Keeping Carpet Clean and Pristine in a Pet-Friendly Home

It is easy to love our furry companions, but it isn’t as easy to deal with some of the stains and odors that occur when they share our homes. Fur, claws, muddy paws, and the unavoidable accidents that pets leave behind during potty training can wreak havoc on your carpets, and even after you clean up stains, odors can linger.

Here are five tips from our Carpet Cleaning Gurus for keeping your carpets clean, pristine, and odor-free, regardless of your pet’s indiscretions.

Clean and Groom Your Pet Regularly

Though your pet may resist all grooming rituals, it is essential to ensure they are clean. After all, if your pet is clean, your carpets will also be cleaner. Regularly bathe and brush your pet. Though shedding is unavoidable with many breeds, brushing your pet regularly will reduce the amount of hair that falls on the carpet.

Keep Your Pet’s Paws Clean

Pets often track dirt all over your carpets, especially during the winter months when snow and rain create a muddy mess outside. To prevent this problem, add room-temperature water to a shallow container and have a towel ready before your pet goes outdoors.  When your pet comes back into the house, dip its paws in the water and then dry them with the towel.

Trim Your Pet’s Nails

Long nails and carpets don’t mix well, particularly when your pet gets excited and runs around an area frequently. If your pet’s nails aren’t trimmed, they can snag your carpet, creating uneven spots. Keep your pet’s nails short and filed to avoid snags.

Vacuum Frequently

Regular vacuuming will keep your home looking tidy, even when you are sharing the space with a frequent shedder. Eliminate hair build-up on your carpets by vacuuming several times a week. This will also help prevent the soil and dirt pets track in from accumulating in the carpet fibers and wearing out the carpet. If you want to eliminate unsightly pet hair while also decreasing the amount of dirt and pollens circulating throughout your home, select a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Clean Up Accidents Quickly

Even in the homes of the most attentive owners with the best-behaved animals, accidents happen. Cleaning up these accidents quickly is vital since urine can damage carpet dye and leave unsightly stains. Furthermore, if you fail to completely remove urine odors from the carpet, the smell can attract your dog or cat to urinate on the same spot. When an accident occurs, act quickly to stop the urine from seeping into the carpet pad. Use paper towels to blot up the urine. Blot the area until the towels come up dry. Next, spray white vinegar into the spot, let it sit for about a minute, and then blot up the vinegar with clean paper towels. Do not scrub at the stain; this can damage the carpet fibers. Repeat 3-4 times until the stain and odor disappears. If pet-caused stains and odors have set in, don’t hesitate to contact Professional Carpet Systems in Hartford.