How do I clean a shaggy rug and get the “wet dog” odor out?
Written by admin on March 1, 2010 – 11:11 pm -I got a rug for free, but it smells like a dog… Its a very soft shag type rug… not like a flokati.
How can I clean it and get the odors out?
Is there a way to do this withoug renting any equipment?
I took it outside and tried to clean it with a hose and some soap… wich made me feel better, but I can still smell a yucky wet dog odor.
What should I do..?
Its a really nice rug aside from the odor… with no strange foreign objects caught in the nap or anything like that!
Tags: clean, odor, shaggy
Posted in Pet Odor | 50 Comments »
By cj on Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
Clean it with a steamer you can rent from a grocery chain usually see them at the front of the store.
Best wishes,
pup
By eedelao on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Arm & Hammer has this powder that you put on the carpet and let sit for 15 minutes and then you just vacuum it up, works great. I have two dogs and a cat and I use that and we do not have smelly carpet!
By bigez3804 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Take the rug back outside and wash it with water and a little vinegar, 1 cup to a gallon of water. Rinse it out real good, then take water that is as hot as you can stand it and dissolve about 1/4 cup of borax into it and add 2 tablespoons of laundry detergent. The vinegar will break down the musk oil that you keep smelling, the borax will lift it out and the laundry detergent will wash out the rest of the odor.
By carpet guy on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Hi
I would recommended using a disinfectant like Milgo SR (may need to go to a janitorial supply store for this and ask for a disinfectant for carpet) and put it in the rinse water. Deodorizers just cover up the smell for a while and disinfectant kill bacteria in the carpet. I would also wash the walls with this product.
Please DO NOT put anything on the carpet that was not made for carpet
From a carpet cleaner for 14 years.
By Orlando57 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
mask r kill the best is probably the dry methoed try a whole box of fresh baking soda spread on it and then let it set over night then shake it out side and then put it on no heat in the dryer on tumble with a good dryer sheet or try wet ammonia kills the smell spay it on in a spray bottle and then lightly dry it inside the dryer on noheat tumble or hang it on the porch or the line til the ammonias dry no smell
By Quite New Here on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
It must be something to do with the material it is made of. Some natural fibers like hemp,jute, abaca or ramie are naturally smelly. One of them is from the plant similar to the marijuana family. I think it was hemp.
If it bothers you, just keep it outside . You may not be able to get the smell out.
By Nicole on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Febreeze makes a pet odor formula. I was very skeptical at first, but this stuff actually works wonders on doggie smells, even urine smell if you use enough of it. And it’s way easier than trying to wash or steam clean the rug.
By Carole on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Try Fabreeze or Arm & Hammer Carpet Deodorizer (for pet odors). Hang it outside in the sun to dry.
By buffy walnuts on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I heard that wool when once wet it can be nasty good luck
By Mary S on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
rent a steamer cleaner from the store and buy the rug shampoo’s designed to remove pet odor.
By kamboj singh on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Go to some chemical store and ask for “bleech” with god smelling agent. Try this with gloves on and get the odors out. 150 ml is sufficient for that.
By Betty L on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Well if it’s not to big I would put it in the washer machine Use tide and some good fabric softener on the rinse and just stick it in the dryer and use a fabric softener in it. If that don’t work I would throw it away because they aren’t no hope for the rug pee from a dog or cat is hard to get ride of.
By pugaboo03 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Fabreez try it it may work.
By mona the 1 and only on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
WASH IT WITH NILODOR
By Intellect on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Fabreeze only works temporarily, you’ll need to get the odor out from the root, if you go to Petco, or any other pet store, they have top of the line products to remove odors, (not cheap) but the odor will be gone, ask a clerk, which is the best product.
By Matt O on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
buy some carpet cleaner or rent a steam cleaner, u can also take rugs to places that will dry clean them
By hawaiicatlynblue on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
use oust and swifer
By icygrill08 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
good vacuum and febreeze
By Apache Longbow on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Burn it.
By alicethemem on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
spread a whole lot of baking soda on it and leave it there for 24 hrs. do it on both sides rub it in and vacuum
By kaitlininelives on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Frebrez i may work i tried with my pug!
By icameheretosleepnotchat on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
there is one method i use on all my “persian” carpets. the car wash. if you or someone you know has a truck, put the carpet in the back (upside down) and spend the $5 to give it a good cleaning.
By Z-Cat on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Vinegar, let dry carpet fresh, vaccum Voila
By shysweet_pug on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
You could do one of two things: either take the rug to a dry cleaner or (if its small enough) wash the rug in your washer on delicate/gentle cycle.
By mr_incredibly_cool_008 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I would first try Febreeze on it. If that doesn’t work, use a steam cleaner on it.
By snowcrablegs on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I would buy 3 boxes of baking soda and take the rug outside early on a sunny day, Use all the baking soda spreading evenly on rug. let it set all day. then put the rug over a line or fence and beat it with a clean broom to knock out all the soda. the combo of sunlight and soda should do the trick.
By pritty_princess_c on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
either rent equipment or get a professional to steam clean the rug.
By greylady on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I have seen a product called Zero oder that is reported to get even skunk down to zero. Go to http://www.zerooder.com. I hope this helps you.
By midnight_tiny on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Try the ‘febreze chalenge’ thing. i had the same problem and i did that. now when ever i have a problem i go febreze! (get febrez ane spray it 2 or 3 times a day for about a week)
By sabrina H./ on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING IT BACK OUTSIDE 2 WASH IT W/WATER & JUST A TINY BIT OF VINEGER.AFTER IT DRIES, SPRAY IT WITH SOME FEBREEZE.
By djs on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Why do you still have a shag rug???? Its not 1975
By Sandra♥ on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
If you will leave the rug outside for a few days to air outdoors the smell will be gone.
I have a blanket that I keep in the pen with my dog and sometimes it smells soooo bad that I dont even want to put it in my washer so, I put it outside for a few days and after I go to get it it smells so fresh, but I do go ahead and wash it before putting it back in his pen…..IT WORKS!!!!
If it has a rubber backing on it then you may need to leave it out longer and make sure the rubber part is turned towards the sun…
By Robert S on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
The REAL question is… how do you get the smell of WET RUG out of a SHAGGY DOG ???
Sorry… you have many GREAT answers that cover your question… I just saw it and had to flip it… forgive me !!
By lightningfastfords on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
You must use Oder detester, name brand ,sold at industrial cleaning supply, it eats the Oder does not mask it OK,
By patti on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Firstly, omg that kitty is cute…can I have him/her pls??
I use Natures Miracle (available at pet stores) for all my animal mishaps…but u didn’t say how big this rug was. Is it something u can put in the washer, may be at the laundromat?
By jackson hill on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
try cleaning with baking soda and let it sit out side for a couple days
By REALISTIC on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
If it is small enough, put it in the washer on gentle cycle. A few
drops of beach. If it is large you had the right idea, except take it
to the car wash spray with cleaner. Let it hang to dry, then try
lysol or febreez. hope this helps.
By eddie on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
febreze spray they have some made for pet smells good luck
By J13891 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Shampoo it and use some febreze.
By lpslc on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I’d wash it in the washer.
By racenangel_gurl on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
mix 1/2 gallon of hot water with vinager/ spray til all is gone outta bottle,scrub, let set for a hour/ rinse for about 5 minutes/ dry, and if it has a little smell left, do the same again and let it set til the nexted day,and rinse,
dry
By Jerry on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Wash again outside, using garden spray attachment, like for fertilizing or feeding the lawn. Use a strong mixture of amonia and soap. Let sit for a while, rinse, and dry.
By arily666 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
use a stiff bristled nylon brush with enzyme detergant in a five gal. bucket and white vinegar rinse use terry cloth towels to soak up the excess
moisture and dirty residue and hang to dry mix rinse aprrox. 3 to 1 vinegar to water.
By vonnamia on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I read somewhere that you spray lightly with white vinegar, sprinkle baking soda on while wet, let dry for about 10 minutes, then vacuume.
By pepperminticecream2002 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
try baking soda & vinegar or wash it in a mild soap with hot water. or try frebreeze or try baby powder. with baking soda. i hope these ideas will help you get the wet dog smell out of your rug.
By ad24 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
hand wash it and let it dry. then spray it with febreeze!!!! LOL
By prfadfels on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
It’s this old detergent called Borax that’s good for all kinds of stuff. Somebody recommended it to me when I asked how to get rid of that old smell carpets sometimes get and it worked. I sprinkled it on my carpet, let it set for a while and vacuumed it up, but my carpet is thin. You might need to wash your rug in it. I know they sell it at wal-mart and k-mart but I’m not sure where else.
By prncessang228 on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
wash it well with warm water and some baking powder. after rinsing out the baking powder-scrub it with a few damp fabric softener sheets (bounce works great). lay it out in the sun to dry
once it’s dry-spray it with febreeze pet odor eliminator-it works really good.
this should do the trick-you might have to do it twice to get the smell out.
i use the sheets on my pomeranian when she gets her bath-it’s eleminates the wet dog smell from her fur and the vet says it won’t harm her at all. once she’s dry-she smells as clean as my laundry does!! if it works on the dog-it has to work on the carpet!!
By helo pilot 100d on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
use baking soda and vinegar wash it up really good rinse it hang it outside in the sun let it dry
By mhykz on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
use soap and hot water plus a battle of perfume