How to Get Dog Poop out of Your Carpet in 8 Steps

The last thing you want is to walk around with a bundle of poop wrapped in a paper towel in your hand, looking for a plastic bag. Get everything you need near the area, so you can get right down to business. Also, now’s the time to put on your disposable gloves—you don’t want to directly touch the poop since it carries bacteria like E. coli and fecal coliform.

Once you have everything ready, use a damp paper towel or baby wipe to pick up all the solid pieces. If your furry companion has diarrhea, use a spoon to capture as much of it as possible. Be careful not to rub the poop into the carpet—this can embed the poop deeper into your carpet, which isn’t what you want. 

If it's old hard poop you’re just finding, use a paper towel to pick up the firm pieces, and then use a fork to loosen up and remove any poop that dried on the carpet. If you don’t have a disposable spoon or fork handy, dispose of the utensils you used once you’re done.

When you’ve scooped up all the poop you could remove, place it in a plastic bag to dispose of later to limit its exposure. Plus, placing it in a plastic bag lets you keep any odor trapped inside.

There are various methods to get your carpet poop-free. While an enzyme cleaner is typically considered the most effective method, sometimes you must use what you have on hand. Let’s look at how you can rid your carpet of dog poop: 

Saturate the Spot with an Enzyme Cleaner

The enzymes break down organic material found in dog poop, penetrating your carpet deeply and allowing it to clean stains from the carpet. To get the most out of your cleaner, saturate the area with it after removing all the poop. Spray 1 inch around the stained spot to ensure no smell (or poop) is left behind. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best method on how to use your carpet cleaner. You’ll usually need to let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.  

Make a Homemade Cleaner

If you woke up at 3 a.m. because your four-legged family member had the runs, you probably just want to clean up the mess as best you can with what you have. If that’s the case, the next best way to clean dog poop from a carpet is to make a DIY carpet stain remover. You’ll need:

• Two cups of warm water

• One tablespoon of liquid dish soap

• One tablespoon of distilled white vinegar

Once your DIY solution is prepared, saturate the immediate area and 1 inch around it for added measures. Then, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. 

However, it’s worth noting that vinegar isn’t recommended on wool carpets since its acidic nature can potentially damage or discolor it. Test your mixture in a hidden area to ensure it won’t hurt your flooring. Also, you’ll want to use a dish soap that doesn’t contain bleach since it can discolor your carpet.

Once your cleaner has time to sit, blot the stain dry with a soft cloth. If you need help removing the remaining liquid, lay the cloth on the stain and place a heavy object on top.

For most stains you catch early, one round of cleaner should do the trick. But for more stubborn stains, you may need to repeat the above steps until the stain and smell are gone. If you’re using the homemade solution and it’s still present after another round, consider letting it sit for a few hours. 

This step might not be necessary if you use an enzyme cleaner, but it doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions. After the stain is gone, sprinkle baking soda in that spot to help deodorize it and remove any lingering smells. Allow the baking soda to sit for a few hours.

After letting the baking soda sit, vacuum the spot to remove the baking soda and help lift your carpet fibers. 

Cleaning Dog Poop Out of Carpet: DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Getting poop stains out of your carpet is a fairly straightforward DIY job. Most homeowners can take care of these accidents on their own with everyday household products. However, if you have an old or natural fiber carpet or used both methods repeatedly and there’s still a stain and smell lingering, you might need to call a carpet cleaner near you. These pros have experience removing stubborn stains, and have the necessary products to do the job without damaging your carpet. Carpet cleaning costs $180 on average.