Follow me over to the blog for more homemade goodness . . .here's how to clean up and eliminate the smell Carpeted areas and upholstery Paint and wood damage Add a one-pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent and wash as usual, air-drying if possible. If you can still see or smell the soiling, wash again with an enzymatic cleaner — these break down pet-waste odors. If your pet soils the sheets or blankets on a bed, cover the bed with a vinyl, flannel-backed tablecloth while you retrain them. It's machine washable, inexpensive and unattractive to your pet. If the wood on your furniture, walls, baseboard or floor is discolored, the varnish or paint has reacted to the acid in the urine. You may need to remove and replace the layer of varnish or paint. If you do so, make sure the new product is safe for pets. Washable enamel paints and some washable wallpapers may respond favorably to enzymatic cleaners such as Rocco & Roxie or Nature’s Miracle.

In some cases, old messes will have dried invisibly and be hard to locate. Once the area is clean, make it unattractive and/or unavailable to your pet and the appropriate bathroom area attractive. As long as your pet can smell their personal scent, they will continue to return to the "accident zone." Have your pet checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes for the accident. When you are certain your pet is healthy, use positive reinforcement to train your cat or dog to eliminate in the proper place. Finally, remember that there may have been a reason why your pet chose the wrong place to eliminate; Understanding your pet's motivations will make it easier to them on the right track again. The re-training period may take a week or more. Remember, it took time to build the bad habit, and it will take time to replace that habit with a new, more acceptable behavior. Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colo.

Spritz It To Blitz ItBut when they land on carpet, things get tricky. But sometimes you just need to clean up a few spots by hand. To test carpet stain removers, we poured specific amounts of wine, coffee, spaghetti sauce, and French dressing on untreated nylon carpet panels. After two hours we blotted up what hadn't been absorbed. The next day we worked in the removers. None of the cleaners removed all stains completely. Coffee and red wine tend to be tougher to remove because they immediately soak into carpet. Dried stains are harder to clean than fresh ones. Try a wet/dry vacuum to lift the initial spill. Then apply the carpet stain remover and use the vacuum to suck up the cleaner and stain. That should improve the performance of the carpet stain removers.That is especially important if someone in your home has a respiratory problem such as asthma. Shampoos and even plain water can temporarily or permanently alter the carpeting's color; in some cases, the carpeting could shrink or widen.

Take these simple steps to avoid problems: With any kind of cleaner, test the fastness of the dye by dampening an inconspicuous area and seeing whether loose dye transfers onto a white paper towel. dry carpet cleaning versus wetIf so, rely on an expert to do the cleaning.chem dry carpet cleaning customer reviews When you use any water-based treatment, avoid over-wetting. carpet cleaning kansas city petNever allow water to penetrate to the back of a rug. The backing may be damaged and the color may bleed through to the floor. Remove as much furniture from the room as you can. You or the professional you hire should put a small piece of aluminum foil under any furniture legs that are in contact with the cleaned carpet to prevent staining.

Leave the foil in place for one to two days or until the carpet is thoroughly dry. Guide to Getting It Out For removing tough stains, the faster you act, the better the results. Use a white paper towel or cloth to blot the spill until it's dry, or gently scrape semi-solids. Scrubbing can damage carpet. And never apply heat, as it causes a stain to set. Test any stain remover or cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area. If no color change occurs, start by working from the edge of the stain toward its center. Apply a small amount of remover to a white paper towel or cloth and blot. Repeat with clean towels until no more stain transfers onto the cloth. Then blot with water to remove the solution, and blot again. Or use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the spill and stain remover. For fresh blood, blot carpet with cold water or 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. If blood is dried, blot with peroxide then try an enzyme laundry detergent solution. Make the solution by following the directions on the package.

Blot up excess wet latex paint and then blot with a detergent solution of 1 teaspoon mild clear or white dishwashing liquid mixed in 1 cup warm water. If stain persists, try a solution of 1 tablespoon ammonia mixed with 1/2 cup water. For dried paint, try denatured alcohol to soften it. For oil-based paints, blot wet paint with paint thinner. If stain remains, try a cleaning solvent and then the detergent solution. For dried paint, try a paint-oil-grease remover. If you don't have an enzyme-based pet stain product, blot a fresh stain with ammonia solution. If stain remains, try detergent solution. Then blot with warm water. For a set stain, use a solution of 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup water, then detergent solution, then water. Carpet Types and How They Clean Up The kind of carpeting you choose can affect how easy it is to clean. Here are some things to consider when you purchase your next carpet. The deeper and thicker the pile in your carpet, the more likely it is to retain dirt once the dirt sinks below the surface.