To say that pets are awesome to have is an understatement; they’re the best! After a long, hard day at work, coming home to a happy dog giving you kisses or a cute cat cuddling on your lap makes everything better, doesn’t it?! But, of course, having pets isn’t all rainbows and sunshine; taking proper care of them and attending to their unique needs is a must for your pets’ wellbeing.
Now, let’s get down to the ‘dirty’ business. House-trained or not, at some point, your pet is going to do its ‘job’ on your carpet; it’s inevitable! Therefore, it pays to be prepared and well-informed on how to clean up pet mess and remove stains and odour. It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it! So, to help you do it right, here’s a guide to cleaning pet pee and poo from your carpet.
Pet Urine
Step 1
Put on some rubber gloves and grab a bunch of paper towels to place over the urine. Pat them down to absorb the pee before disposing of the paper towels in a separate trash bag. Repeat this process until you’ve removed as much pee from the carpet as possible.
Step 2
Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar and pour it over the pee area. Allow it to soak for about 2-3 minutes before moving on to the next step.
NOTE: Vinegar is an effective ingredient for absorbing and removing foul odours.
Step 3
Use a carpet brush or soft-bristled brush to scrub the affected area for a few minutes. For best results, take your time with the scrubbing process to work the cleaner deep into the weave of the carpet.
Step 4
After waiting 5 minutes post-scrubbing, blot the area with paper towels to absorb moisture. Repeat if needed.
Step 5
Allow some amount of the area to dry up before sprinkling it with baking soda. Over this, pour a mixture of 1/2 a cup of hydrogen peroxide (preferably) and 1/2 a tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
Step 6
Using the same brush (after rinsing it out), scrub the area thoroughly one last time.
Step 7
Take a clean, damp towel and wipe the area; leave to air dry. If needed, vacuum over the carpet after it has dried up completely.
If the stain or odour persists, increase the strength of your cleaning solutions by doubling the amount of white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, and repeat the process.
Pet Faeces
Step 1
Use a pooper scooper to pick up and dispose of the faeces in a trash bag.
Step 2
Put on a pair of gloves and use lots of paper towels to absorb wetness by gently wiping or blotting the area. For loose faeces, cover it with paper towels and place a folded sheet of old newspaper over it; then, place both your hands on either sides of the mess and pick it up by pressing downward and bringing your hands together. Again, wipe or blot the area with paper towels.
Step 3
Allow the stain to dry before attempting to clean any further. This is because you run the risk of spreading the stain while it is still wet. During this time, it’s advisable to cover up the area with a bowl of some sort to contain the odour.
Step 4
Use a store-bought, pet mess cleaner on your carpet as natural remedies or soapy solutions are simply not effective. Take your chosen pet cleaning product, lightly saturate the area and blot it gently using a white absorbent cloth or towel. Avoid rubbing or blotting outside of the stain to prevent spreading.
NOTE: Take your time with this step and use fresh cloths/towels as and when needed. Also, avoid over saturating the carpet with the cleaning agent; if the area gets too damp, allow it to dry up a little before continuing.
Step 5
If the entire stain isn’t coming out, wait for it to dry and use a carpet cleaner or shampooer over it. Again, stick to blotting with a clean, white cloth/towel as opposed to scrubbing with a brush.
Step 6
For any persisting smells after the stain has been removed, sprinkle baking soda over the area (when the carpet is dry) and gently brush it in. Cover the area with a newspaper sheet for about an hour to help the powder absorb the odour before vacuuming it up.
Though it takes a bit of time and effort to clean up pet mess from your carpet, you can get the job done right by following these steps carefully! Of course, if you’re pressed for time, there’s always a professional carpet cleaning service that will do the needful!
