You come in from work and discover a not so pleasant surprise is waiting for you.  Fido or Fifi has left you a present, on the previously clean and spotless carpet. Unfortunately pet stains and odors left in carpet is one of the pitfalls of pet ownership especially of a young animal.

There are ways to eliminate the stains and retrain your pet to avoid urinating in that area. Careful cleaning is essential as even if you can’t smell the odor anymore your pet may be able to and will continue to use that spot as his toilet.

If you were fortunate to catch the puddle before it had time to dry, you’re a step ahead in the game. This type of situation is easier to take care of and less damaging to the carpet. The first step is to blot as much urine as possible from the carpet.  Place a thick layer of paper towels over the affected spot.

Then cover that with an equally thick layer of newspaper.  Cleaning experts recommend standing on the paper for about a minute to blot the area.  Repeat this step until the carpet is barely damp.

As a precaution against future accidents, if it is possible put the soiled paper in the dog’s acceptable eliminating area, the yard or where ever you have designated for this function. Or in the case of a cat, place the soiled materials in the liter box. Doing this helps drive the correct place home for animals.

Finish up the job by rinsing the area thoroughly with clean, cool water. Dry the area as much as possible with paper towels or a wet vacuum. These steps should take care of any stains or odors that may result.

In the event of a set in stain, a little more elbow grease is probably necessary. The best way to ensure that the stain and odor is completely eliminated is to rent a heavy-duty wet vacuum machine.

These machines have been proven to perform best at adequately forcing clean water through the carpet and removing the dirty water.  There isn’t any need to use chemical cleaners at this stage.

The wet vacuum will work just fine with water alone. After the soiled area has been cleaned, you sohuld use a good pet odor neutralizer on the stain. Completely read the directions and if possible test the product on a hidden area of the carpet. In the event that the section of carpet is still discolored after these steps, it is time to try a carpet stain remover. At this point any stain and odor should be gone.

There are a few things to keep in mind during the process. If the carpet has been cleaned or treated with a chemical cleaner in the past the neutralizing cleaner won’t be as effective unless the chemical has been completely removed from the fibers. The neutralizing odor remover will attack the old cleaner instead of the stain you are trying to remove.  Be sure to clean the area well to avoid that complication. Another important tip to keep in mind is to avoid using cleaners with a strong aroma of vinegar or ammonia. Pets may feel encouraged to urine mark the area again.

Just remember the dog or cat can be trained to “go” in the right place.  Animals and carpet can coexist. Patience and using the correct products can have your carpet looking beautiful again.