A new survey from Woolite® Carpet & Upholstery reveals nearly 80 percent of pet owners admit to masking stains instead of remedying them.
Every dog makes a mess now and then in the house and we have to clean it up. But have you ever noticed a lingering smell or maybe the stain never comes out all the way? Have you ever wondered if that carpet really is clean?
Here are some tips and products to help clean as best as possible when your fur kid makes a mess.
Tips For Cleaning
- Clean it up as fast as possible. Letting it sit and soak into the carpet will make getting the stain and smell out harder and if you have thin carpet, it can leak down into the padding and even the floorboards. If this happens you will never get it all out unless you replace the carpet and the pad.
- Clean it twice. Even if you think it’s clean because you can’t see it anymore, clean the spot again after it dries. This will help get any residual grime or smell out.
- Reina vanDelft, Vice President and Divisional Merchandising Manager at Pet Supplies Plus says to NOT use black lights when testing to see if the carpet is truly clean because it can damage carpet fibers.
- If your dog keeps going in the same place, you have not cleaned well enough. Time to call the professionals and/or replace your carpet.
- Read all labels and follow the directions. A lot of times we don’t get things cleaned properly because we are not using the products right. Take time to read the label and follow directions (husbands that goes for you too!)
- Green does not mean safe! Good Housekeeping has a whole article on this. Cleaning products are supposed to have clear labels stating products that contain irritants, but they found that was not always the case. Look for the “Good Housekeeping Seal” on green products that are following the rules.
Products
One mom and dog owner says, “I always used OUT! Oxy Stain & Odor Remover Spray. Just make sure to wipe really well with a wet towel and kept girls away till dry. If it was in a high traffic area for the girls I would just go with good ole soap and water.” Available at major retail stores such as Walmart.
vanDelft recommends Nature’s Miracle Advanced Formula as the best all-purpose stain and odor remover. You can buy Nature’s Miracle at most retail chain stores. There website has an “ask the expert” page where you can get help with your stain and odor questions.
“It has superior oxygen-enriched, bio-enzymatic cleaning capabilities along with Pet-Block™, which removes pet attractant scents and destroys odors to prevent re-soiling,” she explains.
Here are her tips to using Nature’s Miracle:
Before Using: Test surfaces to be treated for color fastness by applying to a hidden area; wipe with a cloth. If color is removed from the test area, do not use on those surfaces.
Always use at full strength. Always use Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover first. Other cleaners and detergents may fail and chemically “set” stains that will be impossible to remove.
FOR STAIN REMOVAL: Wipe up as much of stain as possible, then thoroughly soak stain with Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover. Wait five minutes then, wipe away stain with a cloth. For tough stains, use a stiff bristle brush. If stain is not completely removed, re-soak area and allow Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover to work for one hour, then wipe stain with a cloth.
FOR ODOR ELIMINATION: Wipe up excess odor-causing material. Then, thoroughly soak the entire area with Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover. For carpets, apply enough to reach the urine penetration in the pad and floor. This may mean lifting carpet and applying directly to the pad and floor. Depending on the air circulation, carpets and upholstery may take up to 2 weeks to dry completely. If after 2 weeks there is still an odor, it means that Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover did not reach ALL the odor-causing material (e.g.: urine). Pinpoint odor source and repeat cleaning process
The new Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize provides pet owners with an effective clean they can trust. With one powerful formula they can destroy 99.9 percent of bacteria on carpet and soft surfaces (not wood!) and eliminate tough pet odors for a cleaner, fresher home.
According to the company, “Its formula permanently removes even the toughest stains, including vomit, feces, urine and blood from carpets… and upholstery, while eliminating pet odors at the source, leaving behind a clean, fresh scent. Plus, the formula can be used on other soft surfaces in the home, including stairs, area rugs, pet beds, cushions, couches and more.” Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize is available at the following retailers: Walmart, Walgreens, Meijer, Lowe’s and major grocery retailers.
If you are looking for an odor eliminator, try the Critterzone. It actually lifts the odor out of the carpet and eliminates it electronically so that your pet will never “go” in that spot again. They even have an adapter so you can use it in your car. You can buy it on their website.
Our Choice: Quick’n Brite is biodegradable, and nontoxic. It’s safe around children and pets and has a mild pleasant smell. We’ve used Quick’n Brite on the worst messes we could think of, with great results. Waterproof marine wheel bearing grease, soot-impregnated diesel engine oil, scummy shower stalls, RV holding tanks, fiberglass boat bilges, filthy wood floors- no matter where we applied it the results were amazing.
On the section of Shampoo machines they rate the Hoover the best but put a tip at the bottom:
Tip: Use Quick’n Brite diluted according to package directions instead of carpet steamer pretreatment, traffic area cleaner, cleaning solution, antifoam agent, and stain release chemicals. Quick’n Brite performs all those functions well, smells great and is far less expensive.
If you are looking for something completely non-toxic, the new Steamboy PRO T3 from the Reliable Corporation clean using water and vapor steam. According to the company, it is “a one-of-a-kind product that is specially designed to clean and sanitize carpets and sealed floor surfaces. It’s the perfect cleaning gadget for pet owners as it helps remove lingering pet odors and stains-without the use of toxic chemicals. The only ingredient is water and the vapor steam quickly yet efficiently kills 99.99% of common bacteria/germs, helps control allergies and the high-temperature heat kills fleas (eggs and their lava).” It’s available at CrateandBarrel.com and ReliableCorporation.com.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and works as a full time trainer. She is the founder of, A Fairytail House, a unique all-positive all-sport dog training facility that helps rescue dogs in her area and provides free seminars and training classes for the community. In her spare time, she trains and competes in herding, agility, obedience, rally, and conformation with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
