Removing dog smell from carpet: how to get it truly fresh again

You love your dog, but probably a little less the smell it leaves behind in your home. A carpet acts like a sponge for odours. Whether it's the typical 'wet dog' smell coming from the coat or a little accident with urine: the stench can linger stubbornly in the fibres.

Want to remove that pungent dog smell from your carpet without having to throw out the whole rug? In this article, we explain why this smell is so hard to fight and give you a step-by-step plan for both general coat odours and specific urine stains.

Why does my carpet smell of dog?

To tackle the smell effectively, you need to understand what it is. The typical dog smell doesn't just consist of dirt.

1. Sebum and skin oils: Dogs have an oily layer on their skin (sebum). When they lie or roll on the carpet, this grease soaks into the fibres of your rug. This grease turns rancid and attracts bacteria, which causes that musty smell.
2. Dander and hair: Dead skin cells sink deep to the bottom of the carpet and form a breeding ground for bacteria.
3. Moisture: Does your dog come in wet? The bacteria in the coat multiply rapidly due to moisture, which intensifies the smell.

Simply vacuuming does remove the hair, but the grease and bacteria stay behind. So removing dog smell from carpet requires an approach that dissolves grease and kills bacteria.

Situation 1: Removing a general, musty dog smell

Does the whole carpet smell musty? Then the baking soda method is the safest first step. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) neutralises acidic odours and absorbs moisture and grease.

Step 1: Vacuum thoroughly

Use a vacuum cleaner with good suction power and preferably a turbo brush. This lets you loosen as much hair and dander as possible from deep in the pile.

Step 2: Spread baking soda

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the carpet. Don't be stingy; it needs to be able to absorb the smell. Use a soft brush to gently sweep the powder between the fibres so it also reaches the bottom.

Step 3: Let it soak in

Patience is key here. Leave the baking soda for at least one night. Make sure the dog (and children) don't walk on it during that time. The longer it sits, the more grease and odour it absorbs.

Step 4: Vacuum it up

The next day, vacuum the carpet very thoroughly. You'll notice that the musty smell has largely disappeared.

Tip: For an extra fresh scent, after vacuuming you can lightly mist a mixture of 1 part natural vinegar and 3 parts water over the carpet (don't soak it!). Vinegar breaks down odour molecules and the vinegar smell evaporates on its own.

Situation 2: Removing dog urine smell from carpet

An accident calls for a completely different approach. Urine contains uric acid, which dries into crystals. When these crystals become damp (for example due to high humidity in your home), the ammonia smell is released again. That's why you sometimes suddenly smell an old stain again on a warm day.

Follow this plan for removing dog urine smell from carpet:

What NOT to do:

• Don't use a steam cleaner: The heat of steam causes the proteins in the urine to bond to the carpet fibre. This permanently sets the stain and the smell.
• No ammonia or bleach: To a dog, ammonia smells like urine, which actually encourages it to pee in that spot again.

The solution: Enzymes

The only way to really break down urine crystals is with an enzymatic cleaner (available at pet shops). Enzymes 'eat' the bacteria and proteins that cause the smell.

1. First blot up as much fresh urine as possible with kitchen paper.
2. Clean the spot with cold water and blot dry.
3. Apply the enzyme cleaner generously and let it soak in according to the packaging.
4. Then let the carpet dry thoroughly.

The ultimate solution: Deep cleaning

Tried the household remedies but the dog smell in the carpet keeps lingering? Then the dirt is probably too deep in the fibres or the backing of the carpet.

In this case, a spray-extraction cleaner (spot cleaner), such as the Achaté Spot Cleaner, is the best choice.

• How it works: The device sprays a cleaning solution deep into the fibres (to loosen the dog grease) and immediately sucks the dirty water back up with powerful suction.
• Result: You not only remove the source of the smell, but also truly rinse the carpet clean without leaving it soaking wet. This is the most hygienic solution for households with pets.