How To Remove Feces Stains

By Matt Oden | Comments | Bodily Fluids Stains → Feces

Whether from pets, potty training your toddler, or from something unpleasant that came in on your shoe, it can be a lifesaver if you know how to remove feces stains with minimal effort. Not only will these unsightly stains be swiftly removed from in and around your home, but you will be able to effectively get rid of any lingering smell that might be otherwise assaulting your nostrils!

Feces Stain Overview and Background

The Reality of the Situation

There are some stains that none of us want to deal with. However, like it or not, at one point or another we are all going to likely have to deal with feces on our carpets, our bed linens, our shoes, and even from bathroom fixtures like our bath tubs or toilets. While never a pleasant topic, there are actually a few very effective methods that you can use when you are researching how to remove feces stains. Remember that the most important thing with fecal matter is to move swiftly and ensure that the area has been sanitized before members of your family are allowed near it.

First Things First

The first step with all methods is to try and remove as much of the solid material as possible. This can be done with paper towels, toilet paper, baby wipes, or even a pooper scooper! While a lot of stain removal methods will include using white absorbent towels, when it comes to removing feces stains it is typically advisable to use paper towels that can be easily discarded when done.

How To Remove Feces Stains From Carpeting

What You Will Need Before You Start

Rubber gloves
Oxygen bleach powder
Vinegar
Baking soda
Paper towels
Carpet cleaning machine
Enzymatic cleaner

Feces, poop, the brown stuff, no matter what you call it, it can often find its way onto the carpeting in our homes. Whether it sneaks in on your shoes after a run around the block, or your new puppy has an oops in front of your sofa, it can leave a horrible smell and an unsightly stain on your carpet. As with most stains, the sooner that you can treat the stain, the better your chances are of completely getting rid of it without the need to spend hours upon hours scrubbing.

Make a paste using two parts oxygen bleach powder and one part white household vinegar.
With the rubber gloves on, work the cleaning paste into the stain with your fingers.
Allow to sit for up to fifteen minutes and then blot with the paper towels to remove excess moisture from the carpet.
With nothing but hot water in your carpet cleaning machine, or spot cleaner, run over the area several times to remove any traces of the feces. If you do not have a carpet cleaning machine then you can achieve the same effective with hot water, a scrubbing brush, and plenty of paper towels to lift out the stain.
When the stain has been removed you can now go over the carpeted area again with the carpet cleaner, this time using the enzymatic cleaner in the cleaning solution tank.

Once the floor has completely dried, you can sprinkle a bit of baking soda over where the stain was. After thirty minutes you can vacuum up the baking soda, and the smell should be completely gone. As strong as the temptation to use regular bleach may be, you should avoid using it on carpets unless you have spotless white carpets. Otherwise you run the risk of leaving horrible permanent bleach stains on your carpets.

How To Remove Feces Stains From Hardwood Floors

What You Will Need Before You Start

Vinegar
Paper towels
Soft-bristled scrubbing brush
Enzymatic cleaning solution
Soft sponge

When you are working with hard surfaces like hardwood floors, you may be tempted again to break out the bleach but it can be very damaging to your floors to use harsh chemicals like bleach. The best approach is often the more simple approach when it comes to the best methods of how to remove feces stains from hardwood floors.

Saturate the stain with the vinegar and scrub at the stain softly with the scrubbing brush. This should start to work free any dried in fecal matter.
Clean up any debris with the paper towel and repeat the vinegar and scrubbing if needed.
Saturate the area with the enzymatic clean solution and work it around the area using a soft sponge.
Rinse clean with cold water and pat the floor dry with paper towels.

Remember that it can be a lot easier to clean hard surfaces but it can also lead to the potential for damage to the floors if you don’t take a bit of care. Try to avoid using hard chemicals that could strip the finish from your floors.

How To Remove Feces Stains From Bed Linens

What You Will Need Before You Start

Oxygen bleach
Vinegar
Scrubbing brush

Whether from your potty training incidents with your three year old or your new puppy, you may find yourself with the need to know how to remove feces stains from bed linens. Before you simply throw everything into the washing machine, it is advisable to work the stains out first so that you don’t accidentally cause the stain to set into the fibers of the linens.

Create a paste using two parts oxygen bleach and one part vinegar.
Completely cover the stain with the cleaning paste and scrub at it gently with the scrubbing brush.
Place the linen into your sink while the cleaning solution works through the stain, for up to thirty minutes.
Rinse clean using warm water in your sink and observe the stain. If it is still lingering then you may want to consider using a bit of ammonia on the stain.

Once the stain has been completely removed from the linens you can spray a bit of stain pretreating solution onto it and then launder as per usual.

A lot of people use scrubbing brushes and commercially available toilet bowl cleaners to clean their toilets of stains. But you might want to consider adding another method to your knowledge of how to remove feces stains. Sprinkle half a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and add a cup of white vinegar. The resulting reaction will work free any stains and help you to keep your toilet looking and smelling perfectly fresh.