Tackling carpets: How to clean the house in a pet friendly way

Eco-friendly means people and pet friendly, too! It’s why Scrubbi is the perfect solution to your frantic Google search for ‘pet friendly house cleaning services near me’ (which, if you’re reading this blog, is something you’re definitely looking for). 

Yup, some of the air fresheners, cleaners, and disinfectants that you use in your home may actually be harmful to you and your pet’s health. 

A study conducted by the National Resource Defence Council (NRDC) and reported on by HowStuffWorks.com found that 14 different air fresheners sold at a Walgreens drug store contained chemicals that could cause developmental and reproductive problems, especially for infants.

Prolonged exposure from disinfectants and their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can potentially even lead to “cancer, liver and/or kidney damage, and damage to the central nervous system,” according to PetMD.com. 

Because they’re in much closer proximity to the floor than we are, the effects of any harsh chemicals will affect our pets much more than they will for us. The fewer manufactured cleaners we use, the less we expose our beloved pets to harmful chemicals. The benefits of eco-friendly products are countless.

No matter how well trained your pet is, accidents still happen. And when they do, it’s up to you to clean it – fast.

Why you need to clean the mess ASAP

According to the Humane Society, as long as your pet can smell his personal scent, he’ll continue to return to the “accident zone.” Not ideal. And even if you can’t smell traces of urine, your pet can, so you must be sure to remove (neutralize) that odor. This means following all the recommended cleaning steps. If you fail to completely clean the area, your re-training efforts will be useless.

Then when you do have the area clean, it’s just as important to make the “accident zone” unattractive or unavailable to your pet and to make their proper “bathroom” area more attractive.

“If you fail to completely clean the area, your re-training efforts will be useless.”

If the problem persists, it’s a good idea to have your pet checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical issues that might be causing the accidents. If and when your pet is healthy, use positive reinforcement to re-train them to eliminate in the proper spot.

How to clean pet stains from carpet

Below is a 3-step pet friendly method for cleaning pet stains from carpet and rugs.

This home remedy uses only natural, eco-friendly ingredients that most people have in their pantry or cupboards. It works just as well as any store bought stain remover that uses chemicals to eliminate pet stains. It also happens to work wonders for other stubborn stains like spaghetti sauce.

But, if you’re still in the market for store-bought cleaning products that will answer the burning question “How to clean the house in a pet friendly way!?”, we recommend looking for products with an Ecologo or Green Seal certified label. These certifications guarantee that the product performs as well as the regular manufactured cleaners but with ingredients that are all biodegradable and non-toxic.

Pro tip: React quickly. The single best thing you can do to clean any stain on carpet is to act fast. The less time it has to soak into the material, the easier it will be for you to get rid of all stains and smells. For pet stains specifically, animal urine can affect the dye in the carpets causing it to discolour or run.

If the urine gets soaked into the padding underneath the carpet, it may be almost impossible to get out. At that point you may need to replace the carpet or get a professional carpet cleaner.

All-natural pet stain remover: DIY and pet-approved

To make this DIY carpet cleaner, you’ll need: 

• White vinegar
• Water 
• Baking Soda
• Paper towels
• Vacuum cleaner
• Spray bottle

Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle

Step 1: Pat, don’t rub!

When you spot a stain or accident, immediately use a paper towel to gently blot the area dry. Rubbing the stain with a paper towel will only push the fluid further into the carpet fibres and padding. Keep patting until the spot is fairly dry. 

Pro tip: Put one of the urine-soaked paper towels in your pet’s proper “bathrooming” area to help remind them where they should be doing their business.

Step 2: Soak with vinegar and water

Soak the area with your water-and-vinegar solution. This helps cut through especially stubborn stains and re-wets the stain to make sure all the pet urine (or spaghetti sauce) is lifted off the carpet. The vinegar neutralizes ammonia in urine, which also means it neutralizes the smell of urine. For particularly potent stains, you can even go with 100% vinegar.

Step 3: Dry it all out, once and for all

While the spot is still wet from the vinegar-and-water solution, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the stained area. Right away, you’ll start to see and hear some fizzing and crackling as it starts to lift the stain and smell from the carpet. 

Leave the baking soda on the carpet until it’s completely dry. This could be overnight, or it might take a day or two. Be patient!  Once it’s completely dry, vacuum the baking soda from the carpet and–voila! Your carpet is as good as new.

Pro tip: Don’t use a steam cleaner to clean pet stains. The heat actually bonds the protein from the urine into the carpet fibre, making the stain and smell virtually permanent. 

Alternative DIY carpet-cleaner recipe

Here’s another baking soda method that some of our Cleaning Specialists swear by. It uses 3% hydrogen peroxide and dish soap instead of vinegar. With this one, always test how your carpet reacts to hydrogen peroxide by applying a small amount to an area that won’t be seen. Also, don’t use hydrogen peroxide over 3%, which can cause discolouration and bleaching. 

1. Pour enough baking soda to cover the stain.
2. Mix a half cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a small amount of dish soap (about a teaspoon should do it).
3. Pour the hydrogen peroxide and soap mixture over the baking soda and rub it into the stain.
4. Leave overnight and pat dry and vacuum the next morning.

Related Articles & Resources:

Common Air Fresheners Contain Chemicals That May Affect Human Reproductive Development via the NRDC

Are air fresheners bad for your health? via How Stuff Works

A Cleaner, Greener Home for You and Your Pet via PetMD

How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors via The Humane Society

4 Everyday Items That Work Wonders on Pet-Stained Carpeting via Vetstreet

Easy to Make DIY “Pupsicles” for Dogs via Scrubbi

Clean Carpet Pet Stains Naturally via The Bark

Tell me more about those pet friendly house cleaning services near me …

Pet stains are now taken care of-well done! Now, to get in on house cleaning services to help you with your stack of household cleaning tasks, you’re gonna want to use a service that’s committed to not only keeping your home clean but also to your and your pet’s health. 

Enter: Scrubbi. We bring only eco-friendly products to use in your home, or we’re happy to use the cleaning products you already have. Either way, no harmful VOCs for you, Fido or feline.