If your dog has ever had an accident on the carpet, then you know just how unpleasant the smell can be. Even more frustrating is the lingering smell that sticks around even after you've cleaned up the initial stain. The best thing you can do to get rid of dog urine stains and odors from your carpet is to hire a professional carpeting cleaning service. In the meantime, however, there are some things you need to know about dealing with dog urine stains and odors.

DO Use Enzymatic Cleaners

Unfortunately, you can't use just any carpet cleaning product to get rid of dog urine stains and smells. That's because dog urine contains ammonia, which isn't easily removed with most carpet cleaners. Instead, ammonia requires a specific enzymatic cleaner to truly neutralize the smell and remove the stain once and for all. Look for enzymatic cleaners specifically labeled for use on pet urine.

DO Top with Baking Soda

Even if you use an enzymatic cleaner, it doesn't hurt to further neutralize any remaining carpet odor by sprinkling a small amount of baking soda on top of the area affected by the stain after you clean it up. Let the baking soda sit on the area for a few minutes before vacuuming it up. This can also help to keep your dog from marking on the same spot again, which is a common problem with many dogs.

DON'T Forget to Ventilate the Room

To ensure the best results with your carpet cleaning efforts, open windows and turn fans on while you're using an enzymatic cleaner on your carpets. Doing so will help provide much-needed ventilation throughout the room and will remove the odor more quickly.

DON'T Ignore the Problem

Finally, understand that many dogs will keep returning to the same spot to urinate if they aren't trained otherwise, so be sure to address the problem of your dog marking. Look for patterns in your dog's behavior. For example, does your dog mark in the guest room of your home every time you have guests over? If so, this might be a territorial issue that you will need to address with a trainer or through conditioning training.

Most dog owners deal with accidents in the home at some point, but the key is knowing how to address these carpet stains before they become too deeply set into your carpet and require a carpet replacement. Talk to a professional carpet cleaner like Front Range Steamway Inc for assistance.