All dog owners know that accidents happen. Even the best-trained dog is still an animal, and sometimes animals will get distracted, or have too much to eat, or feel sickly and not know where to go. This doesn’t mean they’re bad dogs, of course!
But the fact is that clean-up is left to us, the owners. And pet owners will attest that, for some mystical reason, dogs are attracted to the carpet when they make a mess. Maybe it’s something about the soft fibres under their paws that gives them the confidence to go potty or throw up.
Perhaps your Blue Staffy simply loves you that much and forgets that he needs to go outside to go potty. Or it could be that some rough play between your dogs has caused one to return its lunch in an unexpected way.
Regardless of the reason, cleaning up dog stains can be a tedious process, no matter how experienced you are at doing it. It can also be relatively expensive to do if you’re using commercial cleaners, especially if you’re using pet-safe products – those seem to have a significant markup compared to their competitors.
Luckily, we at Move Out Mates know some nifty homemade carpet cleaning solutions to take some of the weight off of your wallet. You’ll have some options, from the lightest to the most heavy-duty.
Option #1: Vinegar, Warm Water, Baking Soda
This is the simplest and most straightforward cleaning solution to try for light stains, such as slobber or clear throw-up.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups distilled white vinegar
- 2 cups warm water
- 4 tablespoons baking soda
Combine water and vinegar in a bottle (we prefer a reusable glass bottle) and mix thoroughly. Once the stain has been blotted with paper towels to remove excess fluids, spread the baking soda over the area. Next, pour the water and vinegar mixture on the stained area and let the cleaning solution do its work for at least five minutes. Afterward, blot the area with a cloth and let dry.
Option #2: Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda, Soap
This cleaning solution uses hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. It’s a little more aggressive than the white vinegar and baking soda for pets mixture, but is better at breaking down urine stains – and will help get rid of the odour as well.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, household grade (3%)
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 teaspoon dish soap
Combine the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap in a bottle and mix thoroughly. Blot the stain with paper towels to remove excess fluids and then spread the baking soda over the area. Pour the hydrogen peroxide solution on the stained area. Then, use a gentle circular motion with a soft-bristled brush to scrub the solution into the carpet.
This solution needs to sit for at least 15 minutes before being blotted with a cloth. Check if the odour has dissipated and vacuum up any remaining solution. If necessary, repeat the application once more.
Option #3: Brown Sugar, Yeast, Water, Citrus, Soda
This is the ultimate in pet stain destruction – a homemade enzymatic cleaner. It’s a lot more effort to make, and you won’t be able to whip it up in 2 minutes like our other options. T
hat being said, it can be handy to have a bottle of this stuff on stock if you experience a lot of pet stains on your carpet. Enzymatic cleaners are powerful because they contain enzymes that break down organic matter – so they’re great for removing stains and odours caused by pee, blood and other bodily fluids.
Without a doubt, this is the absolute best way to get rid of pet stains on your carpet.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup brown or light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon yeast
- 1 litre lukewarm water
- 2 cups fresh citrus peel
- 1 empty 2 litre soda bottle
Recipe:
- Wash the citrus peel to remove dirt.
- Pat the peels
- Dry and chop them into 1 ½ cm cubes – our goal is to get these citrus peels to fit into the mouth of the soda bottle.
- Combine the peels and the rest of the ingredients in the soda bottle.
- Put the cap on the bottle and
- Shake for a couple of minutes until everything is well mixed and the sugars have dissolved.
- Unscrew the cap slightly Vent any pressure in the bottle.
- Screw the cap back on tightly.
IMPORTANT: This process of venting pressure must be done at least three times a day for two weeks, otherwise the soda bottle could explode from built up pressure. After two weeks, you can go down to once a day as the sugars have been consumed by the yeast.
- Leave the bottle in a warm, dark place for four weeks, venting pressure regularly and shaking the mixture afterward.
- You’ll want a temperature of around 35C as that’s the best environment for yeast fermentation.
- After four weeks, check whether the mixture has turned opaque – that’s how you know it’s ready to use.
- Strain the mixture into an airtight container or spray bottle, squeezing the citrus peels to get the most enzymes out.
Using this mixture is just like any conventional cleaner – spray onto stubborn pet stains and leave for five minutes, then blot dry. It works almost like magic. It’s also strong enough to be used diluted in water by half for most pet stains.
Having a pup is one of the best hobbies you could have, but it sure does require a lot of cleaning a safeguarding of your home.
