Everyone who owns an indoor pet has moments when they must clean up messes their furry loved one leaves behind. These messes include the most unfortunate pet stains on carpet. While spot cleaning only really cleans the surface of pet stains on carpet, you can do a good job of this to keep your floors looking great. It all comes down to using the right materials and techniques.
Of course, one technique is knowing when to call the experts for their help. Between biannual professional carpet cleaning for pet stains and general needs, consider the tips below.
Prep the Area Before Spot Removal
If you catch your pet in the act of offending your floors, you have an immediate advantage for removing their pet stains on carpet. You first need to blot up the wet spot or debris. For this, use an absorbent paper towel or color-safe rag. Stand on the rag or otherwise apply lots of pressure without rubbing until it is nearly dry.
If your pet left a solid mess, wear gloves to pick up the debris. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe up residue. When doing this, wipe from the outside of the stain to its center. This keeps you from spreading it. Also remember to not rub the stain into the carpeting.
Always Avoid Rubbing
Rubbing pet stains on carpet spreads the stain, embeds it and untwists fiber pile. This can lead to a frayed and discolored patch of carpeting that never looks right again. When you avoid rubbing, you enable your professional carpet cleaner to thoroughly remove the carpet stain and refresh your carpet during their next cleaning, too.
Instead of rubbing, blot repeatedly. It is best to use a white cloth so colors do not bleed or transfer onto the floor. If the mess seems stuck in fibers, wear gloves and use your fingers to gently loosen the material on individual pieces of yarn. Never scrub.
Use No Harsh Chemicals
Most of us want to disinfect our floors after we find pet stains on carpet. This is a natural response. But it is important to resist using harsh chemicals or cleaning products. Natural ingredients work better on these natural messes. Sure, sometimes you must repeat the steps of carpet cleaning for pet stains to get the ideal results. But doing so with natural materials protects your floors.
Do Not Apply Heat to the Pet Stains on Carpet
You need to avoid using hot water or steam on your pet stain on carpet. These permanently set the stain and its smells. Heat bonds the proteins from urine and solid waste into man-made materials. Use cool or room temperature water.
Best Recipes for Pet Stains on Carpets
Eventually, you need to have the professionals clean your carpet for the best results. But until their next twice-yearly or yearly carpet cleaning, pull some basic materials from your home cabinets to keep pet stains from setting in.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap
This first recipe for carpet cleaning for pet stains includes:
- 8 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- 4 Tbsp. lukewarm water
- Four to six drops of dish soap
Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle. You can double or triple the recipe for large stains. Just bear in mind that hydrogen peroxide can bleach some fibers and colors. So you must test a spot in a hidden corner, first. Also realize that this mixture does not store well. You have to mix what you need for each occurrence and throw out excess.
Spray the mixture on the blotted carpeting and leave it to work on its own for at least 10 minutes. Then blot using a paper towel or white rag. Repeat this process until the stain lifts. Rinse with cool water and blot dry before vacuuming to fluff the fibers.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Another natural stain remover recipe includes vinegar and baking soda. This is a messy clean-up process, but it often works best for pet stains on carpet.
After blotting up the pet stain residue, wet the carpet by spraying vinegar on it. But do not saturate the fibers. Allow the vinegar to sit for several minutes. Then sprinkle baking soda generously onto the wet area. You will notice bubbling and can work it gently into the stain using your fingers.
Allow the bubbling baking soda to dry completely. During this drying period, cover the spot with an upturned bowl to keep your pets and human traffic away from the mess. Whether after a few hours or allowing the baking soda to sit overnight, vacuum up the baking soda residue. If you notice remaining residue or discoloration from the baking soda, rinse lightly with cool water, blot dry and vacuum again.
Schedule Professional Carpet Cleaning for Pet Stains
Spot cleaning works great for maintaining your floors, particularly when you use natural materials and blotting techniques. But your floors still require periodic professional cleaning to keep your carpets looking and smelling their best.
ProGreen Carpet Cleaning of Durham, NC can help you remove the most aggressive pet stains on carpet as these occur. We use our expert methods to deep clean your carpet and extract even deeply-embedded proteins and odors. Schedule your next appointment with ProGreen Carpet Cleaning today by calling 919-332-3039.
