Dog Poop on the Carpet? How to Get It Out Without Making a Bigger Mess

Poop goes by many names — dung, doo-doo, caca, night soil, business — but whatever you like to call it, the one thing we can all agree on is that it should never be on the carpet. Unfortunately, if it does happen, don’t panic! We’ve got all the poop-cleaning info including a DIY recipe and 8 steps to effectively clean it up and stay calm when the dog lays a dookie on your favorite rug. Or, if you were unlucky enough to step right into the mess, learn about the easiest ways to clean dog poop off of your shoes.

Have other bodily functions that happened in problematic areas of your house? We've got tips for those too. Have a look!

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Baking soda is the holy grail of poop removers. This is because baking soda contains moisture-absorbing starch, making it a miracle worker for doggy diarrhea or other liquidy accidents.

Baking soda is also a celebrated odor remover that works by absorbing unpleasant scents instead of just masking them. Bonus: Baking soda is a natural, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly alternative to other moisture-absorbers and odor-removers on the market.

Step 1: Don’t let the stain sit for too long!

Try to take care of, er, business, sooner rather than later. The longer the stain sits, the harder it’ll be to get out.

Step 2: Wear protective gloves.

Your #1 goal is probably to avoid any skin-to-poo contact, so slip on your gloves, make sure they are on there tight, and get to work.

Step 3: Scrape off excess poop with a baby wipe.

Remove the poo in question with a baby wipe or a thick, barely damp paper towel. Then scrape off any excess with a fresh wipe or paper towel. Pinch the carpet fibers to pick up as much of the poop as possible.

Step 4: Prepare your DIY cleaning solution.

Combine the following in a bowl:

• 2 cups cool water
• 1 tablespoon non-bleach dish soap
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Grove tip: Double check that your dish soap doesn’t contain bleach — bleach mixed with acids (like vinegar) result in toxic fumes.

Step 5: Spray, blot, repeat.

Spray or pour a little solution onto the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, then blot — don’t rub! — until the stain is no longer visible. This could take a few rounds, depending on how big your dog’s business was, so don’t get discouraged if the stain doesn’t disappear immediately. Take it slow and remember — no rubbing. Only blotting.

Step 6: Rinse.

After the stain is gone, pour some cold water over the area, then blot it up with a cloth or paper towel to remove any leftover cleaning solution.

Step 7: Deodorize.

Sprinkle baking soda over the previously stained area to get rid of any lingering odor. Allow it to sit anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight to ensure the smell is completely gone.

Step 8: Vacuum your carpet.

After the baking soda has absorbed the poop’s nefarious aromas, vacuum it up.

Before you go forth and remove poop stains from your carpet, we’ve got a few more tips to make the whole process easier — and safer.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you’re using a commercial cleaner, check the manufacturer’s instructions before dousing your carpet in it. Some products are harmful to your carpet if they sit for too long.

Avoid rubbing a stain on carpeting.

Blot, don’t rub! Rubbing drives the poo particles deeper into the carpet fibers, resulting in a mess that’s much harder to get out — and a smell that may never leave.

Test an inconspicuous part of the carpet.

Test your anti-poo formula on a small, hidden patch of carpet first to avoid permanently damaging any high-traffic areas. This applies to both commercial and DIY cleaning solutions.

Never mix cleaning products — especially those that contain bleach.

There’s a time and a place to play mad scientist (a dark castle in the dead of night, for example,) but concocting a mixture to clean up your dog’s poop isn’t the time or the place. Mixing cleaning products — especially if they contain bleach — can create dangerous or toxic gases.

Find out more about why you should never mix bleach and vinegar for cleaning here!