First Things First
When you initially notice a mess, scoop or soak up the cause of the stain as quickly as possible until the area is close to dry. If it’s on the carpet, be especially careful not to rub it in, says Melissa Kaye, owner of Healthy Homes Cleaning and The Green Maid Network. Since all pets eat different proteins, you may need to experiment with a few different tricks to find the most effective one for your home and pet, but the most important thing is to act fast.
Enzyme Treatment
Any time there’s a pet accident in Kaye’s home, she uses BioKleen’s Bac-Out, a natural enzyme solution. “As soon as I wipe up the mess, I’ll blot it with Bac-Out, add some seltzer water, let it bubble up, and then clean it again.” Kaye notes that if you have cats at home, be sure to cover the enzyme-treated area with a bucket or close off the area. Though the product is all natural, one of the citrus ingredients can be hazardous for cats if ingested.
Surround with Vinegar
Melissa Maker, host of YouTube’s CleanMySpace channel, is also a big fan of enzyme cleaners when it comes to pets’ pee stains since you can typically find an enzyme cleaner that’s tailored to your specific pet and the specific stain itself, she says. Additionally, Maker will spray vinegar around the area once the enzyme treatment is finished. “This tends to help reduce the odor further, and pets typically don’t like the smell of vinegar,” she says.
On the Couch
Vinegar can work as a stain remover all on its own, too. (And while you may not love the smell, it’s far better than the stench that stain is leaving, right?) For couch stains, Kaye will saturate the area with white vinegar and then blot continuously until it’s soaked up. “Vinegar is much more effective than water, and the acidic nature is especially good for cleaning up any really smelly messes,” she says. If the couch is made of a delicate fabric, she suggests diluting the vinegar with water and testing on a corner of the couch first.
Carsick Pets
If your pet is prone to getting carsick, baking soda is your new best friend. Kaye will sprinkle baking soda on the spot in the car, let it sit overnight and then vacuum it up. The beauty with this trick is that it works even if you’ve forgotten about the stain a few days after the fact, she says.
Stained Toys
Stained pet toys are a notorious source of pet odors, says Maker. For plush toys, she suggests placing in a delicates bag and laundering with a gentle scent-free, dye-free detergent. For plastic toys without batteries, soak in a bucket filled with hot water, a squirt of dish soap and a cup of white vinegar for 20 minutes. Use a cloth to wipe down the toys, run under cool water to remove the suds and then air dry, she says.
Seeing Red
For any blood stains on upholstery or carpet caused by scratches or cuts, Kaye suggests keeping a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide on hand. “If the stain is on carpet, test in a corner first to make sure it doesn’t bleach the color out,” she says. “Then, spray right on the stain.”
Slobber Solution
As any owner with a slobbery dog can attest, discovering new slobber stains are a regular occurrence. “It’s simple enough to clean, but the challenge is staying on top of it,” says Maker. Maker recommends a mixture of one part vinegar to one part water and a teaspoon of dish soap. “Spray on the slobbery surface and allow the solution to break the slobber up, then wipe away with a soft cloth a moment or so later,” she says.
Dirty Paw Prevention
One of the most foolproof ways to being free of stains is to prevent them as much as you can in the first place. Maker suggests keeping a spray bottle filled with a teaspoon of pet shampoo and water along with a clean cloth by the entrance of your door. This way, you’re more likely to wipe their paws clean and dry them as soon as you enter the house instead of letting them roam free while you scurry for a towel.
