Our furry friends are dear to us as pet owners. However, the worst enemies of your carpets, rugs, and drapery are the same four-legged friends. But the truth is it’s not their fault. It’s someone else’s – ours! Unfortunately, we tend to make mistakes that cause stress, anxiety, or lack of boundaries that lead our pets to be destructive or have accidents inside the house.

Common Mistakes Pet Owners Make

The thing is, most people don’t know how to raise pets. So we raise them just like you would raise a toddler. They need the same amount of care and affection as young kids. So you have to teach your pet the same way you’d teach a toddler not to have potty accidents or break their toys. To tell the truth, as pet owners, we make many mistakes that contribute to our pets damaging our property and decor. So don’t be so pissed if your beloved friend pisses on your carpet. Just check some of the most common mistakes we make and how to fix them.

Don’t Get Physically Close All the Time

We all love to cuddle and play with our pets, but physical contact can cause discomfort and pain to them. Another way we disturb pets is by dressing them up. After all, they are living animals, not toys. Remember that the physical differences are sometimes too disproportional, and all seemingly harmless things you do to your pets are rather painful if you think for a moment. In other words, you should control yourself and read the signs of nuisance, especially for more independent animals like cats. The fact that you are a disturbance to your furry friends can’t be noticeable all the time – pets can be too afraid to show their true feelings, so they use your flooring instead.

Don’t Stare at Your Pet

Direct eye contact can be disturbing, even between animals. It can lead to nervousness. Even if you have a senior pet, it doesn’t mean all your peculiarities are acceptable. Once again, if you scare your furry friend too much, it will get nervous and eventually pee on your carpet.

Be Very Careful about the Food You’re Giving to Your Pets

You risk another failure with a wrong concept. Refrain from being too cheerful when feeding your pet with something from your fridge. Although you aren’t poisoning your pet, the results may surface after years of consuming human food. For instance, you should not feed your cat with cow milk, it is just not natural, but most pet owners are ignorant about this, unfortunately. Cat milk is very different from cow milk, so it’s better to consult a veterinarian about what ingredients to add to make the milk you use to feed your kitten nutritious and harmless. Another example of a wrong choice for cat food: cats definitely like the pizza leftovers that you magnanimously let them finish off, but both garlic and onions are bad for cats and slowly intoxicating for the stomach of a predator.

Preventing Pet Damage to Carpets

Now that we’ve discussed the common mistakes pet owners make, let’s have a look at some practical tips and advice for preventing pet damage to carpets:

Train Your Pets Properly

Proper training is crucial for ensuring that pets behave well on carpets. The training process should start as early as possible and be consistent. Positive reinforcement is a practical training technique for pets, and it involves rewarding good behaviour with treats, praise, or toys. If your pet is showing good behaviour, you can use a verbal cue or clicker to help reinforce good behaviour.

Training your pet to recognize the boundaries of where they can and cannot go to the toilet is essential. You can also train your pet to use a designated spot for toileting.

In addition to training, consider using furniture covers or slipcovers to protect your carpets from pet damage. It can help prevent scratches, tears, and stains from your pets’ claws and accidents.

Use Pet-friendly Cleaning Products

Using pet-friendly cleaning products is essential for the health and well-being of your pets. Unfortunately, some cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and other health issues for your pets. Therefore, it’s important to use non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products that are safe for pets and humans.

You can find a wide range of pet-friendly cleaning products, such as carpet cleaners, stain removers, and deodorizers. These products are designed to break down pet stains and odors without causing harm to your pets or your carpets. You can also make your own cleaning solutions using everyday household items. Here are some examples:

• Baking soda and vinegar solution – This popular DIY solution effectively cleans pet stains. Use a towel to soak the stain, then mix baking soda and white vinegar into a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, use a clean cloth and warm water to clean it.

• Hydrogen peroxide and dish soap solution is another effective way to remove tough pet stains. Start by mixing 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of dish soap and one tablespoon of baking soda. Apply the solution to the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, blot up the solution with a clean cloth and warm water.

• Club soda – Curiously, club soda can be used to treat fresh pet stains. Soak the stain with a clean cloth, then pour club soda directly onto the stain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and clean it with a soft cloth. The stain should be gone.

• Salt is excellent for removing pet stains and preventing odors. First, blot the stain. Then sprinkle salt directly onto the stain. Let the salt sit for 10-15 minutes to absorb the moisture, and then vacuum up the salt and the stain.

• Vinegar and baking soda paste remove both pet stains and odors. Create a paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and white vinegar. Then apply the paste to the carpet stain. Give it 5-10 minutes, then use a soft cloth and warm water to remove the paste and the stain.

Some pet stains are difficult to remove with DIY remedies. Additionally, using these solutions may void the warranty on your carpet. Therefore, it’s always best to test any cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous carpet area before using it on a larger stain. If you have questions about how to remove pet stains or if the stain is particularly severe, professional carpet cleaners are always a good choice.

Vacuum Regularly

Regular vacuuming is essential for removing pet hair and preventing odors and stains from setting in on your carpets. You should vacuum at least once a week and more frequently if your pets shed a lot. Make sure to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to ensure that you’ve removed all pet hair and dander from your carpets.

It’s also essential to vacuum your pet’s bedding and any areas where it spends a lot of time, such as couches and rugs. This will help prevent the buildup of pet hair and dander, which can cause allergies and other health problems.

Address Accidents Promptly

Pet accidents on carpets are a common problem for pet owners. Pet urine is hard to clean and leaves an odor that can be difficult to remove. Therefore, it’s crucial to address pet accidents on carpets immediately.

The first step is to soak as much urine as possible. Use a clean cloth or paper towel. Avoid rubbing the stain, which can spread the urine and worsen the stain. Next, use an enzymatic cleaner to break down the urine and remove the stain and odor. These cleaners contain natural enzymes that degrade urine proteins, eliminating the cause of the smell.

If the pee stain is particularly stubborn, repeat the whole cleaning process several times. First, let the area dry completely before allowing your pet on the carpet again.

When to Rely on Professional Carpet Cleaning Services?

While there are many DIY solutions to clean pet stains on carpets, there are times when it’s best to seek the help of professional carpet cleaning services. For example, for stubborn stains that won’t come out with traditional cleaning methods, or if a strong odor persists even after cleaning, it may be time to call in the experts. Cleaning the stain yourself may do more harm than good in these cases. Especially if you plan on listing your property for sale or rent.

Cleaners specializing in pet stain and odor removal use special equipment and cleaning solutions. Additionally, suppose the pet stain has caused significant damage to the carpet fibers or padding. If that happens, a professional assessment and recommendation is the best course of action to take.

When cleaning pet stains from carpets, the most suitable method is typically hot water extraction. This method involves using hot water and a cleaning solution to break down and remove pet urine, feces, and other stains from the carpet fibers. The high temperature of the water can help kill bacteria and odor-causing molecules. At the same time, the suction from the machine can effectively remove the cleaning solution and any debris from the carpet.

It’s essential to note that using your own steam cleaner could set urine odor in the carpet fibers. This is because steam cleaning involves applying hot water to the carpet, which could cause the urine to spread and soak deeper into the fibers. In contrast, expert carpet cleaners specializing in pet stain removal often use a pre-treatment solution designed to break down pet urine, which can help prevent the odor from setting in.

In conclusion, preventing pet damage to carpets is essential to keep your carpets in good condition and ensure the health and safety of your pets. By avoiding common mistakes, training your pets properly, using pet-friendly cleaning products, vacuuming regularly, and addressing accidents promptly, you can minimize pet damage to your carpets. And when pet accidents do occur, it’s best to connect with professional carpet cleaning services to ensure that your carpets are properly cleaned and deodorized.