owner of KAS Interior Design. “I even will use a large scrub brush to gently rake the powder into the rug fibers further, if there is a particularly smelly area.”
However, it’s important to note that large amounts of baking soda can be harmful to animals, so make sure you keep your pets away from any area that you are treating. After letting the baking soda sit in the affected spot, vacuum the area thoroughly to get rid of any residue.
5. Use UV light to locate the affected area
Photo by: @daysiemeetsworld
Sometimes, it can be tricky to find your little buddy’s “oopsie” spot, especially when the pet urine or vomit has had time to dry and the smell has settled into your rug.
“One handy trick for cleaning up odors on rugs is to use blacklight to find stains. These can be purchased online and let you pinpoint where exactly the stains are, which are likely the source of the odor,” suggests Kyle Holgate of Woof Whiskers. “This is really helpful if a certain room or rug has a smell, but you’re not exactly sure where it’s coming from. It certainly beats getting down on your hands and knees and sniffing the rug yourself.”
6. Don’t forget to clean the rug pad and floor underneath
Photo by: @houseonwinchester
As you spot-clean your rug, don’t forget to clean the rug pad and hardwood floor underneath as well. For standard rug pads, spot-clean the area with warm, soapy water. Air-dry completely before placing it back on the floor.
7. If all else fails, consider a washable rug
Photo by: @poconomountaincottage
While these tips work 90% of the time, there’s always that possibility that you may have to call it quits with your soiled rug. If that’s the case, it’s good to know that you can always opt for a rug that can be easily washed in your washing machine, just like your bedsheets and duvet covers. Ruggable rugs are machine-washable, stain and water-resistant, and dog-friendly, making it easy to clean up after your pets anytime.
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28 Comments
Hello there! I really admire your blog. Every tip is amazing. I have learned lots of things like how to remove pet odor & more. These tips will save my time. Thanks for this nice blog!
I’m very interested in the washable rugs. I’ve looked on your website and not finding the color of rug I’m looking for. Will you be coming out with new designs anytime soon? I want a cream or light tan with a touch of black.
Can you use a electric rug cleaner on these rugs
Hi, Karen!
You can definitely spot clean with carpet cleaner at your discretion, as long as whatever product you use does not have chlorine bleach or fabric softener. We would recommend spot testing a small area first. However, with that said, we don’t advise doing this if it gives off “heat” or steam.
Typically we advise to vacuum and wash as per our cleaning instructions. Please feel free to use the following link for instructions and tips on how to best clean your Rug!
https://support.ruggable.com/hc/en-us/articles/360053511633-How-do-I-wash-or-clean-my-Ruggable-rug-
Thank you for your interest, Linda! Our team is constantly working on creating new designs and ideas for our customers to enjoy. We suggest signing up for our newsletter at Ruggable.com so you can be the first to know of new collections/designs and all things new here at Ruggable!
We appreciate your feedback and will be sure to let out team know about the type of designs you are looking for.😊
What are they made out of?
Hi there! Thank you for your interest in our rugs – we are happy to offer further insight into our rugs. 😊
Our woven covers are 100% polyester (the top of the cover is made of woven polyester chenille style yarn and the bottom is a polyester knit). The two layers of fabric are bonded together and made of 100% polyester. This makes it possible to recycle the cover because it is all made of the same synthetic material. Another interesting note about polyester is that the fiber does not absorb liquid. Yes, liquid will be absorbed in between the fibers but not within the fiber. This is why stains and odors wash out so easily!
The rug pad is made of polyester (95% recycled fiber). The Cling Effect™ texture is created by heating the surface (think Crème Brûlée dessert). The non slip backing is made of Thermoplastic Resin (TPR) a latex-free synthetic material that is commonly used in yoga mats.
I’ve been purchasing washable rugs for years. They have to be washed often because of the wee dogs I rescue, some are quite elderly. Just wondering if I added a little vinegar to the final rinse would it help at all. Sometimes I can still smell a faint odor of urine even after washing. I do buy inexpensive rugs or runners when I feel I need to replace them but, even then it gets quite costly after a while.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I add a scoop of Oxy Clean to get the urine smell out along with my Tide Pods. Regular detergent does not do the trick alone. I have an elderly male dog that thinks our formal living room is his pee pad. Washable rugs plus Oxy Clean has been a life saver.
Hello! That’s a great question.
When handling situations concerning pet accidents, we received feedback that if not treated right away, the odor from pet urine can still linger even after a wash! So make sure you wash it as soon as possible. Additionally, yes, customers have found success removing the smell with a vinegar wash. You may also go to your local pet store for cleaners that might help remove the odor but please make sure they do not contain bleach or chlorine.
We hope this information was helpful! Feel free to reach out to us at support@ruggable.com with any other questions.😊
Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area.
I have a black Labrador and she sheds hair every where. But, my new ruggable attracts the hair and sticks to it. Very hard to get it up. Any suggestion on what to do? I love my ruggable but this is very bothersome. Thanks
Hey there, BJ! We are sorry to hear you have experienced this issue.
Often, using your vacuum with the right settings or attachments will help in removing the majority of pet hair (perhaps even try to vacuum using the suction hose on a low setting to pick up the hair if using the vacuum normally is not as successful). Additionally, you can always wash your Rug Cover to help remove the pet hair and we have also seen customers use a lint roller when they have encountered similar situations. Our rugs are low pile so it wouldn’t affect the rug!
We hope these suggestions are helpful! For further questions or assistance please feel free to reach out to us anytime at support@ruggable.com.
Just came home from a nice dinner at my sisters house. Walked into the house exhausted and ready to call it a night but something was stinking !! My 13 year old Aussie has been known for having stomach issues. Walked into the hallway and there it was my first thought was I’m to tired to deal with this but then I remembered . So I got the paper towel ,cleaned up the surface mess and threw it in the washer . Woke up this morning hung the rug to dry ,no smell, no stain!! I am truly amazed !!! So easy, I’m going to eventually have all my rugs replaced with Ruggables. Thanks for having a truly amazing product.
Does anyone else have problems with the black rug liner smelling of urine? I can get the smell out of the rug but how do you get the smell out of the black rug backing?
Hi, Lori! We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing this issue.
Customers have found success removing the smell with a vinegar wash/rinse. You may also go to your local pet store for cleaners that might help remove the odor but please make sure they do not contain bleach or chlorine!
After my Maltese Sadie decides she likes a spot to pee, it’s hers for keeps. I can wash the smell out of the rug in the wash, but can’t seem to get the stink out of the pad to prevent her from owning that spot!. Any tips for pad cleaning / smell removal?
Thank you!
Hey there, Caroline. We are happy to hear that you were able to get the smell our of the Rug Cover but are sorry to hear that you are experiencing this issue with the Rug Pad.
Customers have found success removing the smell with a vinegar wash/rinse. Additionally, you can also go to a local pet store for cleaners or deodorizers that might help remove the smell. Please just make sure they do not contain bleach or chlorine!
We hope this helps.
I can’t find any entries on washing the pad. Completely. We pulled up the ruggable to wash it and that night, our dog urinated on the pad. So I would like to wash it but, it appears that the washing machines is not an option. So, considering the driveway, tide, broom, and garden hose. Do you have any other options?
Great question, Mark! While the Rug Pad (bottom layer) is not machine-washable itself, it can still be cleaned.
For wet messes, spot-clean the area with soap and water using a washcloth or towel, then allow the Pad to dry laying flat. 😊
Hi. Has anyone used the product ‘My Pet Peed’ on a ruggable rug? I’m interested in purchasing one, however, I want to be sure I can use this product without damaging it. The product is fantastic at removing pet urine but damaged my wool rug.
Great question, Diana, and we hope some of our other customers may have some experience with this product to help share their own feedback!
While we are unable to confirm any possible issues and the like with this product as we have not specifically tested it with our rugs, we did want to say that there is no issue with using store bought products/cleaners on our rugs so long as they do not contain bleach or chlorine! If you want to try it out but have any concerns, we do also suggest trying to do a small spot test before using it on your entire rug.
We hope this helps offer further insight!
Does pet urine soak through both the rug and the pad to the floor below or dies the pas stop urine from reaching the floor?
Great question, Gail! Our rug cover is water-resistant, meaning fiber does not absorb small amounts of liquid. Yes, liquid will be absorbed in between the fibers but not within the fiber. This is why stains and odors wash out so easily! Liquid also does not pass through the washable Rug cover or the Rug pad which is great for spills and pet accidents.
For best results regarding pet accidents, we recommend washing the rug as soon as possible after an accident. We received feedback that if not treated right away, the odor from pet urine can still linger even after a wash. Customers have found success removing the smell with a vinegar wash. You may also go to your local pet store for cleaners that might help remove the odor but please make sure they do not contain bleach or chlorine.
Hello, how durable are these rugs? My girl had a tummy ache and chewed on a throw runner we have as if it was grass to soothe her tummy… she ended up requiring surgery. We need to replace our current runners). Thank you.
Hi, Kelly! While our washable rugs are made with claws, pet hair, and pet accidents in mind and are pet-friendly, they are not chew-proof.
We hope this addresses your concerns. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
How often can you wash your Ruggable? Is once a week too much? The rug smells like dog dander. It really hits you in the face when you walk in the house. Thank you.
Hi, Stephanie! Great question!
There is no specific timeline on when to wash one of our rugs, we suggest washing it as needed – which can vary for every household and family! Additionally, if you are worried about washing too frequently or if accidents happen more regularly, you can also spot clean smaller messes to avoid having to wash in the wshing machine! We have a spot cleaning guide here for reference.😊
Another tip we can offer is to try a vinegar rinse/wash! This can help with neutralizing offending odors. Please note that the longer an accident/spill has to sit (especially from a pet!) the harder it can be to remove the lingering smell. Sometimes more than one wash may be needed and do be sure to remove form your washer and put it into your dryer/hang to dry as soon as possible after washing. We hope these tips and suggestions help!🙌