Tips For Carpet Odors & Pet Stains
If you’re a pet owner, chances are you’ve experienced this in the past, or are currently dealing with, the carpet odors and stains that pets can leave behind on your carpet. If not attended to quickly or treated properly, this can become an ongoing and frustrating problem for both you and your pet.
The reality is that if you have pets, they’re going to have accidents no matter how well-trained. A dog or cat, for example, can easily get into trash or other items outside of the house and eat something that not only upsets their stomach, but causes them to drink more water than normal while not being able to hold it. Puppies are another story. As they are learning to associate with going to the bathroom outside, they WILL have accidents while learning, no matter how often you take them outside.
The results of these mishaps can not only cause bad odors, but stain and discolor carpeting as well. While there are a myriad of cleaning options available to the average person in stores and online, including sprays, powders and home remedies, one rule of thumb is to treat carpet odors and stains a quickly as possible, and follow up by using a professional carpet cleaner or cleaning service.
Treating Carpet Odors and Stains
When first treating carpet odors and pet stains, it’s best if you do a spot test in an inconspicuous area just to make sure your carpet won’t fade. Most cleaning products will also recommend doing this, as they can contain chemicals that can quickly change your carpet’s color. Also, depending on the type of stain, it’s usually a good idea to blot the area with paper towel to soak up as much liquid as possible.
Once you know that your carpet is color-safe, after applying the cleaner to the stain, you’ll need to grab a scrub brush to work the cleaner in, then take a damp cloth and dab at the spot to transfer as much of the stain from the carpet to your cloth. Rinse the cloth and repeat the entire process, from scrubbing to dabbing, until the stain is gone. Let the area dry thoroughly. Adding a mixture of warm water and dry vinegar to the spot can also help to neutralize the odor.
Hire A Professional Carpet Cleaning Company
As always, you should consider hiring a professional cleaning company to clean your carpets periodically, as they can suction and deep-clean any carpet odors or stains that may require a different level of treatment. Plus, your pet will thank you for it.