Caring for Carpets In a Home with Pets

Pets bring us so much joy and are often prized members of our families. But when you own pets and have carpet in your home, it can be a struggle to keep your carpets looking clean all of the time. Whether you have a dog, cat or some other kind of animal, all pets have their smells and shed some kind of dander, both of which can be incredibly hard to get out of our carpets. Here are some tips on how you can care for your carpets so you can continue to love your four-legged family members.

Pick Out the Right Carpet For You

If you are replacing the carpeting or wish to carpet a wood or tile floor, consider what is going to work best for you home. Certain carpets are going to be better for homes with pets than others. If you are able, stain-resistant carpet is always the way to go. Stain-resistant carpet already has a protective layer applied to the fibers, and can withstand being steam-cleaned, vacuumed and spilled on without losing too much of its integrity. It is also ideal to have a carpet with a medium tone and that has a few colors woven in to help hide some pet dirt from showing.

Keep your Pet’s Nails Trimmed

Taking care of your pet’s nails can help to take care of your home’s carpets. When a pet gets excited and runs around or scoots across the carpet, ti can snag the strands of material. This can cause an unraveling effect that would eventually leave spots that are bare, disheveled looking or less fluffy than the rest of the carpet. When trimming your pet’s nails it is also ideal to use a pet anil file on them. This removes the rigidity left to make the nails feel smooth again.

Use a Hardwood or Tile Entrance

When pets spend a great deal of time outside, it may be ideal to have a first line of defense such as a hardwood or tile entrance with a rug. This prevents wet and muddy feet from making prints on the floor and prevents the mud from getting on the carpet. This would be needed especially on the days when it has been raining or snowing outside. Keep a towel handy near the entry door to wipe them off on those kinds of days.

Clean up Accidents Quickly

Pet urine is one of the toughest things to battle when it comes to carpet care. In order to get accidental urine spots out of the carpet, you need to catch it rather quickly. Get several paper towels first and dab at the carpet, soaking up as much as you can. Avoid rubbing into the carpet, as it will spread the urine and dig it deeper into the carpet fibers and padding. Then sprinkle baking soda over the spot and let it sit for 10 minutes. Mix 1 part water with 1 part vinegar, and spray the stain with the mixture. Let it sit for 5 minutes then blot it up with a cloth.

Clean Your Carpets on a Regular Basis

Even if your pet does not shed a lot, dander is still created. This can cause a carpet to get weighed down and have a pet odor to it. To prevent this from being an issue, you should vacuum at least twice a week. One of those times you should move furniture and thoroughly vacuum. Pet dander and hair can travel, causing it to get on carpet that is underneath furniture. In addition, you should steam clean at least every couple months and have a professional cleaning as frequently as you think is necessary. This will lengthen the life of your carpets and will limit the amount of unpleasant odors that can stay in your carpets.

If you need help with getting rid of those pet urine stains or smells, contact Chem-Dry of Lodi! We offer a Pet Urine Removal Treatment (P.U.R.T.) that is effective and safe for your pets. We remove the odors at their source by destroying the urine crystals that dry deep in the carpet’s padding. We also offer professional carpet and upholstery cleaning to help rid your home of pet dander and any other allergens that are preventing you from having a healthy home. Contact us today!