First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot wet drool with an absorbent cloth as soon as you see it.
- Use cool water on drool, never hot first.
- Brush or vacuum dried paw mud before using any liquid.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
Dog drool is a body fluid, which makes it a protein stain that heat locks into the fibers. Fresh drool lifts far more easily than drool that has dried, and older spots can need a soak of a day or two. Muddy paw prints are a separate job, because they're soil that has to dry and be brushed off before any liquid touches them.
Blot up as much as you can with a clean cloth and a little cool water, and do it before the spot has time to set. A pet enzyme stain and odor remover is the product to reach for on dog slobber, since it's built for this kind of mark. If the dog drool stains have gone hard, leave the product on a while before you scrub.
5 items
What you'll need
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- Absorbent cloth or paper towelBlots the drool up without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Cool waterRinses drool without setting its protein.
- Enzyme presoak productWorks on the protein in drool before the wash.
- Soft brush or vacuumRemoves dried mud before any liquid touches it. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme stain remover (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Blot the drool up quickly
Lift as much wet drool as you can with an absorbent cloth or paper towel, pressing gently from the outside in. Work quickly, since fresh drool is much easier to lift than drool that has dried on the fibers.
Tip. Switch to a clean section of cloth with each press so you don't spread the drool back into the spot.
Step 2 of 5
Rinse with cool water
Flush the spot with cool water, working from the back of the fabric when you can so the drool moves out rather than deeper in. Keep rinsing until the spot no longer feels slick to the touch.
Step 3 of 530 minutes
Presoak with an enzyme product
Apply an enzyme product to the damp spot and let it presoak for at least 30 minutes. Enzymes are the right tool for drool because it's a protein stain, so this step does most of the work.
Tip. Keep the spot damp while it presoaks, not dripping wet.
Step 4 of 5
Wash in cool water
Launder the item in cool water with your usual detergent. Check the spot before the item goes anywhere near heat.
Step 5 of 5
Air dry and check the spot
Lay the item flat or hang it to air dry, then check the spot in good light. If any shadow remains, repeat the presoak before the item is dried again.
Careful. Don't machine-dry a stained item.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for pet drool
Look for an enzyme presoak labeled for protein stains, and keep a liquid laundry detergent on hand for muddy paw prints.
Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Dog Stain & Odor Eliminator, Severe Mess
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Pet Drool on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A treated spot should look lighter and feel clean, with no slickness left after the rinse. If it still feels slippery or looks dark after the wash, the protein is still there, so repeat the presoak before anything goes near heat.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Carpet and rugs
Carpet follows the same order as the main method: blot, rinse with cool water, then presoak. Work from the edge of the spot toward the middle so the drool doesn't spread across the pile.
Rugs with a dense pile need a little more patience, so give the presoak its full time and keep the spot from soaking through to the pad. If a faint mark is left after one pass, repeat the presoak before any heat reaches it.
Muddy paw prints on carpet
Let the mud dry completely, then brush or vacuum off as much as you can before any liquid touches it. Once the solids are gone, mix a detergent solution and work it into the carpet.
Finish with a warm-water rinse, blot out the moisture, and let the carpet dry fully before anyone walks on it.
Clothes and washable fabric
Washable clothes follow the same order: blot, cool rinse, enzyme presoak, then wash. Muddy paw prints on clothes need the mud brushed off once it's dry; a light stain takes a paste of powder detergent and water, and a heavy one takes a longer presoak.
For washing temperatures, drying and the full clothing method, use the Clothes guide.
Car seats, fabric and leather
Vacuum a fabric seat first, then treat fresh spots right away, because an old spot can set and change the color of the fabric. Leather seats need the spot removed right away, and a wet cloth can crack the surface, so wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
For the full method for vehicle interiors, use the Car Seats guide, and check your own vehicle's owner's manual for any cleaner it names.
Couch and upholstery
Find the cleaning code on the tag first, because it decides which cleaner is safe. Code W takes a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution, blotted gently and left to air dry, while code S takes only a water-free, solvent-based cleaner used in a well-ventilated room.
Code WS or SW accepts either type, but test it on a hidden spot first, and code X should go to a professional upholstery cleaner. The Couch and Sofa guide covers the rest of the upholstery steps.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old drool on a washable item needs more than one pass. Soak the item for 1 to 2 days, stirring it now and then, then wash it again and let it air dry.
Mud that has already dried into fabric is harder still, so presoak it with a laundry detergent or an enzyme product before laundering. Give that presoak time to work before you wash, rather than hoping the wash alone will do it.
If the stain has already been through the dryer, the heat may have set it further, so give the soak its full time before you decide it's gone. A faint shadow that survives the soak and wash is about as far as a home method can take it, so stop there rather than reaching for stronger products.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pet drool?
Plenty of household remedies get passed around for pet stains. Most of them don't belong in drool cleanup, and a few can damage the fabric or carpet you're cleaning.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use hot water first
Hot water sets the protein into the fibers, and a set stain is much harder to lift. Stick to cool water through the rinse and the presoak.
Don't rub the spot
Rubbing pushes drool deeper into the fibers and spreads it across a wider area. Blot from the outside in, using a clean part of the cloth each time.
Don't wet fresh mud
Water spreads fresh mud and pushes it deeper into carpet or fabric. Let it dry and remove the solids first, then move on to the liquid steps.
Don't mix cleaners
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other acids, or any other cleaner. Rinse thoroughly between products and never combine them on the same spot.
When to call a professional
For old stains on delicate fabric or leather, a professional cleaner is the safer call than trying a home product you haven't tested. Ask the cleaner which product they plan to use and whether it's safe for the material. If the stain has already been treated with several products, a professional can judge what's left.
Questions
Does dog drool or slobber stain?
Yes, both stain fabric and carpet. Slobber is the same body fluid as drool, so the same cool rinse and enzyme presoak work for either one.
How long can I wait before treating dog drool?
Treat it as soon as you see it. Wet drool is much easier to lift than drool that has dried, so blot it right away and start the cool rinse.
Do I need bleach to remove dog drool?
No. Bleach isn't needed for drool. If you do add chlorine bleach later, it goes last, after everything has been rinsed out.
What do I do with dried paw mud on carpet?
Let it dry fully, then brush or vacuum off as much as you can before using any liquid. Treat what's left with the carpet method, which uses a detergent solution and a warm-water rinse.
Will a fresh drool spot come out of a car seat?
Often, if you treat it fast. Vacuum a fabric seat first and deal with the spot right away, because an old spot can set and change the fabric's color.
Is there one cleaner that's safe on every upholstery?
No single cleaner is safe on every fabric. Check the cleaning code on the couch tag first, and use the Couch and Sofa guide to match the code to the right product.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.