How to Clean Pet Urine on Carpeted Stairs

A stair is not a flat floor. A puddle can sit on the tread, run over the edge (the nosing), soak down the riser and reach the step below. This guide covers dog and cat urine on carpeted stairs, using what the Carpet and Rug Institute, carpet makers Shaw and Ulster Carpets, the AKC and Humane World for Animals say.

Act fast

The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) says: "The key is to act quickly!" Shaw's carpet care guide says the same:

"Prompt attention to spots and spills is essential."

Sources: Carpet and Rug Institute, Cleaning and Maintenance; Shaw, Carpet Care and Maintenance (PDF).

Blot the tread, the edge and the riser

Start by soaking up as much urine as you can. The CRI says:

"Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or plain white paper towels (no prints or colors)."

"Continue blotting until the area is nearly dry."

The AKC's steps for fresh urine on carpet are:

"Place a thick layer of paper towels over the wet spot (and underneath if possible)"
"Cover with newspaper and press down for several minutes"
"Remove the paper and rinse the area with cool water"
"Blot thoroughly with clean towels or use a wet vacuum"

On a stair, that means pressing towels onto the flat tread and holding them against the riser and the rounded edge by hand. We found no carpet maker guidance written for stairs, so the steps here are the general carpet steps applied to each part of the step.

Sources: Carpet and Rug Institute; AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells.

Do not scrub

It is tempting to rub at the edge of a step, but the CRI warns:

"Warning: do not scrub or use a brush. Bristles and scrubbing can damage carpet."

Shaw says:

"Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill."

Sources: Carpet and Rug Institute; Shaw, Carpet Care and Maintenance (PDF).

Use little water and test any cleaner first

Ulster Carpets' aftercare guide gives this rule for spot cleaning:

"Use small quantities of spot remover at a time, repeat if necessary. Two or three light applications are more effective than one drastic application. Do not over wet the carpet."

Before any cleaner goes on the stair, test it. The CRI says "you should still pretest any cleaner on a scrap of carpet or in an out-of-the-way area of your carpet." On a staircase, pick a spot that is out of sight. Then apply the cleaner the way the CRI describes:

"Follow the product's directions carefully. More is not better. Apply a small amount of the cleaner to a white cloth and work in gently, from the edges to the center. Blot; don't scrub."

Keep heat away. The CRI says: "Don't use a steam cleaner when dealing with urine spots because the heat will set the stain and the smell."

Sources: Ulster Carpets, Aftercare Guide (PDF); Carpet and Rug Institute, Cleaning Spots and Spills.

Rinse and blot dry

Humane World for Animals says: "Rinse the "accident zone" thoroughly with clean, cool water and blot dry."

To pull out the last of the moisture on the flat tread, Shaw says:

"Remove remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object that will not transfer color, such as a plastic jug of water."

On the riser, keep blotting by hand.

Sources: Humane World for Animals, pet stains and odors; Carpet and Rug Institute; Shaw, Carpet Care and Maintenance (PDF).

Check the step below, the riser and the corners

Urine on a stair can end up away from where it landed, so check the riser under the wet tread, the corners where the tread meets the wall, and the next step down. Humane World for Animals says how to find spots you cannot see:

"Use your nose to sniff out soiled areas. Examine the suspect area closely to catch hard-to-find soiling. If you have a black light, use it to identify soiled areas and lightly outline the areas with chalk."

Our guide to old, dried pet urine stains covers spots found after they dried.

Sources: Humane World for Animals; AKC.

The pad and the wood underneath

Look past the carpet surface too. Humane World for Animals says:

"Your job will be more difficult if urine has soaked down into the padding underneath your carpet. In some cases, you may need to replace portions of carpet and padding."

The AKC says: "Urine can penetrate hardwood, making odor removal more challenging." We found no maker guidance on how to clean the wood of a stair under its carpet. Our guide to pet urine in carpet padding explains how to tell if urine has reached the pad.

Sources: Humane World for Animals; AKC.

When the smell comes back

The AKC answers why a smell can stay after cleaning:

"Urine may have soaked into padding, upholstery, or wood. Repeated treatments or professional cleaning may be necessary."

See our guide to why pet urine smell comes back after cleaning.

Source: AKC.

When to call a professional

The AKC says: "If odors linger despite repeated cleaning, or if there are multiple or deep stains, professional cleaning may be the best option." The CRI says: "If necessary, call in a certified carpet cleaning firm that knows how to remove pet stains and odors permanently."

Sources: AKC; Carpet and Rug Institute.

Why pets go on the stairs, and stopping repeats

A cleaned spot can still draw a pet back. Humane World for Animals says:

"As long as your pet can smell their personal scent, they may continue to return to the "accident zone."

"Once the area is clean, make it unattractive and/or unavailable to your pet and make the appropriate bathroom area attractive."

It also says: "If your pet is having regular accidents, have them checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes."

For the reasons behind repeat spots, see why dogs and cats keep peeing in the same spot and dog marking indoors. For young and older dogs, see puppy accident cleanup and senior dog accidents.

Source: Humane World for Animals, Prevent future incidents.

Using P-Cleaner

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Our rinse-free, water-based formula tackles the toughest stains and odors from urine, feces, vomit, and other organic messes on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and hard surfaces." It also says: "No scrubbing necessary". Test a hidden area first, as the CRI advises above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.