If you own a pet, you would be wise to keep ample supplies of pet stain remover around your house or apartment. In the best-case scenario, a pet stain remover is also a pet stain odor remover. Getting rid of a stain is one thing, but pets have a powerful sense of smell. If you clean up the splotch on your living room rug, but fail to banish the aroma, your beloved Tabby or Spot may well decide that you’ve designated your living room an open-air latrine.
The indisputable fact is that, if you share your home with a pet, sooner or later you are going to have to deal with pet stains. It’s just the nature of the beast that said beast will eventually decide to relieve himself upon your clean carpet, fancy tiles, or shining hardwood floor. Usually this is the fault of the pet owner. Pets are generally pretty good about letting their humans know when they need to go out. Humans, on the other hand, are not so good at responding to a pet’s signals that they want to head outside immediately.
A pet stain remover can be purchased under infinite brand names and strengths, but you can just as easily mix up the same concoctions in your kitchen or bathroom sink. Not all pet accidents are created equal, but the process of cleaning them up involves many commonalities. As a general rule, the longer you wait to clean up a pet stain, the worse it will become and the harder it will be to remove the less than fragrant bouquet. Such being the case, step one is to act quickly.
For dog urine, blot the stain with towels and remove as much of the liquid as is possible. After blotting, try spraying a solution consisting of 50 percent water and 50 percent white vinegar. Again, blot this dry. Repeat the procedure several times, and then sprinkle baking soda. Let the baking soda sit for half an hour, and then vacuum it up.
Removing dog excrement, and the inherent blotches that go with it, is a bit more unpleasant. Your first move is to scrape up the offending pile with a dustpan and paint scraper. Again, spray the discolored spot with a 50 percent water and 50 percent white vinegar solution. Blot up the liquid, and repeat at least three or four times. Next, using cold water, a scrub brush, and a color-safe detergent, thoroughly clean the area.
Feces stains can be difficult, so blot up the detergent mixture with towels. Sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it sit for at least an hour. You may now vacuum up the baking soda. If the unsightly spot remains, you may want to repeat the scrubbing process.
Cat urine is the Sherman tank of pet stains. Cats sometimes seem to urinate out of sheer spite, and they will inevitably choose a confined, hard-to-reach area such as the back of a closet or the inside of your car. A pet stain remover will work against cat urine, but the odor of this feline by-product is so strong that you might wish to wear a gas mask or rent a Haz-Mat suit. The removal method is much the same as for dog urine; it just requires more work.
Blot up the cat urine. Do not rub the wet section or it will just sink deeper into your flooring or carpet. You will need to continue blotting with towels until as much cat urine as possible as been removed. Rinse the area with cold water, blot up the water, and repeat. You will likely need to repeat the rinse four or five times.
Spray the area with a mixture consisting of one quart (946 ml) of three-percent hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup (60 ml) of baking soda,and two tablespoons (29 ml) of liquid dish detergent. It is a good idea to test spray this elixir on a piece of test fabric, to make certain it doesn't bleach your carpet or floor. If this proves to be the case, opt for the 50/50 vinegar and water mix. After you have blotted up the liquid, you would be wise to purchase an odor neutralizing spray or an enzyme based cleaner. Cat urine is tenacious, and you may not fully remove the stain and odor without the aid of a steam cleaner.
