Professional Carpet Cleaning Tips: Everything You Need to Know About Living with Pets & Carpets

The furry friends that share our houses bring something special to our lives. With silly antics and undemanding affection and loyalty, pets offer something that can't be found anywhere else. Sharing our homes the way we do, it's inevitable that they'll also contribute to wear and tear, especially on soft flooring. The good news is that with the professional carpet cleaning team at Chem-Dry just a call away, you can continue to enjoy being a pet owner while keeping your carpets looking great and smelling fresh. 

Below, we’re presenting all you need to know about protecting your carpets while living with your four-legged friends!

Dealing with Pet Odors When You Have a New Puppy 

When it comes to adorable gifts, nothing beats a sweet, whimpering little puppy. Was this year your year to get—or give—the best present of all? If you’ve gifted yourself or your children a puppy this year, your home is no doubt a gleefully happy one! Or, at least it is until he has had his first accident on your beautiful, crème colored rug or carpet. Pet odors can be a beast if you don’t know how to eliminate them quickly. Read on to learn how to tame the beast so your house maintains its “like-new” look and feel.

Sniff Out Those Soiled Areas

If you have a new cuddly, adorable (and let’s face it, hyperactive!) puppy, then it won’t be long before you catch it in the act—peeing on your carpet, that is. Many homeowners wonder why their cat or dog has multiple accidents on their carpet long after their potty training days are over. The secret to your dog’s madness? A soiled carpet or rug that he’ll think of as his own personal “accident area.” 

Whether your puppy is watching you clean up his mess or not, he needs to understand where the appropriate “accident area” is—so scoop him up and head outdoors. Repeat this process until there’s a clear understanding between you and your puppy—your beautiful, clean carpet needs to stay that way and it’s up to him to do his part!

Addressing Accidents That Have Set

Avoid harsh chemical stain removers that are found at the supermarket. These can leave a residue that can be harmful to your pets and children. Instead, enlist the help of our professional carpet cleaning team at Chem-Dry. 

Our Professional Urine Removal Treatment (P.U.R.T.®) is specially designed to remove even the strongest pet odors. It works on a microscopic level, allowing the root cause—crystals from the pet urine that remain once the liquid has evaporated—to be dissolved and dissipate.

Understanding What Your Pet’s Paws are Leaving on the Floor

When we think of our pets, we probably think of the joy, happiness, and companionship they bring to our lives. What we might not think of, however, are the germs they bring to our homes as well.

Every time our pet walks into our home, they carry in dirt and grime on their paws. Over time, this can be damaging to floors and carpets. Nonetheless, it isn’t necessary to kick your pooch out just yet. Here are some simple and effective tips from our professional carpet cleaners that you can use to prevent this problem. 

Simple Solutions 

One simple solution is to keep a mat at your doorstep. This will help trap some of the dirt from your pet’s paws before they come indoors. In addition, it is always a good idea to give your dog’s paws a quick wipe after they have been outside. Again, this will help eliminate some of the microbes that might otherwise be tracked into your home. It is also important to bathe your pet regularly. This is yet another way to limit the potential of those unwanted germs becoming embedded in your carpet.

Despite all of your efforts to keep your pet’s paws clean, it is inevitable that some dirt will still be brought into the home. This is where routine cleaning habits play an important role.

For tile and hardwood floor cleaning, it is important to mop the area on a regular basis, paying special attention to those areas right by the door. These high-traffic areas will hold the most germs. For carpeted floors, vacuuming at least twice a week can help rid your home of many unwanted germs. It is also essential to bring in the support of a professional carpet cleaning service a couple of times a year. 

Choosing the Right Carpet as a Pet Owner

If you have pets, it’s inevitable that your carpet will undergo some wear and tear. So, how do you minimize the damage that’s done, or prevent it altogether? One of the biggest decisions you face when choosing a new carpet isn’t color, brand, or style. Instead, it’s choosing a durable carpet that will maintain its quality—no matter how many pets you have! Our professional carpet cleaners recommend the following carpet types for pet owners.

Synthetic Fiber 

Choosing a carpet is an investment. And, choosing the perfect carpet that meets your family’s demanding needs takes time—but you can drastically narrow it down by choosing a synthetic (as opposed to a “natural”) fiber carpet!

Nylon is a durable carpet choice, and a great one for homes that have toddlers, pets, or teenagers spilling and stomping on it regularly. Nylon carpets are very sturdy since the synthetic fibers hold their shape well, especially in comparison to other materials such as the loop-style Berber carpet (which can easily snag). While nylon may be a bit higher in cost than other fibers, it maintains its color for longer—even in high-traffic homes.

Polyester 

Do you want a stain-resistant carpet, but feel overwhelmed with options? A carpet made from polyester fabric is less likely to absorb stains while having the benefit of a softness that other carpets don’t. It holds up well for busy families and pet owners who want the inviting feel of carpet without sacrificing quality. 

Medium Shade Color

Are you looking for the right carpet to put in the hallway and other high-traffic areas where your pets are sure to roam? Keeping carpets looking new is always a priority, and when you choose a medium shade, it doesn’t have to be a struggle. As a general rule of thumb, stay away from dark carpets, as well as those that are light in color.

Dark-colored carpets tend to cause dog hair and crumbs to show up more easily than medium-shade carpets do. By the same token, a pet accident will show up immediately on a light shade of carpet. Stick to blue, gray, or light brown. They add warmth to the home while minimizing the appearance of dirt, spills, and hair.

Pet Stain Removal Tips from Our Professional Carpet Cleaners

Pet stains may seem like a major problem upon first glance, but they don't have to leave permanent marks on your home! Here are some tips from our professional carpet cleaners on dealing with this issue.

Stains Caused by Dirt

One of the most common stains that pets leave behind simply comes from dirt and mud. Mud typically doesn’t lend itself to permanent smells, so it's a simple matter to address. 

1. Clean up loose dirt and blot any wet spots with an absorbent cloth. 
2. Cover the stains thoroughly and allow a general cleaner to work for a minimum of five minutes. 
3. Blot up the excess cleaner with a clean, absorbent cloth and allow it to dry before vacuuming. 

It's also a good idea to keep pets and children away from these areas until the final vacuuming step is done. That way, there's no chance of exposure to chemicals in the cleaning supplies.

A tip for keeping inquisitive noses and curious fingers from the spot is to turn an empty laundry basket over the area and set a few books on top to keep it weighed down. This will allow air to circulate to the drying carpet while preventing any close encounters.

Stains Caused by Pet Urine

Pet urine is the second most common pet stain, and anyone who's been training a puppy or owns a small dog is aware that accidents just happen. Cats that haven't been fixed can also be the victim of their instincts and mark their territory with urine.

The problem with pet urine stains is that they affect all layers of the carpet. The stain on the carpet’s surface is just a small portion of the problem. As the urine soaks down the carpet fibers and into the pad, it spreads out and creates urine crystals that hold that "pee smell" for years. The odor from a pet stain will linger if the whole stain, including what is in the pad, is not removed.

If not treated properly, the odor from pet accidents can travel through the entire home. That’s why working with a professional carpet cleaning company that specializes in erasing pet accidents is your best bet. At Chem-Dry, for instance, we have a revolutionary process for removing pet urine that breaks up the crystals and stops odor from spreading. We can also include upholstery cleaning in the service since accidents don't always happen on the floor. 

Calling in professional carpet cleaners, such as your local Chem-Dry, at least once a year is also a preventative measure for a pet-owning household because standard house cleaning can't reach all the areas that urine stains may be affecting.

Partner with the Professional Carpet Cleaners at Chem-Dry

Do you have stubborn hair that isn’t budging despite your best efforts or just don’t have the time to work on it? Give our professional carpet cleaners a try. We take pride in delivering a deeply penetrating clean to restore tired carpeting to a beautiful, plush state. Your carpets don’t have to look like you’re a pet owner; with our help, they can stay in great shape!

Whether you’re dealing with pet hair, odors, or stains in your carpets, or you simply want to benefit from our thorough and professional carpet cleaning process, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Chem-Dry! Call (800) CHEM-DRY today.