Owning pets is so rewarding but it can become challenging when accidents happen in your home. These incidents vary depending on the type of animal you have. For example, a cat accident is not the same as a dog accident, and each requires specific guidelines for effective clean-up to remove stains and odors. Fortunately, Chinook Chem-Dry offers some easy-to-follow tips for treating your cat’s recent bathroom mishap on your carpet, upholstery, or rug.
How to Treat the Stain
Cat urine is full of some nasty things that make the stain difficult to impossible to remove on your own. Here’s what you can do in order to prevent the stain from becoming a permanent feature of your home:
- Get to it quickly. The sooner you can start cleaning the stain the better.
- Grab some paper towels or old rags to start soaking up the urine.
- Be sure to blot. Rubbing will only push the stain deeper into the fibers.
- If the stain is already dry by the time you get to it, pour cold water directly onto the spot and start blotting.
- Avoid using ammonia or any product containing ammonia. Cat pee contains ammonia so the scent will cause confusion and could lead to another accident in the same spot.
How to Treat the Odor
Even if you’re able to get the stain out, the urine often leaves an odor that can be even trickier to remove. Getting it out quickly is the key. If possible, get to it Immediately after it happens. Though we don’t have a lot of tips on things to do to get rid of the odor, we do have some things you need to avoid:
- Over-the-counter and DIY solutions. They will only temporarily mask any odors or stains.
- Steam cleaning companies and equipment. The steam can actually set in the smell even more.
Hitting the Deep Fibers
You may think the stain is out because it’s no longer showing on the surface. However, the urine will often soak deeper into the fibers. As everything dries, the stain will reappear. The problem is, it’s hard to get those deeper fibers on your own even with these tips. In order to prevent permanent damage to your carpet and the area beneath, consider bringing in a professional carpet and upholstery cleaner. A professional cleaning crew can also remove the dust and allergens that live inside the urine to help you avoid unfortunate health problems.
More Preventative Measures
After you have finished cleaning the spots, what measures can you take to prevent a recurrence of the same problem? We can suggest several steps you can follow to minimize the likelihood of another cat accident.
- It’s all about speed. The faster you clean it up the less likely the cat will return to that spot.
- Your cat may be spraying indicating that something is making them uncomfortable. Try to create a more secure environment.
- Make it as easy as possible for them to access the litter box.
- Clean the litter box often and consistently.
Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help you get rid of cat pee stains and odors in your home. Chinook Chem-Dry offers a revolutionary pet urine removal treatment in the Calgary area that attacks stains and odors deep within your carpet and upholstery to lift them out. Schedule an appointment online or call us at (403) 475-0011 if you’re interested.