Let’s face it, sometimes pet stains on furniture can be so frustrating for owners. You spend so much time potty training your pups that then finding accidents around the house can be both defeating and also, well, gross! While there are a number of reasons your pet may be having accidents in your home—from a move to health conditions, or just that they need to be outside more—accidents can be hard to clean up on both your carpet and your hardwood floors.
Removing pet stains in your house looks different depending on if you have carpet or hardwood flooring. Each type of flooring has a unique chemistry that relies on different types of care to remove stains and smells, and to help ensure that your pet doesn’t want to “go” there again. Consider these tips when you’re cleaning up some not-so-happy accidents.
Removing pet stains on the carpet
If you’re finding accidents on carpet it’s important to try to catch it right away to help reduce permanent stains and odors. A stain that is still wet can be dealt with with a thick layer of paper towels, newspapers, or towels to absorb as much of the accident as possible. Stand on the towels or blot the area so that the urine is soaked up for a few minutes. Remember, don’t scrub or wipe the accident at this stage—you’ll only drive stains and odors further into your flooring. Continue with this step until the area is dry. After, use a stain remover or rinse the area with water and gentle soap. Some products, like Nature’s Miracle, have an enzyme mixture that helps your pet from continuing to have accidents in the same spot over and over again. Cleaning solutions that contain ammonia or vinegar may cause your pet to continuously mark its scent in the same spots.
If you’re looking to get poop stains out of your carpet, pick up as much as you can before you use your water or stain remover. Use the same methods as you would to remove urine stains.
An accident that has set into your carpet is more difficult to clean up, but there are options out there. You could rent a carpet cleaner from your local home improvement store. These cleaners can help ensure your carpet is cleaned thoroughly, without leaving traces behind in the fibers. Use a pet odor neutralizer to eliminate remaining smells.
Be mindful that with carpet, it’s critical to avoid heat on the area—just say ‘no’ to steam cleaning! The heat will permanently set odors and stains into the fibers of your carpet. This can lead to accidents that have soaked through the carpet entirely and into the padding below, making it necessary to completely replace the carpet. In some really bad instances, it can leak through the padding and into the subfloor, causing a whole host of new issues to deal with.
Removing pet stains from hardwood floors
Stained hardwood floors require different treatment versus carpeted floors. Urine stains and smells are challenging to remove from hardwood floors, though there are some home remedy options available. Mix one cup of vinegar into a gallon of warm water and then add a few drops of grapefruit or peppermint oil (the oil is meant to get rid of the odor). This is a safe solution to use when scrubbing your hardwood floors. If the stain is still damp, baking soda can be sprinkled over the area and will soak up the moisture and help to eliminate odors.
If you’re left with an unpleasant odor after cleaning, you can use hydrogen peroxide added directly to the stained area. Cover the area with a clean cloth also soaked in hydrogen peroxide. After that, cover the cloth with plastic wrap, weigh down the edges and corners, and let sit for at least eight hours. The hydrogen peroxide should remove the stains and odors. A warning: hydrogen peroxide can lighten floors, resulting in a need to sand and refinish the area.
When home remedies aren’t enough
It could be time to call the experts if your pet’s accidents remain a problem. A stain- and odor-free floor is an important part of home maintenance. Not only does it help with the value of your home, but pet feces and urine can pose a health hazard to those who are living in the house.
After you’ve dealt with the stains, make sure that your pets are happy and healthy. Consider speaking with your vet on ways to deal with accidents in the house.