As a pet owner, you know how quickly those adorable paws can turn your carpets into matted, stained messes. From accidents to muddy prints, keeping carpets clean with pets takes some work. But with the right tips and a local carpet cleaning service on speed dial, you can keep your carpets looking fresh.
How Often Should You Clean Carpets With Pets?
For starters, how often you should get your carpets cleaned depends on the type of mess you’re dealing with. Accidents warrant an immediate cleaning to lift stains and neutralize odors. For day-to-day dirt, dust, and dander, aims to deep clean carpets every 3-6 months. Homes with multiple pets or very active dogs may need professional cleans as often as every 8-12 weeks. Checking in with a local carpet cleaning service for recommendations based on your home’s needs is a wise idea.
7 Pro Tips to Pet-Proof Carpets
When tackling pet-prone carpeting, here are 7 handy tips to make cleaning and maintenance easier:
- Vacuum Daily
Make daily vacuum sessions a habit, especially in high traffic areas. Use a vacuum with strong suction to lift dirt from carpets before it gets ground in. Handheld vacuums are great for targeting pet beds, corners, and stairs too.
- Clean Accidents ASAP
At the first sign of an accident, grab paper towels to soak up moisture. Next, use an enzymatic cleaner formulated to eliminate odors and residual urine that can attract repeat accidents. Allow the area to fully dry before walking on it.
- Limit Access
Block off carpets in select rooms or put up pet gates to control access. This preserves the life of carpets so full home cleanings are less frequent. Close doors to bedrooms and cover couches too.
- Brush Fur Regularly
Daily brushing keeps loose pet fur under control before it scatters everywhere. It also helps cut down on hairballs and aids skin and coat health for happy pets.
- Protect High Traffic Areas
Runners down hallways capture a lot of dirt to make regular upkeep easier. Also place washable doormats outside entrances to make wiping or vacuuming paws simpler.
- Clean Paw Prints Fast
Those occasional muddy prints? Clean them up right away using just water and a scrub brush before they have a chance to dry and really stick.
- Schedule Seasonal Cleans
In addition to regular cleans, schedule annual deep cleaning sessions to give all carpets and rugs a fresh start. Aim to do this just before company visits for the holidays or during major shed seasons.
The Right Products for Pet-Prone Carpets
Some everyday products are specially designed with homes with pets in mind too:
● Stain removers – Look for enzymatic formulas made to eliminate new and old stains along with lingering odors caused by pet accidents. These break down the compounds and biological components causing stubborn smells.
● Wool-safe cleaners – Wool area rugs and delicate fibers require specialized low-foam cleaners to prevent damage during DIY grooming or professional services. Check labels before using standard carpet cleaners.
● Natural solutions – For chemical-sensitive pets, products featuring plant-derived enzymes provide an effective green cleaning option. They break down stains naturally without harsh additives.
By putting proactive habits and pet-friendly products into play, you’ll keep carpets looking cleaner longer – paws and all! Don’t hesitate to call your local carpet cleaning service for periodic deep cleaning either. With a multi-prong approach, you can handle even high traffic pet zones.
Key Takeaways:
- Vacuum high-traffic areas daily to lift dirt before it gets ground into carpets and clean up paw prints right away before they dry and stick.
- Invest in an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle designed to permanently eliminate odors and stains from pet accidents.
- Brush pets regularly to control loose fur and consider rubber pet hair removal gloves to whisk fur off carpets.
- Block access to select carpeted rooms using pet gates and cover couches/beds when not in use to limit wear and tear.
- Schedule professional carpet cleanings every 3-6 months for homes with pets to keep them fresh and hygienic.
- Upgrade to durable, low pile nylon carpeting or wool blends which best withstand pet paws, stains, and daily activity.
- Don’t forget to sweep and mop hard floors frequently too and have touch up supplies on hand for inevitable scratches or spills.
The Impact of Pets on Carpets
It’s no secret that pets can be rough on carpets. From matted fur and stains to digging and scratching, carpets take a beating with four-legged friends roaming around. High traffic areas near doors and hallways show wear fastest while thick plush carpets camouflage damage longer. But no matter what type of carpeting you have, pets will take their toll over time. The right cleaning methods and products can mitigate the impact for carpets that withstand the pets that call your house home.
Tackling Trouble Spots
Even if you stay on top of regular vacuum sessions, some areas prone to accidents, mud, and wear need extra attention. Entryways, pet beds, and play areas often fall into this trouble spot category. When you spot stains or matted patches, don’t let them sit! Blot wet stains immediately then use an enzymatic cleaner to lift odors and residue from accidents. For high pile rugs that show matting, brush out fur then follow up with carpet rakes or velvet brush tools to refresh the nap. Focusing on these targeted zones makes overall care much smoother.
Protecting Floors Too
While heavy attention goes to carpet care with pets, don’t let hard floors fall off the radar! Kitty litter tracked around, scratches from anxious paws, and drink spills all take a toll on surfaces too. Maintain wood, tile, and vinyl by sweeping and mopping frequently, trimming nails often, and installing floor protectors under food dishes. For times when pet mishaps leave unsightly marks, keep filler sticks and touch up markers on hand for wood floors. Using them along with steam cleaners for tile and vinyl keeps them looking like new.
What’s the best carpet material for pets?
Nylon carpet fiber is highly recommended for homes with pets because of its durability, stain resistance, and strength. Dense, low pile styles further withstand paws, accidents, and heavy activity from pets. Wool blends also hold up well to spills but require specialized cleaners approved for delicates. Avoid silk or other delicate natural fibers prone to pulling, tearing or wicking liquid through. Synthetics stand up better for the long haul. Also opt for low VOC carpeting since pets spend so much time at floor level.
Should I get carpets professionally cleaned before bringing home a pet?
Yes, starting with clean carpets is ideal before pets arrive so you have a fresh baseline. Professional deep steam cleaning removes embedded dirt, stains, and allergens previous owners or renters may have left behind too. Let carpets fully dry then do a walk through with pets first to identify any lingering areas of concern. You’ll likely want quarterly professional cleanings minimum afterward as well depending on pet activity in the home.
What’s the easiest way to remove pet hair from carpets?
Regular vacuuming is step one but for deeper removal between professional grooming, rubber pet hair removal gloves whisk away excess shedding. Simply slip them on and run palms over carpets and upholstery to lift hair. The rubber attracted the staticky strands while the texture grabs and removes fur easily without chemicals or liquids. Follow up with a vacuum session afterward for best results removing clinging hair and redistributed dander.
How do I get old urine stains out of carpet?
The most effective enzymatic cleaner for old or new urine stains from pet accidents is Nature’s Miracle. The natural bio-enzymatic formula activates on contact to eat away urine proteins and salts over time, permanently eliminating odors. For best results, thoroughly soak the affected area then let sit for 24 hours before blotting excess moisture and allowing carpets to air dry. The extended dwell time allows enzymes to fully break down stubborn compounds.
Can pets ruin carpet padding too?
Pet accidents can definitely soak through to carpet pads leading to lasting odors even once surface stains are removed. If you spot saturation, pull up carpet in that section to access and replace the soiled pad. For more minor stains, enzyme treatment followed by pet odor eliminators applied to the pad once dry kills lingering bacteria and freshens carpets. Preventative waterproof pads are smart options for accident prone pets too.
