How to Have Pets and Carpets Too

by: Norman Grinkler

There are always messes where pets are involved, as anyone who's ever had a pet knows. First of all, you will have the cleanup problems inherent with training a new puppy or kitten, and even after that, big pets still have accidents. Sometimes your pet may have a vomiting episode or you may just have to deal with the general dirt, fur and dander come with owning a pet. If your carpet has been taking a beating because of your animal, you may want some hints on how to deal with this problem.

Odor is the first problem you will notice with pets. Even if you don't notice it, because you have become immune to it, your guests will. Bathing and brushing your pets on a regular basis is one way to avoid pet odors.This eliminates fur and dander on the carpet and upholstery. Whenever your pet comes in contact with your furniture, use a lint brush or damp sponge on your furniture to further reduce buildup. Use a vacuum that has a beater brush or roll when you vacuum. This will grab the fur and lift it as well as assist the suction process. If you use a regular vacuum on your carpet, you don't have the proper equipment to pick up the loose fur that will coat the floor if you have a pet. You may get some of it, but most of it will stick to the carpet and be even further ground in by the regular flow of traffic across the carpet by your family.

Using a pet rake to get a lot of the fur off of the carpet is recommended by many people. These gadgets will also help speed up your vacuuming process. Use a tool with nylon bristles, and use smooth, even strokes across the surface of the carpet. They are a good idea, but if you do not have one, a velour brush or tape roller will do a good job. You can also try to wrap tape around the middle of your hand, sticky side out, and rub it on carpets or furniture. In corner areas where vacuums don't pick up the fur well, these tricks work especially well. They are also very useful in picking up fur off the trimwork.

When you have the common but annoying problem of your pet urinating on the carpet, make the job easier by doing some preparation on the stain by going over the area with a damp sponge. After that, mix a quart of water with a teaspoon of white vinegar and scrub the stain out. The benefit of this method is that is not only removes the stain, but it also eliminates the odor from such an accident. Make sure you get rid of all the odor, because even if you can no longer smell it, your pet will still be able to, and will want to return to that spot and remark it. The best way to completely eliminate the odor is to use a pet bacteria /enzyme digester. This can be found in most pet stores. The carpet is saturated with the digester. The idea behind this is that both the carpeting and the padding underneath are soaked. This needs to be left on for the full amount of time the product suggests. They won't guarantee that it will work if you don't do this, so be patient.

If your pet should vomit on the carpet, you're going to need to use professional carpet cleaner, since stomach fluids tend to be thicker in nature. After treating with professional (or industrial strength) detergent, rinse with clean hot water and soak up the liquid from the carpet until the stain is removed.

Carpet maintenance may be inconvenient, but if you perform general upkeep on a routine basis and keep the necessary tools on hand in case of an accident, you'll save your carpet and enjoy a fur-free and odor-free house without having to banish your pets to the great outdoors.