We at Carolina Flooring Services love our four-legged friends – even if they can be hard on carpets! Between puppy accidents, muddy paws, and lingering odors, pets can cause lots of damage to your floors, but with these tips clean-up should be a breeze. 
How to Remove Carpet Stains Caused by Urine:
- If the urine stain is still wet, blot the area using a white paper towel. If the urine stain is dry, apply cold water to the area and blot.
- Apply an enzymatic carpet cleaner to the stain and surrounding carpet areas. Allow the cleaner at least 5-10 minutes to soak in to the carpet fibers.
- Gently scrub the stained area with a bristled cleaning brush. To effectively reach all fibers, it is best to use both side-to-side and up-and-down motions.
- Use a paper towel to soak up the excess cleaner. Reapply cleaner and re-scrub as necessary.
How to Remove Carpet Stains Caused by Fecal Matter:
- Remove bulky matter using a paint scraper and discard.
- Spray a stain remover on the effected area. You can use carpet cleaner or laundry stain remover, as long as the cleaner is enzymatic. Any product with “oxy” in the name should work.
- Gently scrub the effected area using cold water, then blot with paper towels. You will most likely need to repeat the process a few times to remove all traces of the stain.
How to Remove Lingering Odors:
- Liberally apply an absorptive powder such as baking soda or salt to the area that was stained. Allow the powder to sit overnight.
- Sweep up as much of the powder as you can, then vacuum up what remains. Be sure not to push the grains of the baking soda or salt into the carpet, as these gritty particles can damage carpet fibers. The odor should have disappeared!
How to Remove Carpet Stains Caused by Mud:
- Pour a small amount of dish detergent on the stained area and blot.
- Flood the area with equal parts white vinegar and cold water and blot.
- Repeat until stain is lifted.
General Tips:
- Whenever you are blotting, avoid paper towels with colored patterns, as the dye from the towel may accidentally transfer to your carpet during the cleaning process.
- Use cold water to remove protein stains, such as those caused by fecal matter, urine, blood, vomit, or mud. Hot water will cause these types of stains to set.
- Take care not to scrub a stained area too vigorously and accidentally cause the fibers of your carpet to tear.
- Claws can become tangled in loop carpets, which is painful for your pet and damages your carpet fibers. Twist or texture carpets are the best option for pet owners.
- If your pet frequently urinates or defects on your floor, it may be a sign of anxiety, that your pet is being left alone to long, or other serious health issues. Talk to your vet about what you can do to prevent accidents and improve your pet’s health.
Interested in learning how to protect your floors, and what other pet-friendly flooring options exist? Contact us today! We at Carolina Flooring Services are ready to assist you in selecting and installing the perfect floor for you and Fido. Photo Courtesy of: globochem3x1minus1