Clean Pet Vomit from Carpet
Use This 4 Step Process to Clean and Restore Rugs After Accidents
Baking soda and Spot Shot will completely clean most pet vomit stains from carpeting. Follow up with a water rinse and your carpet will look and smell fresh.
Anyone with an inside animal, especially a cat suffering from hyperthroidism or a dog that perhaps has gotten into the garbage, knows that pet vomit is an occasional cleaning issue. It's a fool's mission to have both animals and carpeting. Maybe one doesn't have a choice - you live in an apartment or have just purchased a home with brand-new carpeting and it seems a waste to just rip it up.
Whatever the reason, skim, baking soda, Spot Shot and rinse are the four keys to success to restore the carpeting as much as possible back to it's original condition after a pet vomits.
- Use a knife to carefully skim the surface of the carpet to remove as much of the solid waste as possible. Be especially careful to not mush the waste into the carpet nap.
- Sprinkle baking powder over the entire stain. Baking powder draws up the vomit's digestive fluid from the carpet, removing the potential of residual odor. Allow the baking soda to dry. Use a fan to speed the process along if desired.
- Scrap as much of the dried baking soda from the surface of the carpet as possible.Vacuum up the rest. The carpet should look better already.
Now comes the true art of cleaning up pet vomit while leaving your carpet's nap as fresh looking as possible. Use of the brand name carpet cleaning product Spot Shot is highly recommended. Hands down this product is the best on the market.
It comes in either aerosol or spray form. The spray seems to be slightly more efffective and is better for the environment. Prior to using any carpet cleaning product, test it on an inconspicuous area of the carpeting - for example in a closet. Use according to the directions on the can and make sure it doesn't noticeably change the color of the carpet.
Test sample of carpet looks good? Let's finish up!
- Following the directions for use on the can of carpet cleaner - remember, Spot Shot is highly recommended - spray the stain. Using a white diaper or old clean towel, blot, blot, blot the stain using firm downward pressure. Do not rub or use a twisting motion - this will only serve to totally destroy the nap of the carpet.
- Check the stain. If need be, spray again and allow to sit for a couple of minutes before blotting again.
- When the stain is completely gone, cover with the diaper or towel until the spot is completely dry.
Removing residual cleaning product
This final step is highly recommended. Spot Shot states on the spray bottle that it doesn't leave any residue, but it is always best to finish up with a water rinse. Any residual left on carpeting will attract dust and dirt from shoes making the carpet appear dirty again quickly.
Use a mini carpet cleaner such as a Bissell Little Green Machine (no cleaning solution, just water) or use a spray bottle of water and a wet vac until the water sucked up from the carpet runs clear.
Note - This method can be used for a variety of household stains. It even removed dried red nail polish from a bath throw rug. However, it is not effective for cleaning any other type of animal accident.
Source:
- Cobb, Linda. Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean . Pocket Books, 1998
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