Getting Rid of Pet Potty Stains on Carpets

4 Aug by Debbie June Rickman Laughlin

Having pets is a wonderful experience but dealing with the mess they tend to make isn’t usually so good. This is especially true for people who have carpets in their homes since they tend to be quite difficult to clean. Do not worry though because there are so many ingenious ways for you to clean up the mess left by your pets and you do not even have to call a carpet-cleaning pro to help you out.

Getting rid of small stains

These pet potty spots are easy enough to clean on their own and you just need some special spray-on carpet spot and stain removers. These are very easy on the pocket and do the job amazingly well. They are not all made the same way though and effectiveness varies from product to product most of the time. You may have to try several before you find one that does the job but if you do, it is always a good idea to test your carpet for color fastness because your chosen stain remover may damage it. Choose an inconspicuous spot like a corner of the back closet so in case there is some damage, no one will have to see it. Keep in mind that you are not supposed to try wet backing, bleaching, or rubbing a stain. A blotting motion works best and always work from the outside so you do not contribute to spreading the stain. The very last step is to take a thick pile of white paper towels and place them over the spot you have just cleaned. Put a heavy book or a brick on top so it pushes down on the towels and helps them collect moisture. Replace the towels regularly until the spot is completely dry.

If you cannot find these spray-on carpet spot and stain removers in your local market, you can always make one that is composed of baking soda and vinegar.

The ingredients for this spot remover aren’t too complicated and you may even have them in your kitchen but it is the steps that really matter so read them and follow closely or you will just have another mess on your hands

To make this cleaner, you will need:

• A cup of white vinegar (or more depending on the size of the stain)
• A cup of fresh baking soda (or more depending on the size of the stain)
• Plate

 What you want to do is soak the spot white vinegar and only then do you add baking soda. If you were to reverse the steps, you will have a little hissing and bubbling mound. Once you have soaked the spot with vinegar and have added a generous heap of baking soda, the next step is to cover the spot with a plate.  This step is just to make sure no one accidentally kicks your little mound of baking soda as it is working its magic on the stain. With this spot stain remover, you do not need to scrub or rub because you can practically see the stain being absorbed by the baking soda.

Some folks recommend using window cleaners while others say a little peroxide and water on a sponge also works wonders on cleaning out the stains and the smell from carpets. Whichever of these methods you choose, they are sure to be effective and the best part is you do not spend too much money on them and they will take effect in a jiffy.

Cleaners to avoid

You may be tempted to reach for some laundry detergent, shampoo, or dish soap to do away with the stain but please do not do this as it is one of the worst things you can do. These cleaners make use of contain detergents and other chemical cleaners that are near impossible to completely remove from carpets. Dirt and grime will stick to the residue from these cleaners and your carpet will just look even dingier after a while.

Having your pet sitter come by in the middle of the day for pet/puppy potty breaks is a wonderful choice for you and your best friend!

Find pet sitter for pet potty breaks!  http://housecalls4pet.com/find-pet-sitter/

References:

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/01/how-to-get-rid-of-pet-stains-from-carpet.html

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/removing_pet_stains_odors.html