Man's best friend? How to get dog poo out of the carpet 

You’ve dreamed of this moment since you were small – taking home your four-legged bundle of floof, nuzzling into his soft, silky fur, gazing in awe as he sniffs and explores every nook, cranny and crevice of his new home. Dog, meet carpet. Carpet, meet dog. It's a match made in heaven… until he makes that face and the inevitable happens. But getting dog poop out of carpet fibres is no biggie – and we’re sure your faithful friends would help clean it up, if only they could! 

Having a pet is all about accepting life’s messy moments, and all the love your dog gives you is payment enough for a bit of poop removal, right? So, when you next spot dog poop on the carpet, don’t panic – we’ve got your back. Let us show you how to get dog poop out of carpet fibres with our top tips on what to use and how to do it.  

How to get dog poop out of carpets – the essential first step  

It’s not a matter of life or death, but you’re probably going to want to clean the dollop of dog poop on the carpet as fast as is humanly possible. If your butter-wouldn’t-melt pooch has done you a solid – literally, send out a little message of thanks to the universe. Yep, it’s gross, but cleaning dog poop from carpets is far worse if it’s runny and spreading.  

Pull on your rubber gloves and pick up that poop with a sturdy piece of cardboard or kitchen towel. It’s a balancing act of speed and accuracy, so go slow enough to be sure you’re not pushing the dog poop onto rug/carpet even more. Just don’t try to blot – you’ll only push it further into the fibres. Once you’ve scooped that poop, pop it in a bag and throw the smelly blighter in the bin! 

How to clean dog poo off carpets – essential equipment 

Here are the things you need to get dog poop out of the carpet:  

• Rubber gloves 
• Kitchen towels 
• Sturdy cardboard 
• Poop bag 
• Oxygen-based bleach product (like a fabric cleaner) 
• Bucket 
• Hot water 
• A strong stomach/nose (it helps)
• Laundry detergent 
• Soft-bristled brush 
• White vinegar 
• Bicarbonate of soda 
• Vacuum cleaner 

If the smell really takes your breath away, you might want to cover your nose and mouth with a bandana/facemask/scarf. But we know you’ve got this. 

Tip: Plenty kitchen towel stays strong when things get wet and messy, so it's perfect to use when cleaning dog poop from the carpet. It will protect your hands from getting in touch with that poop and It's strong enough to deal with a poop clean-up job without falling apart. Phew. 

How to clean dog poop from carpets – step-by-step method 

Now onto the method. It’s worth pointing out here that when you’re dealing with dog poop on rug or carpet fibres, it pays to know what material you’re working with. Acrylic, nylon, polyester and polypropylene can all typically stand up to hot water and scrubbing, but wool can’t, so it’s best to call in the pros in that instance. It’s also worth mentioning that whenever you try out a new cleaner, test it in an inconspicuous area first. 

Right, here’s how to clean dog poo off the carpet: 

1. If the poop is solid, remove the excess (as explained above). 
2. With gloves on, pre-treat the stain with an oxygen-based bleach product (like a fabric stain remover). Pour a little on the area and let it soak in. 
3. Next, pour a bit of laundry detergent into a bucket of hot water (about two splashes of detergent to 4 litres of water). Pop that solution over the stain and let it work its magic for about 15 minutes. 
4. Then, grab your soft-bristled brush, dip in your cleaning solution, and scrub, scrub, scrub. Work from the outside in, so you can contain the stain.     
5. Once the stain’s disappeared, get some fresh clean water and rinse off the soapy solution. 
6. Now it’s time to dry the area with kitchen towel, blotting gently to remove the liquid. 
7. So that’s the stain dealt with, but what about any lingering smells? When it comes to how to get dog poop smells out of carpet fibres, white vinegar can work a treat. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, pour the solution over the affected area, and let it do its thing for a few minutes before blotting dry with kitchen towel. 
8. Want another tip for how to get dog poop smells out of carpet fibres? Once everything’s dry, you can sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda over the area, leave it for 24 hours, and then vacuum it away. Just keep your little poo-monster away, as it can be dangerous for dogs to eat large quantities of bicarb.  

Congrats – you now know how to clean dog poop from carpet fibres. And your dog is still your best friend. Big sighs of relief (and barks of happiness) all round.