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Carpet Cleaning: Don't Banish Your Pets
by Norman Grinkler
http://www.flcarpet.com
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.
The first problem you will notice with pets is the odor,
and if you don't notice it, your guests will. One way to
avoid pet odors is to bathe and brush them on a regular
basis. This will help to eliminate fur and dander building
up on the carpet and upholstery. If you use a lint brush or
damp sponge on your furniture whenever your pet comes in
contact with them will reduce build-up even further.
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.
You can make the job easier when you have the common but
annoying problem of your pet urinating on the carpet, by
doing some preparation on the stain. Go over the area with
a damp sponge, then, mix a quart of water with a teaspoon
of white vinegar and scrub the stain out. This method not
only removes the stain, but also eliminates the odor from
the accident. You have to make sure you get rid of all the
odor. Just because you can no longer smell it, don't
think your pet can't. He will still be able to and will be
tempted to return to that spot and make another mess. Use
a pet bacteria/enzyme digester to completely eliminate the
odor. You can find these in most pet stores. You must
saturate the carpet with the digester so that both the
carpeting and the padding underneath are soaked. Be
patient and leave this product on for the full amount of
time the directions say. The efficacy of the product won't
be guaranteed if you don't do this.
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.
Performing these types of cleanups on a regular basis will
make it easier in the long run to keep your carpet clean,
and nice smelling, even though keeping your carpet clean
with a pet is a nuisance. Then, you won't have to send your
precious pet outside.
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