Tips to Have Clean Carpets in a Pet-Friendly Home

When you have a pet such as dog (or even a cat) there are some extra challenges to keeping your carpets clean. It takes a bit more effort and diligence but the joys of having a pet share your day far outweigh the bit of extra work.

Here are some ideas that I have seen work first hand and all involved will feel good about these ideas.

Tip #1
Have a cleaning station with cleaning implement ready and waiting. If your pet has been having some fun outside and comes home a bit muddy then make sure they enter from the door with the dedicated cleaning station.
Have a towel handy right on a hook and perhaps a grooming comb or brush to remove leaves and twigs.

Use a rubber mat or an area rug if you have wood flooring. If you have a tile floor then you may be fine without a mat.

If you live in an area with ticks then this is also a fine time to check for ticks and remove them immediately. With this thought in mind it may be a good idea to have a tick removal tool and a small bottle of rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls in a nearby drawer.

If you do not have the space for a complete cleaning station then be sure to have a towel on a hook by the door. If you are consistent then your dog may learn that he or she cannot come back inside until their paws have been wiped.

Tip #2
To prevent any carryover from getting on to your main carpet consider using a small area rug that is placed just inside the house beyond the cleaning station. If some dirt gets tracked into the house then it is much easier to clean an area rug than your main carpet.

Tip #3
If your carpet needs some cleaning attention then use a pet-friendly carpet cleaner. Quickly vacuum up the dirt and then spray the carpet cleaner – let it sink in a bit – then wipe It clean.

Use a 2nd cloth or paper towel with water to rinse the area and then use an absorbent paper towel to absorb the extra moisture. It is best if you clean up dirt and stains quickly.

Tip #4
If your pet has an accident and you need to clean up some urine then use a paper towel with water and a vinegar solution (1:1 solution with water) to help remove the odor. Pour the solution into the area of the accident – the solution needs to reach the lower fibers of the carpet to fully neutralize the area. Let the solution sit for 5 minutes and then use paper towels to soak up everything.

As a final step wait for the carpet to be almost dry (2-3 hours) and then sprinkle some baking soda on to the carpet. Lightly rub the baking soda into the area and then let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then vacuum the area and you will not even know that it happened!

Note again that to clean up quickly and completely is very important. If a pet smells urine in a certain location then our furry friend may think it is OK to pee in that place. If you do not clean up completely then you are more likely to have a repeat performance.

Tip #5
If you need your carpets to have a deep and complete clean then consider giving us a call. We have professional deep cleaning equipment. We can help your carpets to look much better and we can remove most odors and stains completely. We also have large high air-flow fans to help dry your carpets. A Clean Vision has made a commitment to cleaning carpets and we will be happy to provide you with a quote.

Call A Clean Vision at 802-295-6065 if you live in the Upper Valley and are in need of carpet cleaning.