Love your pets but turned off by the nasty odors they leave behind? If you have pets in the home it’s inevitable that accidents happen and stains and odors will be in your future. However, treating these messes doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

Here are three proven methods to remove pet stains and odors from your carpet.

1 – Try A Homemade Solution

DIY cleaning solutions can save you money and trips to the store, and are generally effective and eliminating surface stains.

Before putting any of the following solutions on your floors, be sure to test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t discolor your carpet. Also, don’t scrub too hard as this can push the stain farther into your carpet fibers. Gently blot the affected area instead.

Baking Soda And Vinegar

Cover the stained area in vengar, then sprinkle baking soda on stop. Cover the stain with a dish or towel then wait 1-2 days. Scoop up the dried baking soda, rinse with cool water, then blot dry with a towel.

Dishwashing Detergent

In a spray bottle, combine a quarter teaspoon dishwashing detergent (not dish soap or laundry detergent) with a cup of warm water. Spray on the stain, repeat as needed, then towel dry.

Ammonia

Rinse the stained area with a solution of two tablespoons ammonia and one cup of water. Towel dry.

Hydrogen Peroxide

In a spray bottle, mix four tablespoons hydrogen peroxide, two tablespoons warm water, and a couple drops of dish soap. Spray on the stain, rinse, and towel dry.

2 – Use A Store-Bought Stain Remover

Instead of making your own cleaning solution, try a stain remover you can buy in a bottle. Be sure to look for formulas that are non-toxic for your pets.

Blot away as much of the stain as you can first, then try a solution like Resolve, OxiClean, or Spot Shot. Rinse the area to remove residue, then towel dry.

It’s key not to use too much cleaner as this leaves behind sticky residue that makes the problem worse.

3 – Schedule Routine Professional Cleanings

While the solutions above may work in the short term, it’s important to remember that these will only remove surface stains.

Pet urine soaks deep into your carpet fibers, leaving potent odor crystals deep beneath. These will continue releasing odors and bacteria into your home unless eliminating with a professional treatment.

While it’s important to keep up with spot treatments and maintaining surface stains, remember to schedule a professional pet urine removal treatment at least twice each year.

5 Steps to Clean Pet Urine Stains from Carpet and Rugs with Carpet Cleaning

“With any stain, it’s best to tend to it and treat it as soon as possible for the best results,” says Chris Albers, Marketing Director at Carbona, a stain-removal product company.

The following steps will help you clean pee stains from the carpet effectively so that you don’t have any leftover residue:

1. Soak Up the Urine 

Using a thick layer of paper towel, blot the stain to remove as much moisture as possible.

2. Apply Distilled White Vinegar and Water

Distilled white vinegar is the go-to household item to get rid of pet urine stains. “Dilute vinegar with water for a 1:1 ratio and spray on the stain,” recommends Caitlin Sole, senior associate home editor for Better Homes and Gardens online. To make sure the vinegar is safe on your area rug or carpet, first spot-test on a small corner or discreet area, Sole adds.

3. Let It Sit 

Once applied, let the vinegar sit for a few minutes before blotting dry. Repeat as necessary to remove odors.

4. Ensure That All Odors Are Gone

Baking soda is an excellent ingredient to help eliminate stubborn odors for good. “Sprinkle it on your rug or carpet as needed, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes or longer for set-in odors,” Sole says. The editor, who owns a Great Pyrenees, will sometimes let the baking soda sit overnight for best results.

RELATED: 5 Tips for Getting Pet Odor Out of Your Home & Belongings with carpet cleaning

5. Vacuum 

Once the area is dry, thoroughly vacuum the carpet to remove any excess baking soda and check the stain to make sure it’s really gone.

How to Handle Old or Seriously Stubborn Pee Stains 

In an ideal world, you’d catch your pet in action, but there are times when it takes days to notice a pee stain on your carpet. In that case, you might need to level up and use an over-the-counter enzyme-based cleaner.

Carbona’s Oxy-Powered Pet Stain & Odor Remover, for instance, is an enzyme-based cleaner that removes cat and dog pee stains and neutralizes odors to keep pets from returning to the scene for repeat accidents. Rocco & Roxie’s Stain and Odor Eliminator is also a popular choice among pet parents to remove urine stains and smells.