How To Remove Carpet Stains From Pets?

Pets are really adorable, until they decide to leave you an unwanted gift on your new carpet. As a home and pet owner, finding out that your beloved pet decided to relieve himself on your newly cleaned carpet can be frustrating. You wonder how, if ever, you are going to get rid of the stain and the accompanying smell. (Yes, getting rid of the smell is very important because as long as your pet can smell the ‘accident zone’ they are likely to repeat the mistake).

The good news is that getting rid of pet stains on carpets is possible, as long as you are armed with the right information and some good old elbow grease. There are readily available household products that you can use to remove pet stains with much ease. Lets dive right into it.

One of the most effective ways of cleaning pet stains is by using vinegar and baking soda. However, you must pay great attention to the procedure as failure to do so will lead to disappointment. The first thing you need to do, after identifying the soiled spot, is to pour enough vinegar to soak the stain. Proceed to add a small amount of baking soda. Do not do these steps in reverse because if you do, you’ll have quite the bubbly mess. Allow the spot to dry for a day or two (you can use a plate to cover up the spot to avoid accidental kicking of the baking soda to different parts of the carpet) and then sweep or vacuum. The best thing about this method is that it works on new and old stains alike.

For fresh puddles, a method that works is using layered wet towels or paper towels held down by some weight, to absorb the pet urine. In order to do this, you need to run the towels under cold water then wring them out until they’re damp but not dripping. Cover the pet stains with the towels and then put some weights on top of the towels. The weights could be anything from cans of food to shoes or just about anything that will keep the towels pressed down. Leave the towels on for about ten minutes, then use an enzymatic cleaner to break down the rest of the stain. After using the enzymatic cleaner, place some more towels the same way you had the first time, then allow them to sit overnight.

Steam cleaning is by far the most preferred and recommended method of carpet cleaning, especially for carpets that are extensively affected by pet stains. Steam cleaning, otherwise known as hot water extraction, is a carpet cleaning method that makes use of hot water that is highly pressurized. It is a great method of removing old and new stains and stains that are deeply set. If your pets have been especially active as far as ‘decorating’ your carpet is concerned, you might want to hire professional cleaners to steam clean your carpet. You may be able to remove one or two carpet stains by yourself, but multiple areas may require professional attention.

Another method that you could use to clean pet stains is the vacuum method. For this method, pour some water on the stain and then vacuum it up immediately using a wet or dry vacuum. The trick is to suck up the water within seconds of application. Do not allow the water to sit. Repeat this until the discoloration is gone. If the stain is tougher than usual, add some salt to the water, but never soap. If you add soap, the residue left behind will attract dirt.

After you’re done cleaning up the stained areas of your carpet, always make use of a pet odour neutralizer to ensure you remove all traces of the pet’s odour from the soiled area. If your dog can still smell the accident zone, they’ll have an impulse to relieve himself on the same spot again and you’ll be back to the drawing board. You definitely do not want that to happen.

Besides employing the right carpet cleaning strategies to get rid of pet stains, it is equally important to train your pet on bathroom behaviour. Don’t scold your pet for using the carpet as his bathroom. Rather, gently train him or her on the appropriate place to relieve himself. It may take days or months, depending on many factors, but eventually it will save you lots of money and time that would otherwise be spent on carpet cleaning.