How to remove poop stains from carpet is something every mom runs into at least once. Follow this cleaning tutorial to learn how to remove poop stains from carpets. This DIY poop stain remover will get rid of the smell too!
Unpleasant odors don’t have to be a thing! Find out the best way to get rid of feces stains in just a few simple steps. The affected area will be clean and any lingering odor will be gone.
If you have a baby in diapers, about the worst thing that can happen is them getting a bought of sickness that gives your baby the runs. Yes, I mean diarrhea. Sorry, it’s not very glamorous to talk about.
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Actually, it is downright gross and it stinks. But, it is an unfortunate and common reality for all parents, at some point.
I have already shared what to do to remove baby poop stains from clothes (and bedding or whatever) but if your human baby gets some of their nasty feces mess onto something you can’t run through a washing machine, or stick out in the sunshine, you have to treat it differently in order to remove the stain and the smell.
This past winter my toddler baby had a week of frequent runny poo explosions.
During this week-long diarrhea sickness, she was coming downstairs like she normally does, sliding down on her belly.
Well, she slid down with a diaper of full of runny poop which oozes out, leaving a trail of disgusting bright yellow poop behind her. It smelt so bad!
Because I’m a blogger, and love sharing cleaning tips and tutorials with my readers, I decided to document my poop stain removal process for you, because chances are, it will happen to you as a parent!
Even if you are dealing with poop stains on your floor because of a potty training toddler, a dog, cat, or other animal, this method should work to get poop stain off your carpet all the same!
How to Remove Poop Stains from Carpets
The following cleaning tutorial will cover how to clean up poop from carpets, how to remove the poop stain, and how to remove the smell too!
Be sure to watch my Youtube video on How to Remove Poop Stains from Carpet as well as read the instructions below:
Materials Needed to Remove Poop Stains
- Spray Bottles
- Blue Dawn dish detergent
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Water
- White Vinegar
- Paper Towels
- OxiClean
- Clean white rags
- Baking Soda
- Vacuum
- Funnel
- Measuring Cup
- Trash Bag
- Gloves (optional)
If you prefer, you can also opt into trying your luck with a commercial spray carpet spot remover. Some popular brands of Carpet Stain and Odor removers are:
- Woolie INSTAclean
- Simple Solution Extreme
- Rocco & Roxie Supply Professional Strength
- Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
- Bissell Pro Oxy Stain Destroyer with Brush Head
You can also look into getting a carpet cleaner.
Instructions to Remove Poop Stains from Carpet
Time needed: 1 hour
How to Get Poop Stains Off Carpeting
- Remove the Poop Mess from Carpet.
First, you’ll need to clean up the mess.
Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves (optional), and grab a roll of paper towels and a trash bag, and pick up (or scoop up) the top layer of the poop, working from the outside in so as not to spread the stain and mess more than absolutely needed.
Throw the soiled paper towels in the trash bag and discard. - Prep Poop Stain Removing Solution.
Now to clean up the poop stain on your carpet, mix a small OxiClean (to the bottom line in measuring cup) into an empty and clean spray bottle, using a funnel.
Add about 1 1/3 cups of warm water into the spray bottle.
Add a few drops of Blue Dawn Dish Soap to the spray bottle.
Add 2 tablespoons of Hydrogen Peroxide.
Put the lid on the spray bottle and gently mix together. - Saturate the Stain with the Cleaning Solution.
Spray this solution onto the stain, soaking it thoroughly. If the spray bottle clogs or otherwise isn’t working well, you can pour directly onto the stain. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
- Blot the Stain.
Blot the stain with a clean white cloth, working from the outside in. Do not rub, just blot!
Keep blotting with clean towels until the stain is lifted. - Rinse.
Rinse the area really well with clear cold water.
- Dry Carpet.
Dry the area with another clean white cloth by blotting the area, finishing up a paper towel. Step on the towels with your foot to remove the moisture.
- Prep Poop Smell Removing Spray.
To remove the poop smell from the carpet, fill a new spray bottle halfway with vinegar and then fill the rest of the bottle with warm tap water (or use a vinegar cleaning spray).
- Spray vinegar onto stain.
Spray cleaning solution onto the stain until it is visibly wet.
- Let Sit for 5 Minutes then Blot.
Let sit for 5 minutes before blotting with a dry clean rag or paper towel.
- Sprinkle on Baking Soda.
Once it is as dry as you can get it, put a light layer of baking soda onto the area.
- Leave overnight then vacuum.
Let the baking soda sit on the carpet for 24 hours or until completely dry, then vacuum up the baking soda.
Though it took a lot of work, the carpet is now stain-free and smell-free!
Carpeting is much more work to remove poop stains from than baby clothes with poop on them! Thankfully, my baby eventually got over her sickness too.
How long does it take the stained area to dry?
The cleaning process is quite a few steps, but it’s worth it. I always just tell the kids to stay clear of walking on those carpet fibres so that the area can dry. If you have a whole area that you need to clean the carpet’s fibers, it’s a good option to either shut off the door to that room if possible.
While this is an effective method that has worked for me many times, don’t forget that if the problem is too big to handle, or if you just can’t get the best results trying to remove stains, you can have a professional cleaning service help as a last resort. They might be able to get rid of any remaining stain or help with permanent stains that were there on the carpet from someone else.
You can also rent a professional carpet cleaner as a good idea as well to help tackle areas of your carpet. I prefer using home remedies because I’ve had great luck, but that doesn’t mean that this reacts well to all carpet fibers out there.
If you are dealing with other common carpet stains, be sure to check out Jeni’s post on how to remove carpet stains! It’s pretty amazing how well her method works, and without any chemicals (but it helps to do it when the stains are fresh!).
Or check out this post on how to get pet stains out of carpet if you need to know how to remove the other type of potty accident on your carpet.
And be sure to check out this post on how to remove poop stains from baby clothes!
For more smell-fighting tips, check out the following ways on how to clean away the odors:
Judy Davey says
Or…if you don’t want to go to all that trouble…try FOLEX….
It is amazing!
Nicole says
Sprinkle baking soda on it. Let sit an hour or so. Pour some vinegar on the baking soda. It’ll fizz. Wipe up what you can. Sprinkle more baking soda and let sit till totally dry. Vacuum up. Works for us every time. Also works on couches and van seats. Ah the joys of parenthood. Or hire a professional! :))
Megan says
This is a miracle. Thank you. It got rid of kid poop stain on the first application. Thanks, Katelyn!
Dana Chisholm says
It worked very well for me. My dog had had diarrhea and gone upstairs on the carpet in the hall. We rarely go upstairs, so it was a few days before we discovered it. (We had been giving her pumpkin for her stomach, so it was orange.)
Thank you!