As we previously mentioned in our post on extending the life of your carpet, one of the most important things you can do is to spot clean all stains as they happen – this includes pet stains. Taking care of a pet stain as soon as it happens, or as soon as you notice it, is essential if you hope to keep your carpet, upholstery, or floors looking (and smelling) good. Since we understand that your pet may not always leave a mess on your carpet, we’ve put together a post describing the best ways clean up pet stains on your carpet, laminate floors, wood floors, and upholstered furniture.
Cleaning Pet Stains on Carpet
By following these simple steps, you can keep urine from staining and permanently odorizing your carpet:
- Soak Up Liquids – the first thing you need to do is assess if the stain is fresh (if it’s still wet). If it is, use disposable materials (paper towels/old newspaper) to soak up the liquid.
- Vinegar & Baking Soda – Pour white vinegar over the affected area to penetrate the stain and a little area around it. Sprinkle baking soda on top of the entire stain area.
- Cover & Wait – Cover the stain with a bowl or other container and let sit for 1-2 days.
- Clean Up – After 1-2 days, remove the cover, clean up any surface residue and vacuum the spot. Your stain should be gone, and the area should be odor-free.
Cleaning Pet Stains on Laminate Floors
Although it might seem like an easy-fix, properly cleaning up pet stains on laminate floors is essential to keeping them looking and smelling fresh, and keeping your pet from staining the same spot again.
- Wipe up – as soon as you notice pet debris on your floor, wipe it up.
- Baking soda – sprinkle baking soda on the entire area and use a soft scrub brush to gently work the baking soda in.
- Vinegar – after letting the baking soda sit for a few minutes, spray the area with white vinegar. Use a cloth to wipe the area and remove any baking soda and vinegar residue. Lightly spray the area with vinegar again.
- Dry – we suggest you dry your floor with a blow dryer set on low. This will help keep your laminate from warping and it’ll let you know if you’ve successfully cleaned the area. If you have, you’ll smell nothing but light vinegar. If you haven’t, you’ll smell your pet’s byproduct and you’ll need to repeat the process again.
Cleaning Pet Stains on Wood
Cleaning up pet stains from hardwood can be trickier since urine can soak into the wood. To remove urine odors from hardwood, we recommend one of the following methods:
- Vinegar – combine 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar in a bucket or bowl. Work this mixture into the stain. Open the windows to ventilate the area.
- Baking Soda – Add baking soda to the above mixture until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for several hours. Rinse with water.
Cleaning Pet Stains on Upholstery
Obviously, the best time to address an accident on the upholstery is as soon as it happens. Regardless, there are a few simple steps you can follow to try and keep nasty stains from becoming permanent:
- Remove Waste – Scrape any solids off the affected area and blot the fabric.
- Water – spray the affected area with water and blot again with a paper towel. Repeat 2 more times.
- Vinegar – Create a mixture of 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water and repeat the spray/blot process until the stain lifts.
No homeowner wants to deal with messy and smelly pet stains, but by following these guidelines, you can minimize the impact to your carpets, hardwood floors, and furniture. When in doubt, contact the professionals at SV Professional Cleaning – we know how to take care of your home’s surfaces.