The Best Carpet Cleaners for Pet Stains
When you have pets, finding the right carpet cleaner is especially important for two reasons. One, as always, you want to preserve the look of your carpet. Two, with pets, you want to remove any odors not only for upkeep of your home but to discourage the pet from soiling the carpet in the same spot again.
Enzymatic Cleaners
Eliminating all traces of the odor from the carpet will discourage the pet from returning to the same spot. To neutralize pet odors, which are protein-based, your best bet is a cleaner that uses enzymes to break down those proteins that cause the stains and odors. Other chemically and detergent-based cleaners may cause pet stains to set in and can prevent the enzymatic cleaner from working.
Nature's Miracle
Nature’s Miracle is a true miracle for pet owners. Pets can smell a scent in a carpet whereas we cannot. The difference between Nature’s Miracle and traditional carpet cleaners is that this product is also an odor neutralizer. It uses naturally occurring enzymes to neutralize the enzymes in the pet urine that create the urine smell.
Method
Blot up as much of the mess as you can. Do not rub the spot, just blot. Use paper towels and stand on them. Then, use cool water to rinse the spot, and then blot up the excess again. If using Nature’s Miracle, shake it well and then do a color test by spraying a bit on an inconspicuous area and wiping it with a clean towel. Soak the area you want to clean, using enough to soak through to the carpet pad or the floor. To eliminate odors, just soak the area and do not blot; allow it to dry on its own; this make take up to two weeks. For stains, soak the stain, wait five minutes and then blot. You may need to scrub it with a brush. If necessary, soak the area again and allow it to sit for an hour before you blot.
Othery Enzymatic Cleaners
Other brands to try are from Bissell, which makes its own formula called Pawsitively Clean Ewww Enzyme Stain & Odor Remover or Simple Solution Extreme Stain and Odor Remover. Urine Off makes a cleaner especially for odor and stains from cats and kittens.
Cleaners to Avoid
Ammonia and White Vinegar
Do not use a cleaner that contains ammonia. To an animal, the ammonia smell in the cleaner will be too similar to the ammonia smell in their urine. Therefore, an ammonia-based cleaner is not the best choice to discourage the pet from returning to that spot on the carpet. Many people like to clean hard, non-porous surfaces with white vinegar. However, cleaning porous carpet fibers with vinegar will have the same effect as the ammonia.