How to Get Rid of Pet Stains on Your Carpet

Accidents happen but need to be cleaned thoroughly.

Pet accidents on your carpet are an inevitable part of pet ownership. Clean pet accidents on your carpet as thoroughly and quickly as possible so you can avoid having permanent stain and odor. A partially removed pet accident stain on your carpet will signal to your pet that it can return to the area to relieve itself again. Remove pet accident stains using simple household supplies so you can return your carpet to its clean, prestained condition.

Things You'll Need

• Scraper
• Paper towels
• Newspaper
• Wet vacuum
• Pet odor neutralizer

Instructions

1. Scrape up and dispose of any pet accident residue using your scraper.

2. 

   Absorbent paper towels wick up moisture.

   Fold an extra-thick layer of paper towels and lay it on the pet stain on your carpet.

3. 

   Old newspapers come in handy for all types of clean-up jobs.

   Fold a thick layer of newspaper and place it on top of the paper towels.

4. Press on the paper towel and newspaper layers to soak up moisture from the pet stain. Change to a new layer of towels and newspaper and continue to press until no more moisture from the pet stain wicks into the layers of paper.

5. Soak the pet stained area of your carpet with cold water, then blot the water up with paper towels.

6. Use a pet odor neutralizer on the site of the pet stain, allowing it to soak into the carpet fibers.

7. Wet vacuum the carpet to remove the pet odor neutralizer. Follow with another cold water rinse, then wet vacuum again to remove the rinse water.

8. 

   Fresh air helps deodorize a room after a pet accident.

   Allow your carpet to air dry. Open a window, if possible, to speed up the drying time.

Tips & Warnings

• Blot at pet stains, rather then scrubbing. Scrubbing will spread the stain.

• Avoid using ammonia on pet stains as they will draw your pet back to the area to soil it again.

References

• The Humane Society of the United States: Removing Pet Stains and Odors