As much as we love our four-legged friends, there’s no getting around the fact that accidents happen, even with the most well-trained pets. And for some reason, they often have a way of happening smack in the middle of your favorite carpet. Whether you’re house-training a new puppy, caring for an elderly dog who couldn’t make it until the walk, or giving a foster or rescue dog a refresher course, learning how to remove stubborn dog pee smell out of carpet and upholstery comes with the territory. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with a funky-smelling house, and even worse, if dog urine odors aren’t properly removed, some dogs will become repeat offenders. Never fear: Vital Oxide is perfect for cleaning up even the toughest messes. 

Read on to learn why your dog may be peeing in the house and how to eliminate the smell and stains with Vital Oxide. 

Why Do Dogs Pee in the House? 

Often called "inappropriate urination" by veterinarians, house soiling is a relatively common problem in dogs, but one that’s usually resolved early on during puppyhood. If your dog is still a puppy, house training might not be complete just yet. House training typically takes four to six months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. The house training process is about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement, plus having the right tools for clean-up once accidents happen (more on that in a moment!). 

On the other hand, if your dog is house trained and the inappropriate urination began well after house training was complete, other potential reasons for the behavior include urinary tract issues, incontinence, and behavioral problems. Start by consulting with your veterinarian to rule out any potential health issues. If your vet rules out any health problems and your dog continues having accidents, consider consulting a dog trainer or behaviorist to get to the root of the issue. 

Related: Why Cat Urine Smells So Bad – And What to Do About It 

Vital Oxide is a Must-Have for Dog Owners 

Cleaning up dog accidents and soiled items quickly and effectively is a must to break the cycle of inappropriate urination. Cleaning is most effective when it’s done soon after an article was soiled, and odors must be neutralized – not just deodorized – to escape a dog’s keen sense of smell. With dog urine, using an odor neutralizer is a must. 

Our goal is to help you maintain a fresh-smelling home and clean up fewer pet messes in the future. Vital Oxide harnesses the cleaning power of oxygen – in the form of stabilized chlorine dioxide – to break down the organic proteins that cause lingering urine odors and encourage pets to repeat their actions. 

Vital Oxide is designed to be used in any room of your home and can be used on carpets, couches, pet bedding, floors, and even in your car! Vital Oxide has ​​The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval and is safe for use on stain-protected carpet and fabric finishes. Vital Oxide can be used as a carpet pre-spray, as a spot treatment for pet stains and odors, or in the tank of hot-water extraction units to neutralize tough odors and sanitize carpets. While Vital Oxide can be diluted for specific uses, it must be used full-strength for odor removal. 

Here’s how to use Vital Oxide to clean and neutralize tough dog messes: 

How to Clean Dog Urine from Carpets and Upholstery 

1. To clean fresh urine stains from carpets, rugs, and upholstery, use a wet/dry vac or paper towels to remove as much of the urine as possible, being careful not to rub it in. Repeat the process until the area is almost completely dry.
2. Rinse the area with warm water mixed with a small amount of baking soda to dilute the remaining urine and neutralize the uric acid. 
3. Repeat the first step to blot up as much urine and water as possible. 
4. Spray Vital Oxide full-strength on the area to eliminate odors and stains. Allow Vital Oxide to dwell on the soiled carpet or furniture for 10 minutes. Be sure to use enough of the formula to penetrate the carpet or upholstery fibers and all places the urine may have infiltrated and simply let air dry. Use a fan to dry the carpet or upholstery faster, if needed. 
5. For heavily soiled carpet or upholstery, consider using a carpet cleaner or hot water extractor (with Vital Oxide added to the tank) to clean up the mess, following the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning for best results. Allow Vital Oxide to dwell on the soiled carpet for 10 minutes. Then, do not rinse. Instead, use an extraction wand and dry stroke carpet to remove excess moisture. After cleaning, allow the carpet to air dry for at least eight hours (ideally overnight) or use fans to speed up the drying process. 

NOTE: Before using any product on your carpet, always test it on the fibers in an inconspicuous spot to ensure it does not cause discoloration. Spray the solution on the fibers. Let it sit for five minutes and then blot with a clean white cloth. If there is color transfer, do not use the product on your carpet.

How to Find Hidden Dog Urine In Your Home 

You can’t banish a smell if you don’t know where it’s coming from. An old pee stain might be evident to your dog’s nose but can be challenging for your human eyes to notice, and many dogs simply can’t pass up the opportunity to re-mark a spot once it has the scent of urine. If you smell dog pee, but can’t quite find the source, try using a black light, which illuminates set-in dog pee stains, and then treat with Vital Oxide to bust the odor-causing bacteria. 

At Vital Oxide, we’re proud to offer a revolutionary product that’s powerful enough to banish tough odors without harsh chemicals or alarming safety ratings. If you have any questions on how to use Vital Oxide, please Contact Us or Send Us a Message on Facebook. We're here to help!