Although we love our furry friends dearly, there is nothing worse than arriving home and finding a big surprise on your carpets, floors, or upholstery.
Pet stains or pet odors are one of the main reasons homeowners call and schedule a carpet cleaning, which is unsurprising to those of us who have ever had to deal with pet accidents. So what should you do when your pet has an accident in your home?
The best thing to do is simply act quickly. Like any other carpet stain, the quicker you tend to it, the less likely it will set into your carpet. When you know that your dog or cat has left behind an accident, immediately grab a bunch of newspapers or paper towels to soak up as much of the urine as possible. If you can't find the accident spot, it might be a good idea to invest in a black light. Turn of all the lights and turn your black light on and the spots should instantly reveal themselves.
It's important that when you're cleaning up the mess, that you don't to scold or strike your pet after she's eliminated on the floor. If you rub your pet's nose into the mess or strike her after she's eliminated indoors, then it might make her afraid to ever use the bathroom in front of you again.
Once you've soaked up as much of the urine as possible, it's best to call a professional carpet cleaner. Many of the pet stain cleaning solutions on the market can bleach, oversaturate, or dye your carpets.
Kiwi's professional carpet cleaning technicians have been thoroughly trained in our three-step pet stain removal process:
- First, your technician will try to eliminate the stain and odor on the carpet surface.
- If the stain and odor persist, the technician will then inject an antimicrobial treatment into the carpet padding.
- If the stain and odor are still present after the injection, your technician will then lift up the carpet, replace the padding, and wash and seal the floor beneath.
Here are some tips to train your furry friend to prevent an accident inside:
- If your cat is the culprit of the indoor accidents, make sure his litter box is in a place where he is truly comfortable and feels like he has privacy. Cats are notorious for being very particular about everything, especially the placement of their box. Be sure to put a lot of distance between their food bowl and their litter box. Also be sure to keep their boxes away from loud appliances, as this might scare them out of the room and force them to eliminate in the hallway or on the couch.
- If you're training a new puppy, the key is to be patient. It might even be a good idea to take a couple of days off work, just to ensure that you've established a routine with your new pet.
- Take your dog outside every couple of hours when they're inside with you. Never let a puppy wander around alone inside the house, because the second you turn your head, you'll have a pet stain on your new rug.
- Reward your dog with treats and affection when they have been properly trained to use the bathroom outdoors.
- Take up the water dish a couple of hours before bedtime, so you can know for sure that they don't need to go outside.
