I love my cats, and believe every cat parent does the same. But when they poop on your carpet, the mood is absolutely ruined.
After we’re done mourning our ruined carpet, the second thing that comes to our mind is how to get cat poop smell out of carpet. It is foul and ruins the overall environment of the room, and to be fair, nobody wants to deal with it.
To deal with this horrible situation, I have come up with my thorough research.
Potty train your cat at your own pace while I tell you my own personal experience on how to get cat litter smells out of carpet.
In this blog, we will walk through what you need to know how to get cat poop smell out of carpet. It involves the tools you will need before you start, a comprehensive step-by-step guide, and so on. So stay tuned!
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How To Get Cat Poop Smell Out of Carpet: Step-by-Step Approach
It is a task to get rid of the cat poop as well as its smell out of the carpet. But I did it quite easily with the right approach.
I believe you can do it just as swiftly if I tell you what you need to do with the basics. This is why I have a curated step-by-step guide on how to get cat poop smell out of carpet naturally. I recommen you to go through this before you begin with your cleaning process.
Remove the Solid Waste
Look, I get that removing solid waste from the space is disgusting. But this is the least you can do for your cat, right? So bear with me, because this is the most disgusting step. At the same time, the next processes get swifter and easier.
So first, wear gloves to pick up the solid waste and discard it in your trash can.
If you are dealing with liquid feces, make sure you blot it with the paper towels, wait for it to dry up a little and then throw it away.
Wash the Spot With a Mild Cleaning Solution
For the next step, you can use a mild cleaning solution to clean up the area that has been left to make sure the remaining poop on the carpet gets washed away, and there is no residue that is left there.
You can use different types of mild cleaning solutions like a white vinegar solution, a mild dishwashing soap solution, or hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide works effectively in both cleaning and removing the lingering smell.
I advise you to use it carefully, and if you are dealing with carpets that are made from delicate and natural fibers, I advise you to skip using hydrogen peroxide and only use homemade solutions for the cleanup of carpets.
Break Down Stains
Now that we have cleaned the solid waste from the carpet, the stains remain a task that you need to deal with.
For this, you can use enzyme cleaners. I personally recommend them because they are safe for the environment, as they use bacteria and enzymes to break down the organic matter that is present on the surface.
Use a good enzyme cleaner on the stained and soiled area to clean up the mess.
Let the Carpet Dry Completely
Now let the carpet dry out completely so that there is no moisture left in it. Moisture is any fiber’s greatest enemy, as it is the breeding ground for bacteria and fungus to follow in.
So make sure that your carpet is completely dry before you proceed with the last step on our how-to guide.
Deodorize the Carpet
You have completely cleaned the carpet and still have not gotten rid of that pungent and stinky smell.
I get it; it’s disgusting and ruins the overall environment of your space where your carpet is placed.
For that matter, fabric deodorizers are your one-and-only solution here. These deodorizers work wonders, as they come in different scents. However, your feline friend does not really like the citrusy or fruity smell too much.
So there is a small piece of advice from me to you: avoid getting those with these scents.
Your safe alternative is baking soda. It doesn’t contain any essential oils that can be toxic to your cat, and it’s a great way to remove odors. Sprinkle it over the area and let it sit for around 5- 6 hours and it will remove the odor completely.
Homemade Solutions For How To Get Cat Poop Smell Out Of Carpet
When I encountered cat poop odor on my carpet, my first instinct was to purchase commercial products filled with chemicals. However, I recently came to know that the answer to how to get cat poop smell out of the carpet is homemade solutions.
They are just as effective. You have tons of options that you can use to clean your cat poop stains; trust me, they are just as effective!
A white vinegar solution is first on my list. Mix one part white distilled vinegar with 2 parts water, put it in a spray bottle, shake gently to combine, and you have your white vinegar solution ready to use for cleaning and spraying over the area.
The next is baking soda, which is a natural odor absorber. It neutralizes acidic and alkaline compounds and absorbs moisture from the carpet.
You simply need pure baking soda to clean your carpet. You can also use a mild dish soap solution.
A mild dish soap solution is gentle and does not contain harsh chemicals, and is the perfect solution to how to get rid of cat poop smell naturally.
It lifts the organic matter from the carpet fibers by creating foam over the affected area. Just dampen the carpet gently, stir the area with a brush, and rinse with water.
Things You Will Need To Get Cat Poop Smell Out of Carpet
If you are thinking of cleaning your carpet but do not know where to start, you can first start by gathering the cleaning supplies.
The supplies are pretty basic and can be easily found at any corner of your house: the kitchen, the rooms, etc.
You will need things like a kitchen towel or a paper towel to blot the stained area with, a vacuum cleaner to remove the remaining waste, some mild solution cleaners or hydrogen peroxide, enzyme cleaners for cleaning the stained area, Dawn dish detergent, and a fabric deodorizer to remove the smell from the carpet after you have cleaned up the area thoroughly.
All of these materials are pretty easy to gather and to find, so I advise you to get them before you start with the cleaning procedure so that the process goes swiftly for you.
How to Keep Your Carpet Safe from Cat Poop
I believe that precautionary measures are necessary because when your carpet is ridden with the disgusting cat poop of your feline friend, nobody is voluntarily willing to clean it. W
e all do it because, well, do we even have any other option? This is why, in this section, I will walk you through the precautionary measures that you can take.
First of all, please maintain clear litter boxes and change the litter regularly. If litter spills and starts smelling, you need to know how to get cat litter smells out of carpet (which we have already discussed in previous sections so take a peek!) before it becomes a bigger problem for you. Next, monitor your pets and their behavior.
Moreover, provide the cats with more than one litter box. For one cat, a minimum of two litter boxes, should be placed in different locations. I would also suggest using carpet protection.
Last on my list, which I myself have performed, that has prevented me a lot of soiling in future is: placing washable mats and carpet protectors in high-risk areas where your cat might potentially soil them.
If your carpet is new, apply stain-resistant carpet treatments to it, so even if your pet has soiled them, you can easily get rid of the stain.
Cleaning Mistakes What is Making Your Odor Worse
There are a lot of user discussions surrounding how to get cat poop smell out of carpet reddit. Trust me, I myself have made more than one mistake while cleaning my cat’s soiling off my carpet.
This is why addressing them becomes important for me to keep you informed, so that you don’t repeat them the way I did.
If you are procrastinating your due cleaning, over time, the fecal matter sinks into the fibers and padding.
So, make sure that you are taking prompt actions, as soon as you spot tha your feline friend has done something bad to your carpet.
The second is, using harsh chemicals. If you are using bleach or ammonia to clean the carpet, they can react with compounds present in feces rapidly, and make the odor stronger.
So, ensure that you are only using mild solutions which I have discussed previously in the blog.
Not drying the carpet correctly. Moisture trapped in carpet padding breeds bacteria and produces new odor compounds.
Make sure the carpet is completely dry. Also, using steam cleaners on the carpet. The heat that comes from the steam cleaners activates the odors that bond them permanently to the fibers.
How To Get Cat Poop Smell Out Of Carpet When The Odor Won’t Go Away
You might be wondering how to get cat feces smell out of carpet when you have cleaned it thoroughly, and it is still not going away. The answer is a professional carpet cleaner.
They are your last way out of saving your soiled carpet. For me, the normal cleaning procedures worked, but if that wasn’t the case for you, a professional carpet cleaner can do so for you.
So, watch out for these signs to consider when to call a professional carpet cleaner.
If the odor persists after 2-3 applications of the enzyme cleaner. It means that the odor has reached the carpet padding or the subfloor, which the DIY cleaning cannot reach.
If the carpet soiling is older than 24-48 hours, and the odor has already settled into the carpet that the home cleaning cannot get rid of, it needs professional cleaning.
The smell keeps coming up even after washing the carpet; it is best to take it to a professional cleaner. If the padding of the carpet is visible or damaged, it cannot tolerate self-cleaning and can further get more damaged.
Conclusion
In this blog, I have discussed most of what you need to know before you can begin with your cleaning process.
Let your furry friend lose for once and forgive them for what they did! We have walked through everything we need to know about how to get cat poop out of the carpet.
Just make sure you have your patience and follow the procedures accordingly to know how to get cat poop smell out of carpet fast. If you rush things, not only will your time and efforts be wasted, but your carpet may get ruined too.
If you are dealing with a delicate fiber carpet, such as a Persian rug or natural fiber rugs, make sure to consult a good carpet technician before taking the matter into your hands.
So stay informed and aware of how to get cat poop out of the carpet and what you need to do about it. Now, you are good to go.
FAQs on How To Get Cat Poop Smell Out Of Carpet
Can poop stains permanently damage the carpet?
It depends on whether the poop stain is fresh or not. If the poop stain is fresh and is cleaned as soon as possible, the stain is not likely to damage the carpet. However, if the stain is there for a while, then it can become harder to remove and can potentially damage the carpet.
What kills the smell of the poop?
A lot of agents, like baking soda, white vinegar, enzyme cleaners, and hydrogen peroxide, kill the smell of the poop easily. All of these kill the bacteria that cause these odors. You can try out baking soda first since it’s cheap and easy. If the smell stays, you can use vinegar and enzyme as well.
Will cat poop smell get away?
If you use the right methods and tools to treat the area, then it definitely can. Cat poop has a strong odor because of bacteria and organic material. You are supposed to clean deep into the carpet fibers to remove the source of the odor.
What dissolves cat poop smell?
Out of all the cat poop smell dissolvers, enzyme cleaners are the best option. They contain enzymes that break down organic compounds, which are the prime reason for smell. They are more effective than regular cleaners. You can use baking soda, vinegar solutions, and hydrogen peroxide to dissolve the cat poop smell.
Tammy Steffen is a professional cleaner, writer, and editor with over 12 years of hands-on experience in the cleaning industry. She specializes in home cleaning, rug cleaning, furniture cleaning, dry cleaning, deep cleaning, and practical maintenance solutions that help readers create cleaner, healthier living spaces. As an editor, writer, and reviewer for apartmentsneed.com, Tammy researches, reviews, and develops accurate, easy-to-follow content based on real-world experience and industry best practices. She is committed to providing reliable, well-researched guidance that empowers readers to make informed cleaning and home care decisions they can trust.
