Dog poop smell in rug
September 7, 2022 8:33 AM Subscribe
My poor dog had liquid diarrhea on my brand-new rug and I can’t get the smell out. Things I have tried: multiple rug shampooings although with unscented BioKleen shampoo (I can’t take strong scents); soaking it in Bac-Out enzyme stuff and letting it dry; soaking it in white vinegar and then shampooing. I need your UNSCENTED top tips for eradicating poop smell, please. (Surprisingly I found nothing here on Metafilter so you all must already know the secret, right?)
I would spot test an area before you do this in a big spot but Oxyclean made into a paste. Oxyclean comes unscented and while it will smell SOAPY it should smell like a SCENT if that makes sense.
Oxyclean is a good go-to for any stain or problem that results from a bodily fluid (protein based). Anything that is a protein based stain (even sweat) should not be bleached because it will turn yellow.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:58 AM on September 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
Oxyclean is a good go-to for any stain or problem that results from a bodily fluid (protein based). Anything that is a protein based stain (even sweat) should not be bleached because it will turn yellow.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:58 AM on September 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
nature’s miracle is also the only thing i’ve found that really works. it does have a scent but that will fade over time. so yeah if you can move the rug to a basement or garage and let the enzymatic magic of nature’s miracle do its work that’s probably the best you’ll get. it was only thing that eliminated the skunk smell from my rugs and clothes after my dog was skunked and also has done great work for my puppy’s house training accidents
posted by dis_integration at 8:59 AM on September 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 8:59 AM on September 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
We use Folex and it doesn't have a scent. In our household, it has performed miracles. (Though I wonder if you also need a pet-specific enzyme cleaning solution beforehand?)
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:00 AM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:00 AM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
I think you need to use something scented and then worry about removing THAT scent after. Also, have you tried just dumping a bottle.of hydrogen peroxide on it and letting it dry? Spot test carpet first.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:34 AM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:34 AM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Nature's Miracle is the only thing I've found that works as well. I'd use it liberally for the poop smell and then leave the rug out in the outdoor sun to freshen up for however long that takes.
posted by cgg at 9:46 AM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by cgg at 9:46 AM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
The best stuff I've ever used is Mister Max Anti Icky-Poo, which does have an unscented version. If you've already used other products on the spot, you'll need to pre-treat with P Bath. I've used Nature's Miracle, and this stuff is WAY better.
posted by slkinsey at 9:49 AM on September 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by slkinsey at 9:49 AM on September 7, 2022 [5 favorites]
Is it an actual portable rug? The only success I've ever had with this was taking it out in the driveway and rinsing with a hose and using gentle dabbing/rubbing with a cloth or rubber brush to remove all solids, then treat with anti icky poo for as long as possible (depends on if you can leave the rug out in your driveway overnight) and then rinse again, let dry before bringing in.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:54 AM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Lyn Never at 9:54 AM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
What's the material?
Don't use oxyclean/hydrogen peroxide on wool or silk, as per the green previously.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:50 AM on September 7, 2022
Don't use oxyclean/hydrogen peroxide on wool or silk, as per the green previously.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:50 AM on September 7, 2022
Yeah, the answer is Folex.
posted by rhymedirective at 11:05 AM on September 7, 2022
posted by rhymedirective at 11:05 AM on September 7, 2022
Response by poster: To answer the several questions, it’s an 11 x 16 polypropylene rug.
posted by HotToddy at 11:19 AM on September 7, 2022
posted by HotToddy at 11:19 AM on September 7, 2022
I would take it to a specialist carpet laundry business, or if you don't have any nearby, to a launderette with very big machines and wash it in cold or cool water, preferably with the detergent for delicate textiles you prefer for wool and silk. Do not use a dryer. The professional way to clean rugs is to wash them. When my dog was younger and he only rarely pooped or puked on the rugs, I would take them to the cleaner, or in summer: wash smaller rugs in my washing machine, bigger rugs in the kids' inflatable pool at our farm.
However, now I share my apartement with young people who are apparently constitutionally unable to hide their chocolate and other candy from the dog, and he poops and pukes regularly on the antique kelim I have borrowed from my brother. And after more than a year of trial and error, I have finally figured out that if I use Vanish Carpet and Home Textile Spray, and then use a lot of water in the mopping-up proces, I get a clean carpet with no smell. I use a sponge and a bucket of water to mop up all the stain and the residual cleaner. It takes a while, so I haven't cleaned up all the stains yet, but I have seen that it works just fine on old stains. Now is summer, dry and hot, so the rug has dried up very rapidly after washing. I suppose in winter, I can use my blow-drier to dry it up and avoid any water damage beneath the rug.
posted by mumimor at 12:01 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
However, now I share my apartement with young people who are apparently constitutionally unable to hide their chocolate and other candy from the dog, and he poops and pukes regularly on the antique kelim I have borrowed from my brother. And after more than a year of trial and error, I have finally figured out that if I use Vanish Carpet and Home Textile Spray, and then use a lot of water in the mopping-up proces, I get a clean carpet with no smell. I use a sponge and a bucket of water to mop up all the stain and the residual cleaner. It takes a while, so I haven't cleaned up all the stains yet, but I have seen that it works just fine on old stains. Now is summer, dry and hot, so the rug has dried up very rapidly after washing. I suppose in winter, I can use my blow-drier to dry it up and avoid any water damage beneath the rug.
posted by mumimor at 12:01 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
You need to start with enzyme cleaner, of which Natures Miracle is the best known, but there are others out there. That's sort of the gold standard.
The next step is putting it out in the sun. I had a surprising amount of success recently with a dog urine stained antique wool rug that I was afraid to use enzyme cleaner on by hauling it out into the driveway on a sunny day, spraying the whole thing down with a solution of 1:4 white vinegar and water and leaving it out there for 8 hours. I did the same thing with a throw pillow that had already been through the washer and dryer with oxyclean in the washer and Mrs. Meyers basil sheets in the dryer and yet STILL smelled of pee. The sunlight and vinegar combination did the trick.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:32 PM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
The next step is putting it out in the sun. I had a surprising amount of success recently with a dog urine stained antique wool rug that I was afraid to use enzyme cleaner on by hauling it out into the driveway on a sunny day, spraying the whole thing down with a solution of 1:4 white vinegar and water and leaving it out there for 8 hours. I did the same thing with a throw pillow that had already been through the washer and dryer with oxyclean in the washer and Mrs. Meyers basil sheets in the dryer and yet STILL smelled of pee. The sunlight and vinegar combination did the trick.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:32 PM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
I generously douse these types of stains in a lot of rubbing alcohol. I use 71% isopropyl alcohol and put folded towels underneath the rug (to absorb the extra alcohol) and then let it evaporate. The alcohol kills the bacteria that cause the odor.
posted by quince at 1:01 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by quince at 1:01 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have had several dogs and stuff happens. Put old towels or newspaper under the stain to absorb liquid, changing them out when soaked or really damp. I have a set of ratty towels that I wash, dry outside, and use for all sorts of unpleasantness. Anything you apply and try to blot out will leave residue. If you can use a shop vac or any tool that vacuums out liquid, that will help a great deal, as you can add your preferred cleaner with water, then suck it back out.
Nature's Miracle has enzymes and is especially effective with urine, because dogs have good noses and will mark if they smell urine, less so with poop, but it will still help with the scents in poop. I hope the dog is feeling better.
posted by theora55 at 1:51 PM on September 7, 2022
Nature's Miracle has enzymes and is especially effective with urine, because dogs have good noses and will mark if they smell urine, less so with poop, but it will still help with the scents in poop. I hope the dog is feeling better.
posted by theora55 at 1:51 PM on September 7, 2022
I would lay it face down on a sewer grate or something similar and pressure wash the poop stain from the back for half an hour. Force all the particles up through the pile and out again (otherwise they’re being washed down into the rug backing and just reattaching themselves in there).
Then use some kind of enzyme cleaner. Puracy is amazing and doesn’t smell.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:21 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Then use some kind of enzyme cleaner. Puracy is amazing and doesn’t smell.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:21 PM on September 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
polypropylene
Take it outside, hot pressure wash it, and dry it in the sun.
posted by flabdablet at 4:06 AM on September 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
Take it outside, hot pressure wash it, and dry it in the sun.
posted by flabdablet at 4:06 AM on September 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
I can’t take strong scents
I can't either, but a drop or two of eucalyptus oil in the pressure washer's water tank will probably do more good than harm.
posted by flabdablet at 4:08 AM on September 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
I can't either, but a drop or two of eucalyptus oil in the pressure washer's water tank will probably do more good than harm.
posted by flabdablet at 4:08 AM on September 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by spamandkimchi at 8:45 AM on September 7, 2022 [3 favorites]