Lots of Dog Urine in These Rugs | Serving the Tyler Texas Community, by Gilbert's Carpet and Rug Cleaning on YouTube. 7 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 3 hours plus drying time
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Vacuum both sides of the rug to lift loose hair and grit. Lay it flat on a sloped wash floor or driveway so dirty water can run off, then wet the front and back with a hose until the fibres are soaked through.
Apply a pet enzyme treatment to every stained and smelly patch, using the dose on the label. Let it sit so the enzymes can break down the uric acid crystals rather than just masking the smell.
Scrub the treated rug with a floor scrubbing machine or a stiff brush. Work in overlapping passes across the whole rug so the enzyme reaches the backing, where most of the urine sits.
Pull a floor squeegee across the rug from the far edge towards you to push the dirty water out. Tip the rug slightly so the water runs off instead of pooling back into the fibres.
Apply a deodorising detergent over the whole rug and scrub it in again. Cover the edges and corners, since urine often wicks sideways along the binding.
Rinse the detergent out with clean water until the runoff runs clear, then squeegee the rug once more. Any detergent left behind will attract dirt and hold odour.
Squeegee a final time and check the water coming out. Repeat the rinse and squeegee if it still looks cloudy or smells of urine.
Remove the remaining water with a wet and dry vacuum, or spin the rug in a centrifuge if you have access to one. Dry it flat on a rack with airflow on both sides until it is completely dry.
Tips and common mistakes
Test the enzyme and detergent on a hidden corner first, because some wool dyes bleed when wet.
Skip steam and hot water on a fresh urine stain, as heat can set the odour into the fibres.
Wash the rug on a warm dry day and keep air moving underneath, since a damp backing grows mildew fast.
If the smell returns as the rug dries, run the enzyme step again and give it a longer dwell time.
Questions
Can I do this on a wall to wall carpet?
Not the same way, because you cannot lift and flood it. Use the enzyme and detergent steps with a sprayer and wet and dry vacuum, working in small sections and rinsing lightly.
How long does the rug take to dry?
Usually 12 to 24 hours with a fan and open windows. Wool rugs take longer, so keep airflow under and over the rug until it feels dry right through the backing.
Will one wash get rid of the smell for good?
Often yes for a single accident, but heavy or repeated marking may need two or three enzyme treatments. Old stains that reached the padding can keep releasing odour for weeks.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
