How to Remove Pet Stains and Smell: Tutorial on Removing Pet Mess

There are so many good things about owning a pet-love, joy, affection-but sometimes, all of these entail a mess. The point that they cause accidents, shed their coats, or make a regular smell can make your house not clean. Having the right tools and techniques though, you can treat pet stains and smells fast and easy to keep your house fresh and clean. Here is how to get rid of pet-related messes in a non-toxic way for your home, your pet, and the environment.

1. Act with timeliness for best results

Here's one of the basic tenets of cleaning animal messes: act fast. The longer the stain or odor sits, the deeper it soaks into carpeting, upholstery, and even into hardwood and the more difficult it becomes to remove. Fresh stains, just before they can drip onto carpeting, upholstery, or even hardwood, are infinitely easier to clean. If you catch the accident quickly, grab some paper towels, an absorbent cloth, or even a wet/dry vacuum to blot the mess.

Absorb as much liquid with paper towels or a clean cloth. Do not rub as this will push the stain deeper into the fibers or push it deeper into the surface of the floor. For solid messes like vomit or feces, scrape up as much of the mess as possible with paper towels or a plastic bag and discard the waste. Apply cleaning solution to the stain.

2. Use the right cleaning agents

The pet stain should be washed using the appropriate products that remove the stains as they appear but not harmful to your pets. Most of the household cleaners are doped up with chemicals that can either harm them. One should look for enzyme-based cleaners, as they break down the urines, vomit, and other fecal matter left by the pets. Enzymatic cleaners contain bacteria that produce the enzymes in the breakdown of organic matter and therefore completely eliminate the source of the odor and stain.

Another cleaning method, likely safer and even rather more efficient, uses a homemade cleaner found with common household items. A mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water works wonders for many stains. You can apply it by sprinkling baking soda on the area for neutralizing the odors. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then vacuum the baking soda off; your surface should be cleaner and fresher.

3. Carpet and Upholstery Stain Removers

Often, stains on carpets and upholstery caused by pets are a tough challenge. First, blot as much liquid away from the spill as you can using blotting-a technique I discussed earlier. Next, apply the enzyme-based cleaner or your vinegar-water solution to the stain. Allow the solution to sit for around 10 to 15 minutes before blotting up with clean cloths.

For deep stains or odors set into the carpet, you might wish to get a steam cleaner or rent a carpet cleaner. With an enzyme-based cleaner, steam cleaning will lift out deep-seated stains and smells that regular cleaning just can't touch. Always test the cleaner in a small, unobtrusive area first before using it on a larger area so that you can be certain it won't discolor your carpet or fabric.

4. Wooden and Tile Floors

Wooden and tile floors are very easy to clean, but pet messes can still ding the finish or leave lingering odors behind. Be careful which cleaning products you use on wood floors-these can damage the finish; blot the area with a cloth before applying a cleaner for wood floors or just use a mild vinegar solution. Once you have finished cleaning, dry the area to remove as much water from the wood as possible, or else it might warp or stain in that area.

Tile floors are actually much easier to clean up for pets. Most general household cleaners or your vinegar-water mix will do the trick. Just be sure to mop the area afterward so you don't have any residue lingering.

5. Lingering Odors

The smells your pet would leave behind may linger even after removing any stain. Of course, this is true specifically in the case of urine; it can penetrate into the carpet pad or even subflooring. The best option to remove deep-set smells is enzyme cleaners since they tend to break the odor-causing molecules instead of masking them.

You can also place air purifiers, pet-safe deodorizers, or even more natural forms of remedies such as placing bowls of baking soda or activated charcoal around the smelling area so that that smell is absorbed. You can also reduce odor through regular washing of your pet's bedding, blankets, and toys.

6. Prevention of Future Messes

Make sure your pet is house-trained and has access to either the outdoors or a litter box on schedule to minimize accidents. If pets frequently mark or have accidents in certain spots, block off access to those areas or use deterrent sprays that make the area less appealing for them to come back into.

Pets can be messy but may be possible to remove pet stains and smells without lingering in your house if you do it quickly. With the correct products and a little maintenance, one can enjoy those furry friends without the stress of lingers' left behind!