As you know pets can have accidents on your hard floors and carpets.  We love our pets, but getting the stains out can sometimes be a challenge.

In this article I am going to focus on carpet cleaning, especially with regard to pet stains.  It is based upon years of my own trial and error.  If you have urine stains, it is best to try to clean them when they are very fresh.  As soon as I discover a spot, I blot the stain with cotton terrycloth hand towels I buy at Sam’s.  It may be necessary to blot it several times.  Then, rub the stain using a cotton towel dampened with cool water.  Hot water will permanently bond the stain and odor to man-made fibers.  At this point if the stain is still present, do not use chemical cleaners.  Sometimes they will remove the remainder of the stain, in other cases, the stain returns when the carpet is dry.

Chemical cleaners will not remove the odor; they simply mask it.  Put your nose to the carpet in the area of the stain and then decide.   Instead, use an odor-neutralizing cleaner.  I can recommend two products that have worked for me.  The first is Equalizer, which we sell and works well on individual stains.  It is an aerosol and requires no mixing.  The second is Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover.  It is necessary to mix this product but it works well on both individual stains and when cleaning the entire carpet.  It can be found at Lowe’s, Home Depot and sometimes the grocery store.

After you have tried one of those products, if some of the stain remains, try 3% or 4% hydrogen peroxide that you can buy at the pharmacy.  Before you apply it to the stain, try it in an inconspicuous area of the carpet to determine if your carpet is colorfast.  If it is, then apply it to the stain and let it dry completely.  I have found that when I come back the next day, the stain is often completely gone.

If you have more than a few spots to eradicate, consider renting or buying a carpet scrubber.  A good scrubber will pay for itself very quickly.  I do not recommend calling one of the carpet cleaning services.  My experience is that they use chemicals that only hide the stains, which ultimately reappear later.  Some companies use steam, which will set stains and odors in synthetic carpets and may break down the backing of the carpet.

Based upon the recommendation of a client, I have a Hoover SteamVac Spin Scrub for years, and find it very effective on carpets and hard floors as well.  It does not create steam at all.  It just does a good job of infusing the carpet with water, agitating the carpet fibers and then extracting the dirty water.  Do not bother to use the chemical carpet cleaner that may come with it; just use cool water.  It may be necessary to clean the carpet several times the first time you use it.  You will be amazed at the amount of dirt that comes out, even after you have vacuumed first.  When you are satisfied with the cleanliness of the carpet, put your nose to the carpet.  If you can smell urine or other odors, go over the carpet again using the recommended mix of Folex and water in the carpet scrubber.  You may have to spot treat individual stains as discussed above before or while using the scrubber.

If you have any suggestions based upon your own experiences removing pet stains from carpets, please call us at Dr. Doolittle’s Animal Hospital at 972-317-9310.  If I receive enough suggestions, I will try to write a follow-up article.