When a family has pets, it means more love, fun, responsibilities, and cleaning. Pets like cats, dogs, and birds, have a lot of dander that can infiltrate everything, especially your carpets and thick rugs. Not to mention how your furry friends can stain your carpets and diminish their beauty and monetary value.
Well, you really cannot blame your pets for shedding hair on your carpet or messing it up from time to time. What you can do is care extra about your carpets and protect them from getting pet-related stains.
Why Should You Protect Your Carpets From Pets?
First of all, carpets are valuable and expensive. These exquisitely designed carpets that grab the attention of your friends and family deserve to be treated with care to increase their longevity and value. Secondly, the objective of using rugs is to add a touch of elegance to your interiors.
The combination of pets and carpets doesn't work well. Here's why:
- Cats and dogs generally shed a lot of hair while grooming themselves. Both cats and dogs spread dander around the house, regardless of how they groom themselves.
- Dander and fur may cause allergic reactions if the carpets aren't cleaned properly.
- Your pet's long nails can easily damage carpets.
- Pet urine, vomit, or faecal remains can cause embarrassing stains and unpleasant odours.
You should take steps before cleaning if your carpet has become a breeding ground of mess left behind by pets. Following these steps will ensure the carpet is clean, and you will spend less time and energy cleaning it.
10 Ways to Prevent Pet Stains on Carpets
1. Clean pet mess IMMEDIATELY!
The first thing is to say goodbye to laziness and procrastination to safeguard carpets from pet-related stains. The longer you tend to ignore your pet's new mess on your carpet, the more deeply stained and foul-smelling your carpet can become. Throw a couple of old newspapers or tissue papers to soak up as much urine as possible. Removing the mess will eliminate any chance of your carpet becoming a breeding ground for bacteria.
2. Avoid using rags and paper towels to clean solid mess
People often make the mistake of using tissue paper or rags to clean solid messes. The problem with using tissues is that they will push the bacteria deeper into the carpet piles. Instead, use a dustpan and a putty knife or invest in a good poop scooper to clear up the waste effectively.
3. Place rugs for your pets to use
Pets are creatures of habit. To prevent damage to your flooring, place rugs in your pet's high-traffic areas. These are the areas that your pet/s might use to relieve itself. Rugs are easier to clean than carpets, and they are also cheaper to replace if necessary.
4. Train your pets
When choosing between your beloved pets or your expensive carpets, you might want to "have the cake and eat it too." In that case, train your pets from a very early age to use a designated spot to relieve themselves. Discourage them from rolling, walking, or urinating on your carpets. Additionally, to discourage your pet from bringing "treasures" from the outside, place straw doormats outside your doors.
5. Use stain guards
Let's face the truth: Over time, your old rugs will become stained with pet stains, as your pets will permanently mark their territory by defecating or urinating on them. Using a fibre protector or carpet stain guard, you can prevent urine from sinking into your old carpet. In addition to avoiding urine stains on carpets, the carpet stain guard allows easy urine removal with a vacuum later.
Also Read: Dos & Dont's to Keep Your Home Dry & Clean This Monsoon
6. Choose the right carpet
If you have pets, it is best to opt for synthetic carpets rather than ones made with wool. Because they are more stain-resistant, it is wise to pick a patterned rug that matches your pet's hair colour for obvious reasons! To remove pet hair and dander from your carpet, vacuum it at least once a week.
7. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum!
How much vacuuming is too much vacuuming? When you have pets around, vacuuming is never enough. Without regular vacuuming, fur and grime become deeply embedded in your carpet fibres. Pets will shed hair no matter what season, and vacuuming is the best solution to remove all the hair from your carpets. Additionally, your pet may drool and leave bacteria particles on the carpet when they play on it. Therefore, if you have a messy pet, you should vacuum your carpet at least four or five times a week, if not every day.
8. Use a black flashlight
The black flashlight is an inexpensive but indispensable tool every pet owner should have. These lights conveniently reveal hidden urine spots and mess when the overhead lights are switched off. Invest in one and simplify your strategy of monitoring your pet's mess.
9. Keep your pet well-groomed
Pet grooming has two benefits: Your pets will look good, and so will your carpets. Always ensure your pets have short, well-trimmed nails and neatly brushed hair. Keeping your pet's nails and hair well groomed will help minimise the damage they can inflict on your carpet. Also, make sure to wipe their paws clean with a microfibre cloth after their walk.
10. Keep an eye on their shedding
It is common for pets to shed more during certain times of the year and after a bath. Whenever your pets shed too much hair, make sure that you vacuum your carpets regularly.
Hire Professional Carpet Cleaning Services
Contact professional carpet cleaning services to save yourself from the frustration of having to deal with messy pets and messier carpets! Carpets should be professionally cleaned every six to 12 months, but if you have pets, you may require them more often.Call our FastHelp team to salvage your precious carpets and keep them as good as new. Book your appointment today.