Remove pet stains from carpet

As well behaved as most of our pets are, accidents happen. Even with the best of training, every dog or cat makes a mess on the rug at least once in its lifetime. Thankfully, these messes can be cleaned up in no time with minimal or even no staining. If you’re thinking about tossing out your carpet because Fifi had herself a little accident, read on. Hopefully, some of the tips mentioned here will help you remove any unwanted pet stains.

If you happen to catch the accident just after it happens, act immediately. The first line of defense for stain fighting is to take steps to remedy the situation as soon as possible. Clean up any solid material with a paper towel and blot at the stain with clean paper towel or rag until no more of the stain can be lifted. After that, there are several remedies that might work. Vinegar is a wonderful all-purpose cleaner. It can be used full strength for heavy stains or for a lighter surface stain, it can be diluted in some warm water – one part vinegar to two parts of water. Pour the vinegar directly on the stain and blot until no more of the stain can be lifted. Always blot stains, don’t ever rub. Not only can rubbing cause the stain to spread, it can also weaken the fibers of your carpet, which can lead to tearing and bald spots. The room, and carpet in particular, may smell like vinegar for a day or two, but this will pass. Besides, compared to what the room might have smelled like soon after the accident, vinegar may be the preferable scent.

Hydrogen peroxide diluted with some warm water is another option. Like vinegar, this solution can be poured directly on the stain and blotted until the stain is lifted. Because this is bleach, however, you may want to test on a hidden area of your carpet to make sure there will be no discoloration.

Something else to try is a solution of a quarter cup of mild dishwashing liquid (one with no bleaches or alkalis) to one cup of warm water. Blot with a sponge or cloth until the stain is lifted. Rinse by blotting with cool water and dry with a towel.

Baking soda is also a good remover of pet stains. Pour the baking soda straight from the box onto the stain and coat the stain entirely. Let this sit for a couple of hours or two, it should draw the stain right out. When time is up, you should vacuum the baking soda, and the stain, out of the carpet.

For pet vomit stains, remove any solid matter and then+ cover the remaining stain with salt. Cover the salt with a towel and let sit for a couple of hours. This should absorb the stain right out of your carpet. You should vacuum after a couple of hours. If none of these solutions work, your local pet emporium should have some products that will do the trick or you can call in a professional carpet cleaner. Pet accidents shouldn’t be the death of your carpet and, in most cases, can be cleaned with items found in your kitchen pantry. With luck, the above-mentioned tips will help prolong the life of your carpet.