A Natural Way to Remove Pet Stains

Published October 17, 2017

If you love your pets like I do, then you know you must be very tolerant of the pet stains that happen occasionally in your home.

We love our furry friends but they definitely make their share of messes. Over the years, I have been the recipient of many forms of carpet pet stain removal and I thought I would share a few of what I feel are the best.

Most often I start with the natural treatment first and if the stain remains then I go to my favourite commercial spot removers.

I have found the old-fashioned vinegar and baking soda treatment to not only be very effective in removing the stain, but it is probably the easiest and most cost effective form of treatment.

Start the process by doing the most important step of all: blotting.

Blotting the stain with a dry, absorbent rag is imperative. Whether you have to stand on it, place heavy books on it – do whatever you need to do in order to absorb as much of the stain as possible prior to treatment.

Do not scrub and rub the stain. This will only deepen it and cause it to potentially spread. Blotting is the trick. Apply as much pressure as you can and work from the outside toward the middle of the stain.

Mix two cups of distilled vinegar with two cups of warm water. Carefully add four heaping tablespoons of baking soda, one at a time as it will fizz.

Once it is completely mixed you may add it to a spray bottle or just add it from the bowl manually onto the stain.

Saturate the stain well and then let it sit for five minutes. Blot with soft, absorbent cloths one after another until the carpet is almost completely dry.

Another favourite home remedy is the combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Hydrogen peroxide is wonderful for breaking down the crystals of pet urine and pulling out the stain. Blot the stain well with an absorbent cloth.

Sprinkle approximately one cup of baking soda over the blotted stain. Let the baking soda sit for a minute.

Then mix together one cup of baking soda with a third of a cup of three per cent hydrogen peroxide and one teaspoon of dish soap. Pour over the stain and let sit for 15 minutes.

Follow up by vacuuming the area. If none of the above seem to completely remove your stain, then try a commercial cleaner. One of my favourites is Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover.

Barb Lunter is a freelance writer with a passion for home decor, entertaining and floral design. She also runs Blue Dog Staging & Redesign. Bludogstagingandredesign.com