Your furry helper might not mop the floors, but keeping your cleaning routine dog-friendly is essential.
Pet ownership brings endless joy, but it also comes with inevitable messes—from drool on the couch to unexpected accidents on the carpet. Even the most well-trained pets can leave behind reminders of their presence, making it essential for pet owners to have a reliable cleaning routine to tackle these common issues. With a few practical tips and the right cleaning solutions, you can keep your home fresh and hygienic for both you and your furry friends. This guide offers easy, pet-safe methods to manage pet messes on all surfaces, helping you handle each mess quickly and effectively.
Drool: How to Manage Messy Mates
Dogs of all breeds can leave a trail of drool behind, especially on soft and absorbent surfaces. Here’s how to tackle drool messes and keep your home fresh and stain-free.
Carpet & Rugs
When it comes to carpets and rugs, act quickly to blot up drool with a clean towel, pressing gently to absorb moisture without rubbing. Follow up with a pet-safe enzyme cleaner, which helps lift any lingering stains and neutralise odours. Enzyme cleaners are particularly effective on soft surfaces, breaking down proteins in drool to keep your carpet looking and smelling clean.
Upholstery
For upholstery, start by blotting the drool with a soft, damp cloth to lift away as much of the moisture as possible. Next, gently dab the area with a mixture of mild detergent or upholstery cleaner, ensuring the fabric can handle it. Avoid over-wetting the fabric, and consider testing a small, inconspicuous area first to check for colorfastness. After cleaning, let the area air dry to prevent mildew.
Hard Floors (Tile/Wood)
On hard surfaces like tile or wood, drool can be easily wiped away with a microfiber cloth, which effectively picks up moisture without scratching. To prevent residue buildup, follow up with a quick wipe-down using a pet-safe floor cleaner. This will keep your floors spotless and free of sticky patches—perfect for high-traffic pet areas.
Regular cleaning of your pet's favorite spots keeps your home fresh and inviting for all.
Vomit: Fast Action for a Thorough Clean
Cleaning up vomit is never fun, but acting quickly can help prevent stains and lingering odours on all surfaces in your home. Here’s how to tackle it efficiently.
Carpet & Rugs
Start by carefully scooping up any solid material with a paper towel or scoop. Avoid pressing too hard, as this can push the liquid deeper into the carpet fibres. Next, blot the area with a clean, dry towel to soak up any remaining moisture. To ensure a thorough clean, use an enzyme-based cleaner, which breaks down proteins in vomit to remove both stains and odours effectively. Apply according to the product’s instructions and allow the area to air dry.
Upholstery
When it comes to upholstery, it’s important to be gentle to avoid damaging the fabric. Begin by carefully blotting up any solids and moisture, then spot-clean the affected area with a mild detergent solution or upholstery cleaner. Avoid saturating the fabric, and focus on blotting rather than scrubbing to prevent spreading the stain. Once cleaned, let the area air dry completely to prevent any lingering smells or mildew.
Tile & Hard Floors
For tile or hard floors, start by removing any solids with a paper towel or scoop. Afterward, mop the area using a pet-safe disinfectant to eliminate any lingering bacteria or odours. Be sure to thoroughly rinse any residue to avoid leaving a sticky or slippery surface. This quick cleanup will keep your floors fresh and ready for your pet’s next adventure!
Urine: Dealing with Accidents on Any Surface
Accidents happen, but quick action is key to preventing stains and odours from setting. Here’s how to effectively handle urine messes on all types of surfaces.
Carpet & Rugs
When dealing with urine on carpet, act fast to blot up as much liquid as possible with a clean, absorbent towel, pressing firmly without rubbing. Once you’ve absorbed the moisture, apply an enzyme cleaner specifically designed for urine stains and odours. Enzyme cleaners break down the odour-causing compounds in urine, ensuring a thorough clean that leaves your carpet smelling fresh. Follow the product instructions for the best results, and allow the area to dry naturally.
Hard Floors (Wood & Tile)
For hard floors, start by wiping up the urine with a soft cloth or mop. To ensure a thorough clean and prevent any lingering smell, follow up with a pet-safe disinfectant or enzyme cleaner designed for hard surfaces. This will not only disinfect the area but also remove any residue, keeping your floors spotless and odour-free.
Upholstery
To tackle urine on upholstery, begin by gently blotting the area with a clean, absorbent cloth to lift as much moisture as possible. Avoid scrubbing, as it can push the liquid deeper into the fabric. Next, apply a fabric-safe enzyme cleaner to break down the odour-causing elements and prevent staining. Be sure to test the cleaner on a small, hidden area first to ensure it’s safe for your fabric. Once cleaned, allow the upholstery to air dry to fully eliminate any remaining odour.
Accidents happen! A deep clean with pet-safe products ensures a fresh and hygienic home for everyone.
Poop: Best Practices for Solid Messes
Solid messes can happen on any surface, and with a careful approach, you can keep your home clean and odour-free. Here’s how to manage these types of messes effectively.
Carpet & Rugs
On carpet or rugs, begin by carefully picking up any solids using paper towels or a scoop. Once you’ve removed the bulk of the mess, treat the area with a pet-safe enzyme cleaner to break down any remaining particles and eliminate odours. For more stubborn stains, a mixture of vinegar and water can work as a natural cleaning solution—just be sure to blot the stain gently and avoid oversaturating the carpet. Allow the area to air dry once cleaned.
Hard Floors (Tile/Wood)
For hard floors, start by using paper towels or a scoop to pick up solids. After removing the waste, disinfect the area with a pet-safe cleaner to ensure all residue and bacteria are gone. This quick cleaning method will leave your floors spotless and ready for your pet to roam.
Upholstery
Cleaning poop from upholstery requires a gentle touch to avoid damaging fabrics. First, carefully remove any solids, then spot clean with a mild detergent or an upholstery cleaner. As with any fabric, it’s essential to test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure the cleaner won’t cause discoloration or damage. After cleaning, let the upholstery air dry fully to prevent any lingering odours.
A Clean Home for You and Your Pets
Maintaining a clean home with pets is all about using the right products and techniques for each type of mess. From drool and vomit to accidents on carpets, hard floors, and upholstery, knowing the best approach for each surface and mess type helps keep your home fresh and hygienic. Investing in enzyme cleaners and pet-safe disinfectants can make cleanup easier and prevent odours from lingering, making it simpler to keep your space clean for both you and your furry friends.
Have your own go-to cleaning tricks? We’d love to hear them! Share your pet-cleaning tips and experiences on Porch Potty’s social media pages, and check out our products designed to make cleaning and training easier for pet owners like you. Here’s to a cleaner, fresher home for you and your pets!
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