If you are a pet owner, you know that accidents happen. There is just no getting around it. When your loving pet leaves their mark on your carpet, you could call a professional carpet cleaning company specializing in pet stains and odor removal. If you are up to the task, and you are prepared, you can deal with it yourself. Besides that, you can save some money and save your carpets.
No matter, removing pet stains and odors is not a fun thing to do, you can easily handle most pet accidents if you know what to do and have the products you need on hand.
Therefore, for the DIY route, here are the items you should have handy.
- plenty of clean white terry cloth towels, or white (non-printed) paper towels
- white vinegar
- liquid dishwashing detergent
- baking soda
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- rubber gloves
If you act quickly, the little gift your four-legged friend left for you has no chance of becoming a permanent stain on your carpet.
If the area is still wet you should first attempt to absorb as much as the liquid as possible. Leaving it there to dry will encourage bacteria growth. Besides that, it causes the odor while giving the acids in the urine the opportunity permanently to discolor your carpet.
Step #1
The best method for removing the moisture is to place several layers of paper towels over the wet area and apply pressure with your foot. The goal is to transfer as much of the liquid as possible from the carpet to the towels. You may have to repeat this several times and you will want to do it until there is no moisture whatsoever transferring to the paper towels.
However, sometimes our pets can be smart and more than a little sneaky. Catching them in the act is simply not going to happen. As pet owners, we all know how that works. So what if we find a spot after it is dry? This can be a little tougher to deal but like they say, “Better late than never”.
Step #2
The next step, whether you are dealing with a fresh wet spot or one that had time to dry, is to retrieve your handy pet stain remedy products (mentioned above) and mix a solution of fifty percent white vinegar and fifty percent water. I would suggest mixing a quart (16 Oz of water and 16 Oz of white vinegar) and filling a 32 Oz spray bottle and spray a liberal amount of this solution onto the spot.
Then work the solution into the carpet by agitating gently with the handle end of a spoon or fork. (no brushes – no rubbing – no scrubbing). Apply enough of the solution to thoroughly penetrate the fibers all the way down to the base of the carpet.
Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes then get out your terry cloth or paper towels and blot up the moisture again by folding and making about a 1-inch stack and applying pressure with your foot. Go ahead and stand on it – it is a lot easier than rubbing and better for your carpet.
The vinegar in the solution that neutralizes the ammonia in the dog urine. This is a good thing because there is less of a chance your pet will unfairly influence to return to the same spot. If you own a wet/dry vacuum or a Bissel “Spot Bot” or “Little Green Machine” (every pet owner needs one of these) use that to remove any excess moisture.
Step #3
When the area is dry or is just slightly damp, sprinkle a good handful of baking soda over the affected area.
Step #4
Then mix half a cup (4 ounces) of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Liquid Dawn would be perfect. Never use caustic (automatic) dishwasher detergent. These often have bleaching agents that can create some very undesirable effects to the color of your carpet.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves and slowly pour or spray the hydrogen peroxide and detergent mixture over the baking soda. Work the dissolving baking soda well into the carpet with your fingers or use the handle end of a spoon or fork. Fraying carpet fibers is not something you want to do. So no brushing, rubbing or scrubbing.
Step #5
Allow the area to dry completely, vacuum thoroughly and that’s it.
In areas that have heavy soil with dog urine, you may have to treat the area as mentioned above more than once.
The solution formula described above is for one small area. For larger or multiple areas you will need to adjust the quantities of ingredients.
Please Note… THIS IS IMPORTANT.
Never use ammonia or ammonia-based products on the carpet to remove pet urine or the resulting stain. One of the ingredients of urine is ammonia and your dog or puppy may well be encouraged to re-offend in the same area once it detects the smell of ammonia. Many household cleaners contain ammonia so be sure to carefully read the label.
Hire a certified professional for any large problem areas. If you wish to attempt pet stain and odor removal yourself, consider that the affected area should be small, not more than a foot in diameter. You should consult a professional if the affected areas are larger or if there are multiple areas that need attention.
Are you having the problem of pet odors and stains then contact My Cleaner Cape Coral? They have the perfect solution for your problem of pet stains and odor removal.
My Cleaner provides cleaning services in Cape Coral and nearby locations.
Call now (239) 333-5655 and deodorize your home from those stinky pet odors.
